Presentation to AG Listening Session Delivered by Jim Gish on June 27, 2016, where members of the PS community attended a listening session hosted by Melissa Hoffer, Chief of the Energy and Environment Bureau in the Attorney General’s Office, at Roxbury Community College. The listening session was for them to listen, which they did.
We brought prepared statements, answered the panel’s questions when they asked them, and we had nearly private audience with them so we were able to get all points across about the flawed siting process, the environmental and community damage of the Eversource project, we spoke about House Bill 4357 and that the full strength of Protect Sudbury is mobilizing to get our officials to support that among other things.
We coordinated efforts with other communities so more than one community would speak out against these egregious projects foisted on communities like Sudbury, Hudson, Winchester, Woburn, among others. We are all n the same plight – fighting a for profit utility in battle rigged in the utilities favor.
Melissa Hoffer and her panel were educated quickly by the team about what was going on and and about our coalition. Were are now on their radar, and the letters and emails and calls to the attorney general should continue. If you have not written her yet, please do. As always – with any letter writing campaign – all data can be found here: http://www.protectsudbury.org/letter-writing-campaign/.
Chairwoman Hoffer promised specific action the office will take on our behalf and to learn more. They will:
1) Educate themselves on H.4357
2) Contact the EFSB to learn more about the Eversource project
3) Talk to their contacts at the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (this is Secretary Matthew Beaton’s office with whom PS has met)
4) Meet with Eversource to get information from them about this project.
Chairwoman Hoffer noted aloud how similar our complaints were about the siting process and the egregious nature of these projects among all our communities. We have her interest.