MANSFIELD MA, June 27, 2025 – John Tzimorangas, President and CEO of Energy New England (ENE) alongside Mike Cloutier, GM, Middleton Municipal representing MEAM and Kate Roy, representing MMWEC, testified on June 25 before the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy in support of H.4144 – An Act Relative to Energy Affordability, Independence and Innovation and urging the committee to preserve the policies that allow municipal utilities to deliver clean reliable and affordable energy.
Representing more than 50 communities served by municipal light plants (MLPs), Tzimorangas emphasized that public power utilities are already leading on clean energy and affordability, thanks to their local control, nonprofit structure, and direct reinvestment in community priorities.
“All 24 ENE-member MLPs have already achieved the 2030 emissions reduction target (50%) five years ahead of schedule.,” he noted. “Over the past five years, ENE has secured 643 megawatts (MW) of long-term clean energy contracts on behalf of our clients, covering nearly half of their electricity needs.”
ENE has also advanced local innovation, including battery storage in Reading, microgrids in Middleton, and over 10,000 home energy audits across the region. Despite these investments, the average customer served by an MLP pays just 14 to 19 cents per kilowatt-hour, often half the cost charged by investor-owned utilities. This affordability is proving to be an economic development driver, attracting businesses such as data centers and manufacturers to MLP communities.
Tzimorangas urged lawmakers to retain and strengthen the enabling environment for MLPs, “Please don’t fix what isn’t broken. MLPs are proving that you can lead on clean energy while keeping costs down.” cautioning against proposed provisions in the bill that could add unnecessary administrative burdens.
About Energy New England
Energy New England (ENE) is a municipal light plant cooperative that was established in 1998. Owned by light departments in Braintree, Concord, Hingham, Reading, Taunton, and Wellesley, Massachusetts, ENE provides energy trading, wholesale risk management, and other services to municipal utilities in the Northeast. ENE is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to providing its members with access to a diverse range of energy resources with the best possible service and at the lowest possible cost.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Vincent J. Ragucci, III
Chief Strategy Officer
Phone: (508) 698-1240 Email: vragucci@ene.org
