BOSTON – Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi last month endorsed the Winter Energy Costs Task Force report, a document that includes recommendations to expand eligibility for federal fuel assistance to an additional 55,000 families in the state.
The task force, appointed jointly by the governor and legislative leaders in July, also calls for increased investments in energy efficiency and weatherization to save money on fuel costs now and in the future.
In a statement, Patrick and the legislative leaders credited successful work with the Massachusetts congressional delegation to obtain additional federal funding for low-income fuel aid. Massachusetts’ federal heating assistance allocation nearly doubled from $114 million to $212 million this winter, as did funding for low-income weatherization, to $13 million this year.
New resources for energy-efficiency investments have also been made available from the auction of emissions allowances through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. •
