To make Boston officials adopt renewable energy policies as quickly as possible, we as residents need to make our voices heard. The best way to do this is by contacting the mayor and your city councilor directly, to say that you want Community Choice Energy (CCE) available in Boston. You may call, email or send a letter by U.S. post.
When calling an office, begin by stating your name and address. This lets the staffer know that you’re actually a resident, not some paid political operative.
Tell the staff member that you want the mayor or councilor to support CCE. To show that your concern is genuine, you should briefly mention one something related to one of the talking points listed below (please don’t read these verbatim to the staffer, as that lessens the impact of your call):
- CCE will make renewable energy affordable for residents and small businesses.
- Adopting renewable energy will help Boston reduce its carbon emissions to fight climate change.
- As a city, Boston will be able to meet the terms of the Paris Accord, which will improve our reputation internationally.
- Renewable energy will create many new jobs in the city.
- Moving to renewable energy will ensure that Boston stays a center of innovation, which will attract more business to our city.
- CCE will stabilize our electricity bills, helping households and business to more easily plan their budgets.
- CCE democratizes decisions concerning electricity generation, allowing people to use the economic power of their utility bill payments to push for a faster transition to a fossil-fuel-free future.
Staff members in government offices are always busy, so be brief and stick to just one or two reasons why you support CCE. Personal reasons like owning a business in the City, living in a neighborhood that is particularly vulnerable to climate change, etc., are also effective. Above all, be polite. Political offices usually discard comments from rude people.
When sending an email or writing an old-fashioned letter, it’s best to follow the standard business letter format. It makes you look more credible, and the official’s staff members will take your opinion more seriously.
Format for CCE Letter
{Your street address}
{City, MA zip code}
Mayor Martin J. Walsh
1 City Hall Square, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02201
-or-
Councilor {Your councilor’s name}
1 City Hall Square
Room 550
Boston, MA 02201
{Date on which you are writing the letter}
Dear Mayor Walsh -or- Councilor {Councilor’s Name}:
{Body of the Letter}
Sincerely,
{Your name}
{Your email address}
In the body of the letter, introduce yourself as a resident of Boston and indicate your home neighborhood. Then in one or two sentences, ask the mayor or your councilor to support CCE, and explain why you want them to. You may use one or more of the talking points listed above. Keep the letter short and courteous. End by asking the councilor or mayor to let you know where they stand on CCE.
If you send your letter via email, feel free to cc City Council President Michelle Wu and City Councilor Matt O’Malley, who are leading the effort to pass a CCE authorization in City Council: Michelle.Wu@boston.gov or Matthew.OMalley@boston.gov. We also encourage emails to the three other at-large Councilors: Ayanna Pressley, Ayanna.Pressley@boston.gov; Michael Flaherty, Michael.F.Flaherty@boston.gov; and Annissa Essaibi George, A.E.George@boston.gov.