2025 Participating Legislative Offices:

Representative Jeffrey Roy, 10th Norfolk

Priority Areas: Electric Vehicle and Heat Pump Expansion; Cost of and Financing the Clean Energy Transition; Reliable Clean Heating and Power Generation; Clean Energy Education and Workforce Development  

Chair Roy’s priorities include policies that expand the deployment of EVs and heat pumps by removing barriers to customer adoption. Chair Roy also expects to advance policies to thoroughly understand the costs of the green transition and how to keep this transition affordable for Massachusetts ratepayers. Chair Roy also plans to advocate for the increased programmatic and financial support for technical and vocational school programs that prepare students to be part of a robust clean energy workforce. Finally, Rep. Roy is interested in policy that ensures our clean sources of heating and power generation can be counted on to power the Massachusetts’ economy reliably.   

Representative David LeBoeuf, 17th Worcester

Priority Areas: Economic Justice, Health Equity, Water Resource Management 

Representative LeBoeuf’s climate change policies are centered on economic justice and health equity. He has spearheaded efforts to make public transportation fare-free in Central Massachusetts and is the lead sponsor of legislation to electrify public buses. His office is currently working with international partners to launch an electric vehicle apprenticeship program focused on making sure low-income communities are not left behind as we transition away from fossil fuels. Rep. LeBoeuf’s district is a designated environmental justice community, and he is working locally to mitigate heat islands, remediate brownfields, reduce childhood exposure to lead, and managing water resources. 

Representative Joan Meschino, 3rd Plymouth

Priority Areas: Natural and Working Lands, Building Decarbonization, Climate Finance, Drought Management  

Interns working in Rep. Meschino’s office provide daily legislative and communication support and will be asked to apply their academic research and writing skills in a specific policy area in support of the Representative’s work, focusing on current climate legislation. Representative Meschino’s climate-related priority areas include natural and working lands, building decarbonization, climate finance, and drought management. 

Representative Steven Owens, 29th Middlesex

Priority Areas: Transportation Electrification, Clean Energy 

Representative Steve Owens is currently starting his third term as the State Representative for the 29^th Middlesex District, which includes most of the City of Watertown and parts of West Cambridge and North Cambridge. Last session, he served as the House Vice-Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Management as well as the House Chair of the Clean Energy Legislative Caucus. Representative Owens prioritizes bills that will transition the Commonwealth to a clean energy economy through transportation electrification and the phasing out of natural gas as a heat source as well as measures that protect the environment and individuals’ data privacy. 

Senator Fernandes, Plymouth and Barnstable District

Priority Areas: Renewable Energy, Eco-Tourism and Developing a Blue Economy, Resource Protection, Clean Water.  

Description: Senator Fernandes is dedicated to addressing climate change and driving economic growth through clean energy and innovation. In 2017 he passed legislation recommitting the State of Massachusetts to the Paris Climate Accord. Senator Fernandes also created the state’s first Ocean Acidification Commission, and advocates for renewable energy, including offshore wind. He supports developing a Green Bank for clean energy projects and envisions his district as a leader in the Blue Economy. A strong proponent of clean water, he backed the Cape and Islands Water Protection Fund, securing over $1 billion for wastewater infrastructure, and helped triple the septic system tax credit to protect waterways. His work promotes both sustainability and economic resilience. Interns will assist with research, writing policy memos, compiling press clippings, and authoring press statements. They may also create graphics, attend briefings, and perform administrative tasks such as phone calls and data entry. 

Representative Lewis, 7^th Middlesex

Priority Areas: Climate and Health, Renewable Energy, Flood Mitigation  

Representative Jack Patrick Lewis has consistently supported legislation addressing climate change, including efforts to expand green energy jobs and offshore wind projects. As co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus, he championed the passage of bills to invest in renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions. Lewis has also worked to protect local communities by securing funding for flood mitigation projects and promoting smart-growth initiatives. In the 2025-2026 legislative session, Representative Lewis will prioritize legislation to improve health outcomes for communities affected by adverse environmental conditions and climate impacts.  

Interns in the office will engage with the Legislative Director, Chief of Staff, and Representative Lewis to support climate-related legislation. Representative Lewis brings a strong background in social justice, public service, and community advocacy to his work. 

Representative Shand, 1^st Essex

Priority Areas: Coastal Zone Resilience, Nature-Based Solutions, Flood Mitigation and Adaptation, Clean Water, Sustainable Building Materials, Climate Justice  

Representing the coastal communities of Newburyport and Salisbury Representative Shand’s climate work focuses on building resilience by advancing critical climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Her key legislative efforts include innovative housing solutions, coastal zone management and protection, and nature-based solutions. Representative Shand has advocated for legislation to mitigate the impacts of climate change through critical salt marsh and wetland restoration. Her office also prioritizes important water quality improvements, especially in the Merrimack River which experiences elevated pollution levels that impact the health of the communities in her district. Interns working in Representative Shand’s office will gain valuable hands-on experience, working closely with her staff and the Representative to learn the policymaking process in Massachusetts. 

Representative Tommy Vitolo, 15^th Norfolk

Priority Areas: Clean Energy Transition, Climate Action and Resilience, Environmental Justice

Representative Tommy Vitolo advocates for climate action, sustainability, and clean energy. With a Ph.D. in systems engineering from Boston University, he has focused his Legislative work on reducing carbon emissions, promoting renewable energy, and addressing the impacts of climate change on all communities. Before his legislative work, Rep. Vitolo was an associate at Synapse Energy Economics, where he worked to retire coal plants, cut pollution, and transition to clean energy systems. While at the State House, Rep. Vitolo has championed initiatives like adding solar panels to public buildings, barring fossil fuels from new developments, promoting bike lanes to support sustainable living in his community of Brookline, and updating regulations to promote the transition to clean energy. His work reflects a strong commitment to community-driven solutions and meaningful reforms to combat environmental challenges.