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Unemployment and Housing Concerns Dominate Massachusetts News

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Unemployment figures continue to be the measure of progress in fighting economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic in Massachusetts. According to a report by CBS News, the number of new unemployment and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims fell once again last week in Massachusetts. 

The state reported just over 15,200 new claims, or about 4,400 fewer than the previous week. Further, the number of independent contractors and “gig economy” workers seeking Pandemic Unemployment Assistance dropped by 5,000 to just under 10,000.] Learn more about applying for unemployment benefits in Massachusetts here.

Census Bureau Report Suggests One In Five Mass Renters Fear Eviction 

Although the state continues to inch in a positive direction nearly a half-year into the coronavirus pandemic, many challenges still remain. For example, a recent report by the U.S. Census Bureau suggests that more than 315,000 Mass. renters fear they are on the verge of eviction — or about one in five renters. The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse survey estimates state-by-state impacts from the pandemic on a weekly basis.

According to the data, as of mid-July, little more than half of the renters in the state are fully confident that they would be able to pay their rent in August. A rash of evictions would ultimately have a ripple effect on the state’s economy as landlords struggle to pay mortgages and banks foreclose on properties.

Recent executive action by Gov. Baker has initiated a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures until Oct. 17. Although the moratorium does not exempt renters or property owners from paying rent or mortgages, it does prevent removal for failure to pay if COVID-19 created a financial hardship.

Here are some statistics gleaned from the Census Bureau report:

  • Nearly one in five renters in the state have no confidence or only slight confidence they could pay August rent. 

  • 368,000 are moderately confident they can cover their rent.

  • 751,000 have high confidence they can pay rent.

  • 78 percent of eviction filings in Boston occur in Census tracts where a majority of the population is nonwhite.

  • White tenants were about 2.8 times as likely to have high confidence as black tenants and about 1.7 times as likely as Hispanic or Latino renters.

  • About 42 percent of Black renters and 30 percent of Hispanic or Latino renters have no or only slight confidence in covering housing costs for another month, or more than 30 percent higher than white renters.

You can read more on this story in this report by CBS Boston.

Mass. Clean Peak Energy Standard Promotes the Use of Clean Energy During High Demand Periods

A new clean energy program — the first of its kind in the nation — is aimed at giving a leg up to clean energy sources by promoting the use of clean and renewable energy sources during times when demand is the highest. 

Gov. Baker says the Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPS) will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower electricity costs, and generate revenue for resources such as energy storage systems needed to provide electricity when demand is typically highest.

Under the program, utilities that generate energy during specified times of the day will generate Clean Peak Energy Certificates (CPEC). Then electricity suppliers will be required to purchase a minimum amount of CPECs each year based on a percentage of electricity sold. 

The governor had this to say during his announcement:

“To combat climate change, we need to change the way we consume our energy, the resources we use, and when we use them. This first-in-the-nation program is an innovative approach to create a cleaner and more affordable energy future for residents and businesses across the Commonwealth, while serving as a national role model for making meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.”

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides also said CPS will enable the state to further reduce emissions. 

“By ensuring the use of clean energy resources at the historically dirtiest and most expensive times of the day, we will be able to build on our progress in meeting our net-zero emissions goal and building a clean energy future for Massachusetts.”

U.S. Energy Storage Association (ESA) Chief Executive Officer Kelly Speakes-Backman called the program innovative:

“The U.S. Energy Storage Association (ESA) commends the Baker-Polito Administration as it launches the first-in-the-nation Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPS). The administration pioneered this innovative, new regulatory tool to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of periods when electricity demand is the highest and generation tends to be the most polluting. During these peak periods, CPS drives the use of energy storage resources to deliver clean energy where it’s needed, when it’s needed. CPS is an important step toward making the grid more resilient, efficient, sustainable and affordable. ESA looks forward to working with Massachusetts officials and stakeholders to ensure its success and to provide a replicable model for other states.”

The Clean Peak Energy Standard application process is scheduled to begin on August 17, 2020. And MassCEC and DOER plan to hold a stakeholder informational session on August 10, 2020. 

The CPES program which was first proposed in Governor Baker’s 2018 Environmental Bond Bill will be managed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).

Go here more information on the  Clean Peak Energy Standard program.

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