A Message from Leadership

Dear Friends, 

This past year, ELM made impressive progress to set our Commonwealth on a path to a thriving, inclusive clean energy future. While we accomplished a lot, there is more work to be done.

For 125 years, ELM has been on the vanguard of environmental policy. Since 1898, we have been a force on Beacon Hill, advocating for policies that meet the scale and urgency of our most pressing challenges. We protected our land, air, and water from degradation, spearheaded the creation of our state park system, and helped pass landmark laws such as the Environmental Bill of Rights and the Global Warming Solutions Act.

We are proud of our track record and recognize that leadership has never been more necessary. In the past year, we have demonstrated:

• ELM’s voice empowers our state’s leaders to take action. Our advocacy turns ideas into laws by helping bills such as An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind cross the finish line and by making environmental spending a “must-fund” through our Green Budget leadership.
• Our deep and diverse partnerships yield results. The New England for Offshore Wind coalition, founded and led by ELM, exemplifies the power of our relationships. Massachusetts’ groundbreaking climate legislation, and ELM’s advocacy to pass it, provided our coalition partners with the knowledge and skills to steward a 2023 offshore wind bill through the Maine legislature to become law.
• The ELM Action Fund’s endorsement is powerful. More than 90% of our endorsed candidates were elected to office this past year. The significantly increased power and resources of the ELM Action Fund IE PAC provided pivotal visibility for environmental candidates such as Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

Every day, we work to ensure our state takes effective steps toward national leadership on climate. By expanding our team’s expertise, deepening our cross-sector partnerships, and equipping candidates to be effective environmental champions, we are building a Commonwealth where our residents, economy, and natural world thrive.

A prosperous clean energy future is within our reach, but only if we commit to bold policy action. We hope you will continue to support our vital work.

In gratitude,

Elizabeth Henry, President
Gordon Burnes, Board Chair
Natalia Linos, ELM Action Fund Board Chair

On June 3, ELM celebrated leading 125 years of advocacy in Massachusetts.

ELM was founded in 1898 to advocate for solutions to the Commonwealth’s most urgent environmental challenges. In our early years, we safeguarded our state’s precious land and natural resources from industrial degradation.   

• In the 1930s, ELM planted over 100,000 trees along state highways.
• In 1966, we fought against commercialization efforts on Mount Greylock, protecting the mountain from being turned into a ski resort.
• In 1972, we were a key player in incorporating the Environmental Bill of Rights into our state’s constitution. 

ELM has always quickly addressed the multi-faceted nature of our state’s environmental challenges and adapted to present swift and innovative responses.

• In 1998, ELM fought against state efforts to subsidize major polluters.
• We played a key role in the passage of the 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act, which established legally binding emissions limits in one of the nation’s first comprehensive programs addressing climate change.
• We formed the ELM Action Fund in 2015 to provide electoral support to climate champions in the face of new challenges.

In the past five years, ELM has rapidly grown its influence in key policy areas affecting the Commonwealth. We formed the New England for Offshore Wind coalition in 2020 and had a significant role in the passage of the 2021 Next Generation Roadmap Law.

Despite shifting priorities, one thing has never changed throughout our 125 years of history. Since 1898, ELM has remained a force to be reckoned with on Beacon Hill, building the political power of environmental advocacy in Massachusetts.