Annual Report

Fiscal Year 2024
July 2023 – June 2024

Table of Contents

Clicking on a section will take you to that section below.

Elections

  1. 2023 Elections
  2. Green Voter Guide

Events

  1. 2023-2024 Events
  2. Earth Night

Financials

  1. Financial Snapshot
  2. Support Our Work

Prefer to view this Annual Report as a PDF? Download here.

THIS IS ELM

We think systemically and plan for the future.
We are driven by the potential of our work to impact future generations. We see the connection between all things: people and planet, policy and social justice, environmental and economic health. We think critically about intersectionality and the complexities of cause and effect.
We are strategic and ambitious.
We are motivated by the enormity of the challenges we face and by Massachusetts’ potential to lead the world. We are science-based, data-driven, and results-oriented. We choose priorities based on their impact on the Commonwealth and their potential to be adapted and scaled.
We prioritize equity, inclusion, and environmental justice.
We recognize that bias, racism, classism, and privilege determine who has power. We use our influence to help remedy the harm caused by centuries of environmental racism and to build a more equitable future. We are dedicated to anti-racism and to reckoning with our own biases.
Partnerships are at the heart of how we work.
We believe that trust is the foundation for progress. Our strength is rooted in our relationships. We convene varied stakeholders to forge common ground. If we disagree, it is with respect. We listen carefully, consider divergent perspectives, and operate with integrity.

The Environmental League of Massachusetts advocates for policy that meets the scale and urgency of our environmental challenges.

ELM Action Fund

The ELM Action Fund builds political power that meets the scale and urgency of our environmental challenges.


Our Team

Ben Bailey, Development Director
Casey Bowers, ELM Action Fund Executive Director
Amy Boyd Rabin, Vice President of Policy
Leigh Chandler, Communications Director
Madeline Davey, Data Systems Manager
Jennifer Delony, Offshore Wind Communications Director
Grace Doherty, Corporate & Foundation Relations Manager

Miriam Posner Harris, Executive Vice President
Robert Hart, Campaign Manager

Elizabeth Turnbull Henry, President 
Imani James, Operations Coordinator 
Ellen Macaulay, Operations Director
David Melly, Legislative Director
Bianca Pokrzywa, Digital Communications Coordinator
Andrew Reed, Vice President of Development 
Zahra Saifee, Policy & Advocacy Coordinator 
Randi Soltysiak, Finance Director
Kelt Wilska, Offshore Wind Director
 

We thank former staff members Alicia Goganian and Susannah Hatch for their contributions in Fiscal Year 2024. 

Board of Directors

  • Gordon Burnes, Board Chair 
  • Bethany Patten, Treasurer & Clerk 
  • Hank Bell 
  • Mark Bilbe 
  • JocCole “JC” Burton 
  • Lindsey Butler
  • William “Buzz” Constable 
  • Ben Downing 
  • Robert Fishman 
  • Isabel Grantham Rappoport 
  • Bracken Hendricks
  • Elizabeth Turnbull Henry 
  • Seth Jaffe 
  • Namrita Kapur
  • Ginger Lawrence  
  • Dhiraj Malkani 
  • Bradley McLean
  • Nikko Mendoza
  • Sandhya Murali
  • Pete Pedersen 
  • Emily Reichert 
  • Gwen Ruta 
  • Tedd Saunders
  • Chrisann Taras 

ELM Action Fund

Board of Directors

  • Matt O’Malley, Board Chair 
  • Bethany Patten, Treasurer & Clerk 
  • Will Austin 
  • Gordon Burnes 
  • Robert Fishman 
  • Douglas Foy 
  • Elizabeth Turnbull Henry 
  • Seth Jaffe 
  • Annie Lydgate 
  • Peter Nessen 
  • Lise Olney
  • Bethany Patten
  • Tedd Saunders
  • Warren Tolman 
  • Jacquetta Van Zandt  
  • Mark Walsh 

Remembering Bradley McLean (1966-2024)

ELM will miss Brad, an insightful and generous leader and a member of the ELM Board for over three years. 

Advisory Council

 

  • DR. GAURAB BASU
  • TOM BURTON
  • GEOFFREY CHASIN
  • WILLIAM “BUZZ” G. CONSTABLE
  • RODNEY DOWELL
  • KEVIN DUTT
  • DAVE FORBES
  • SAM FLEMING
  • DR. AISHA FRANCIS
  • ANNE KELLY
  • JANET KRAUS
  • TED LADD
  • DR. BILL LUNDBERG
  • MAHMOOD MALIHI
  • NICOLE OBI
  • MATT PATSKY
  • BOB TAYLOR
  • KATIE THEOHARIDES
  • ROB TUCHMANN
  • ANN WALLACE

A Message from Leadership


September 1, 2024
 

Dear friends,

This has been a year of significant progress, dimmed only by a disappointing end to the 2023-2024 Legislative Session. As this letter goes to press, the Legislature still has not passed the climate bills they pledged. Over the past two years, the ELM and ELM Action Fund teams have worked tirelessly to shape the policy agenda, educate policymakers, form coalitions, and advocate for effective legislation.  

Building on that tremendous work, we continue to push for solutions that meet the scale and urgency of our environmental challenges. With the stakes too high and the opportunities too great, we refuse to accept failure. Thanks to your support, we are working closely with lawmakers to create common ground and achieve our ambitions this fall and beyond. 

In many ways, our influence continued to grow this year. ELM became the leading voice for our state’s investment in climatetech. The ELM Action Fund helped elect climate leaders across our cities and towns. And our New England for Offshore Wind coalition advanced strong community and labor agreements on offshore wind projects and ports.   

We also released Solutions 2030, our roadmap to get Massachusetts back on track to achieving our climate goals while building a thriving and inclusive economy that can be a model for the world. Our agenda: 

  • Revolutionizes the way we produce, store, and deliver energy; 
  • Removes fossil fuels from our cars, public transportation, and buildings; 
  • Protects our land, air, and water; 
  • Advances environmental justice;  
  • Improves public health; and 
  • Strengthens the clean energy economy in Massachusetts and the region. 

Embedded in our priorities are commitments to organizational development: deepening our subject-matter expertise; cementing our reputation as the “employer of choice” in the environmental advocacy sector; and maintaining an inclusive and effective culture.  

With so much at stake, we cannot lose sight of all that is possible when we act together. We hope you will continue your vital support of our work. 

In gratitude,

Elizabeth Henry, ELM President
Gordon Burnes, Board Chair
Casey Bowers, ELM Action Fund Executive Director
Matt O’Malley, ELM Action Fund Board Chair


Success by the Numbers

126

years of environmental advocacy

688

Earth Night attendees

30

Corporate Council members

26K+

email subscribers

33

environmental champions endorsed

73%

of endorsed candidates elected to office

850K+

social media impressions

4

new staff members

8

young leaders served as fellows

Representing the Nationwide Climate Movement

ELM’s efforts have catalyzed a green, just, and vibrant clean energy future across New England. NWF is grateful for the close collaboration with ELM, our Massachusetts state affiliate. By uniting a diverse set of stakeholders across the region, they are driving lasting change.

COLLIN O'MARA President & CEO, National Wildlife Federation

LCV is proud to have the ELM Action Fund as our state affiliate in Massachusetts. Their team is passionate, strategic, and leaving a lasting impact. Their work electing climate leaders and passing some of the strongest environmental laws in the nation has modeled leadership for other states across the country.

GENE KARPINSKI President, League of Conservation Voters

Year in Review

August 1

Mayor Wu issues an executive order banning fossil fuels in new Boston-owned buildings.

August 2

ELM, New England for Offshore Wind, and Avangrid co-host a tour of the Vineyard Wind 1 construction site, showing 100 guests the first offshore wind substation in U.S. waters.

September 21

Elizabeth Turnbull Henry joins a panel of climate experts at the 2023 Boston Globe Summit to discuss the opportunities within our clean energy transition.

October 5

ELM hosts our biannual Corporate Council Leader Breakfast with Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao.

October 15

The ELM Action Fund joins NASRCC and SEIU 509 for a Climate and Labor Canvass in support of Boston City Council candidates Enrique Pepén, Henry Santana, and Ruthzee Louijeune.

October 25

Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer releases Massachusetts’ first-ever Climate Report, outlining a whole-of-government approach to addressing the climate crisis.

November 8

Election day! The ELM Action Fund helps elect 24 climate champions to municipal office across Massachusetts.

December 8

Vineyard Wind’s first five turbines are fully installed, generating 65 Megawatts of renewable energy.

January 11

ELM hosts annual Corporate Council Policy Briefing at MIT Sloan, offering members insights into ELM’s 2024 legislative priorities.

February 15

The Healey-Driscoll Administration releases Massachusetts’ first-ever environmental justice strategy to advance equity throughout the clean energy transition.

March 4

Governor Healey releases the 2024 Mass Leads Act, building never-before-seen climatetech investments into our state’s economic development strategy.

March 19

ELM’s Advisory Council, with support from Deloitte and Mintz, hosts a panel discussion on the transformative potential of climatetech for the Massachusetts economy.

April 4

ELM and Corporate Council members speak with Governor Healey and Secretaries Hao and Tepper at our biannual Corporate Council Leader Lunch.

May 7

ELM Action Fund Executive Director Casey Bowers testifies to the Massachusetts House in support of the Mass Leads Act. 

May 9

ELM celebrates our largest Earth Night yet, welcoming 688 guests to Fenway Park.

June 4

Elizabeth Turnbull Henry joins fellow state climate leaders at the 2024 ClimaTech Live conference to discuss the Commonwealth’s opportunity to lead on climatetech.

June 12

ELM’s Offshore Wind Director Kelt Wilska speaks at the League of Conservation Voters’ Offshore Wind Roundtable alongside U.S. Senator Schumer and U.S. Senator Stabenow.

June 26

ELM joins leading business groups at the State House to call for ambitious climatetech investments in the Mass Leads Act.

In the News

Year at a Glance
Fellowship Program

ELM & ELM Action Fund Fellows: 2023-2024

ELM is a passionate, inspiring, and game-changing organization. The Fellows Program taught me so much about the legislative and political advocacy that goes into pushing for Massachusetts’ clean energy future.Amy NdiayeFormer ELM Action Fund Fellow

 

ELM and the ELM Action Fund manage a longstanding and highly successful Campaign & Advocacy Fellowship program that attracts students interested in environmental policy and political campaigns. Our program brings in talented young changemakers and helps develop their skills to advance the environmental movement.   

This year, eight students joined our team as fellows, specializing in a wide range of work from politics and policy to videography. Since completing the program, several have begun exciting careers at workplaces such as the Office of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, the North Carolina Democratic Party, and Abode Energy Management. 

 

8

Fellows and Interns supporting ELM in FY24

100

Hours campaigning for candidates

Campaign & Advocacy Fellows

  • MAGGIE BOWERS
    Rice University
  • COREY HUEBNER
    Dartmouth College
  • VIOLET KOPP
    Tufts University
  • PORTIA LEE
    Boston University
  • ALLISON MARKOWSKI
    Northeastern University
  • AMY NDIAYE
    Wellesley College

Videography Fellows

  • ERIC PEPE
    Boston University
  • KATYA VEBER
    Emerson College

Advocacy

ELM and the ELM Action Fund advocate for drastically reducing climate pollution in Massachusetts while building a thriving and inclusive state economy to serve as a model for the world. 

In the second year of the 2023-2024 Massachusetts Legislative Session, our advocacy addressed: 

  • Equitable siting and permitting reform to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future; 
  • Electrifying transportation and buildings; 
  • Making Massachusetts a global epicenter for climatetech; and 
  • Advancing environmental health and justice. 

Our priorities were successfully incorporated into two major pieces of legislation: an omnibus climate bill and an economic development bill with significant climatetech investments. Thanks to ELM and the ELM Action Fund’s leadership, our donors and partners, our ability to form cross-sectoral coalitions, and our trusted voice on Beacon Hill, we built broad and deep support for these policies. While these bills were not passed by the end of the formal legislative session, we continue to work every day to turn these policy priorities into state law. 

Advocacy
Funding for Our Future

Funding for Our Future

ELM advocates for robust public investment in infrastructure and workforce, which will attract private capital and help Massachusetts build a clean energy future. 

  • ELM and coalition partners successfully advocated for a housing bond that included – for the first time – hundreds of millions of dollars to remove greenhouse gases from public housing and spur sustainable housing initiatives.  
  • The Community Climate Bank, championed by ELM and established by Governor Healey last year, is focused on bridging the financing gap to decarbonize affordable housing. 
  • ELM spearheaded efforts to unlock federal funding for reducing climate pollution through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Massachusetts received $156 million to make clean energy accessible to more households, and the six New England states were awarded $389 million to upgrade the power grid and bring in more energy from offshore wind. 

Leading the Green Budget Coalition

Decarbonizing our economy, protecting natural resources, and supporting healthy communities each require that our state agencies be well-resourced and well-staffed. 

As the leaders of the Green Budget Coalition, ELM and the ELM Action Fund worked with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and across the Legislature to successfully build on last year’s budget increases and secure funding for our state’s essential environmental programs – even while facing uncertainty over tax revenues. 

  • $54.4 million for the Department of Environmental Protection ($2.3 million increase over FY24) 
  • $110 million for parks and recreation ($4.5 million increase over FY24) 
  • $20.5 million for the Department of Public Utilities ($800K increase of FY24) 
  • $21 million for administration of the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (Level to FY24)    
  • $8.8 million for environmental justice (Level to FY24) 
  • $10 million for climate adaption and preparedness (Level to FY24) 

Sustainable Transportation

This year, our team advocated for electrified transportation solutions, which will reduce climate pollution, make communities healthier, and drive our state’s competitiveness:

  • The MBTA announced a contract with Keolis, MA’s commuter rail operator, to electrify the Fairmount Commuter Rail line, which will reduce pollution in several environmental justice communities. 
  • The state budget included the largest-ever allocation for the MBTA, recognizing public transit as a critical part of our state’s economy. 
  • Governor Healey formed a diverse, cross-sector Transportation Funding Task Force to drive the creation of a sustainable transportation finance plan. 

Greening Our Buildings

Buildings are the largest source of climate pollution in our cities. ELM is focused on the incentives and structural changes needed to make building decarbonization economical and equitable. This past year we made progress that will enable us make even greater strides in the future. 

  • ELM shaped the state’s 2025-2027 Energy Efficiency plans, which included a record-setting $1.7 billion for energy efficiency for low- and moderate-income households and renters. 
  • In December, the MA Department of Public Utilities took an unprecedented step by ruling that gas utilities are responsible for helping our state achieve statutory net-zero emissions targets. As Amy Boyd Rabin, Vice President of Policy, stated in a widely shared post, “It will take monumental shifts across our state’s systems, like these, to create the future we at ELM envision.” 
  • ELM President Elizabeth Turnbull Henry was appointed to the Advisory Board for the first in the nation Office of Energy Transformation, housed in the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. 

Protecting Communities from PFAS

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a commonly-used class of chemicals found in everything from clothing to food packaging that put Massachusetts’s climate, public health, and clean water at risk.  

  • Our work leading the Green Budget Coalition secured $54 million in funding for the MA Department of Environmental Protection to expand their capacity to monitor PFAS levels. 
  • ELM also worked with a broad coalition to advocate for stronger PFAS regulation, resulting in a new law banning PFAS in firefighters’ protective equipment. 

During my time in the Massachusetts Senate, I have seen firsthand ELM’s remarkable effectiveness in shaping critical environmental policy. Their tireless advocacy and deep expertise has been instrumental in advancing bold initiatives like the 2050 Roadmap to ensure a sustainable future for our Commonwealth. ELM’s leadership remains indispensable as we tackle the climate crisis head-on. I am proud to continue working alongside them to safeguard our environment and future for generations to come.

State Senator Julian Cyr Cape & Islands District

Leading the Charge on the 2024 Climate Omnibus Bill

The Massachusetts Legislature must seize every opportunity to pass ambitious climate policy. ELM advocated for the 2024 Climate Omnibus Bill, which aimed to remove fossil fuels from our most polluting sectors. The legislation was ultimately stalled at the end of the formal Legislative Session in July 2024. ELM called for:

  • Equitable siting and permitting reform to remove barriers to responsible clean energy development and accelerate the building of our clean energy future. 
  • Longer and more flexible contract terms for offshore wind to support market certainty for the emerging industry. 
  • Scaling the state’s energy storage resources. 
  • Expanding accessible, reliable electric vehicle infrastructure and setting deadlines to electrify the MBTA Commuter Rail. 
  • Shifting incentives and utility planning processes away from improving legacy gas assets and toward electric heating systems. 

ELM's Leadership on the Climate Bill

Our efforts garnered wide support among government officials, corporate leaders, and advocates. In the final months of the Legislative Session, ELM played a key role: 

  • Offering detailed comment letters and support to legislative leadership.
  • Facilitating a coalition of 28 leading businesses and institutions urging lawmakers to finalize a strong bill.
  • Publishing op-eds about the importance of the bill, penned by ELM’s Amy Boyd Rabin, in Commonwealth Beacon and WBUR’s Cognoscenti.
  • Empowering 165 ELM Action Fund members to urge their state legislators to push for a final bill.
  • Organizing a sign-on letter among members of the New England for Offshore Wind Massachusetts State Committee calling for longer future offshore wind contracts. 

Although the Legislature ultimately failed to act before July 31, we continue to leverage our expertise and leadership to advance policies that meet the scale and urgency of our climate challenges.  

 

 

 

Championing Climatetech Investments in the Mass Leads Act

Massachusetts can become the best place to start and scale businesses that solve the climate crisis. Since the early days of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, ELM has been a leading voice championing government investment in climatetech. As a result, Governor Healey filed the 2024 Economic Development Bond Bill, also known as the Mass Leads Act.  

The legislation included $1 billion in climatetech investments over 10 years and presented a first-of-its-kind opportunity to integrate climate priorities into the state’s economic development strategy. Ambition on this scale would set Massachusetts on track to become a global hub for climate innovation. 

ELM championed the inclusion of three key priorities in the bill:

  • Robust and sustained funding in the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) 
  • Investment in building and training a skilled, inclusive clean energy workforce 
  • Attracting, growing, and retaining climatetech businesses and startups in Massachusetts. 

A New Voice for Climatetech

In 2024, ELM became the leading voice advocating for this burgeoning industry. Our efforts included: 

  • Partnering with the Governor Maura Healey and Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao to spearhead the inclusion of climatetech in the state’s economic development strategy. 
  • Hosting the “Making Massachusetts a Global Epicenter for Climate Technology” panel discussion to build business support for the initiative. 
  • Facilitating a coalition of 81 leading businesses and institutions urging lawmakers to include at least $1 billion in climatetech investments in the bill. 
  • Co-publishing a Boston Business Journal op-ed with the Associated Industries of Massachusetts detailing the benefits of this investment on our economy and environment. 
  • Partnering with leading business associations to host “Leading the Charge,” an event aimed at lawmakers finalizing the bill. 

ELM continues to work with the Massachusetts Legislature to secure investments for this critical climate and economic opportunity. 

 

 

 

Advocacy
Offshore Wind

Driving Regional Collaboration on Offshore Wind

 

 

As the co-founder and convener of the New England for Offshore Wind (NE4OSW) coalition, ELM spearheads regional efforts to harness the full potential of offshore wind. 

Established in 2020, the coalition has grown to over 130 member organizations. Our membership spans six states, encompassing diverse stakeholders including conservation and environmental justice organizations, universities, labor unions, and businesses. Together, we are advancing responsible, timely offshore wind development – setting New England as an example for the rest of our nation.

With ELM at the helm, New England for Offshore Wind took major steps this year: 

  • Establishing environmental justice values. These drive how the coalition prioritizes, listens to, partners with, supports, and fosters new relationships with environmental justice communities and organizations. 
  • Expanding NE4OSW’s Steering Committee to include Renewable Energy Vermont, securing leadership in all six New England states. 
  • Awarding $124,000 in project-based subgrants, funding a range of projects to advance offshore wind. These projects helped member organizations kickstart advocacy in Western Massachusetts, engage in conversations with fisheries, develop a youth-based climate podcast, and combat misinformation. 
  • Organizing local efforts to move offshore wind projects forward, helping secure a historic community benefits agreement for the Salem, MA offshore wind terminal and advocating for the siting of a first-in-the-nation floating offshore wind port in Searsport, Maine.

Coalition Partner Successes

The Maine State Committee of New England for Offshore Wind played a crucial role in passing legislation that established a coastal sand dune restoration and protection fund, facilitating the development of a new offshore wind port. 

Elders Climate Action conducted a series of informational interviews in Holyoke, Massachusetts to better understand sentiments towards offshore wind in an area with less direct contact with the resource. They made strong connections with the city’s leadership, environmental advocates, and public educators. 

The Salem Alliance for the Environment (SAFE) worked tirelessly with Salem community members and organizations to build fair and just provisions into a new Community Benefits Agreements for the development of the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal. 

North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and Pile Drivers Local 56 signed a project labor agreement with Belgium-based Deme Group, the provider of the offshore wind installation vessel used for the Vineyard Wind project. 

We want to thank the NE4OSW staff and coalition members for the incredible work they are doing to advance the offshore wind industry here in New England. The information sharing and advocacy efforts of the coalition are invaluable to our work in this sector and are helping provide new career opportunities for our members. We are proud to be part of this unique partnership that is creating good-paying union construction jobs and building a renewable energy future here in New England.

Joe O’Brien North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Political & Legislative Director

Expanding NetZeroMA.org

On October 25, 2023, Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer presented Governor Maura Healey with a report of 39 recommendations aimed at developing a comprehensive, unified, whole-of-government approach to advancing climate policy within the Administration. The report’s guidance has the potential to deliver smart, equitable growth that puts Massachusetts on track to a cleaner future. 

Now, our government must act on these recommendations. To hold our leaders accountable on their mandate to the Commonwealth’s clean energy and climate targets, we expanded NetZeroMA.org. This resource, which tracks our state’s climate statutes, now also monitors progress on all recommendations in Chief Hoffer’s report. 

Visit NetZeroMA.org

ELM's Participation in Coalitions

 

Partnerships are at the heart of how we work. ELM is a member of multiple coalitions that expand the reach of our work and influence. 

Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, promoting preventative action around toxic hazards. 

Beyond Gas, working to advance regulatory reform to support gas utilities’ and workers’ transition to a decarbonized future. 

Browning the Green Space, advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the clean energy sector.   

Green Budget Coalition, advocating for state investment in climate resiliency, open space, and natural resource protection. (ELM serves as the primary convener.) 

GWSA Implementation Advisory Committee, providing stakeholder feedback on the implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act, decarbonization initiatives, and the Clean Energy and Climate Plans.   

Massachusetts Environmental Justice Table, working to advance environmental justice initiatives in the Commonwealth.   

Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, strengthening river policies regarding water quality, streamflow, wildlife habitat, and green infrastructure investment.   

New England for Offshore Wind, working to increase the supply of clean energy to our regional grid through the procurements of responsibly developed offshore wind. (ELM serves as the primary convener.) 

Plastic Free Mass, advocating for sustainable waste reduction policy to protect people and nature from pollution and reduce waste-related carbon emissions. 

Transportation for Massachusetts, advocating for sustainable and environmentally-friendly transportation policies.   

The Zero Carbon Renovation Fund, working to secure state funding for zero carbon renovations in buildings across Massachusetts.   

Zero Emission Vehicle Coalition, promoting the decarbonization of the transportation sector.   

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's Leadership

Mayor Michelle Wu has held true to her commitment as Boston’s first climate mayor. This past year, she: 

  • Signed an executive order banning fossil fuel use in new city-owned buildings and major renovations of existing municipal structures. 
  • Announced new rates through the city’s Community Choice Energy program, increasing residents’ clean energy choices and alleviating household energy costs.  
  • Attended the Vatican Climate Summit in May, advocating for Boston and its environmental leadership. As the only American mayor to attend, she demonstrated her leadership in a discussion titled “Governance, Energy.”
  • Extended the city’s fare free bus program on Routes 23, 28, and 29 until March 2026. 
  • Prioritized expanding pedestrian and bike access throughout Boston. 

Bridging the Business & Government Sectors

Members of ELM’s Corporate Council know that a healthy environment and a thriving economy are mutually enforcing. This group of leading businesses and institutions, now 30 organizations strong, welcomed four new members this year: Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Context Labs, and Form Energy. Our Corporate Council enables businesses to engage with our state government and use their power to drive smart, ambitious policies that promote an equitable clean energy future. 

Our gatherings educate members about key climate issues and facilitate conversation between businesses and senior government officials  

In October 2023, our Corporate Council members met with Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao at Bank of America to discuss how the Commonwealth can drive competitiveness by harnessing the potential of climatetech. 

In April 2024, members engaged with Governor Maura Healey and Secretaries Hao and Tepper at the Takeda headquarters to support her vision to make Massachusetts the global epicenter for climatetech through the 2024 Mass Leads Act.  

At our sixth annual Energy & Environmental Policy Briefing in January 2024, ELM welcomed over 75 guests, both virtually and at the MIT Sloan School of Management, to discuss our policy priorities for the year. Attendees left with a thorough understanding of which policy solutions will drive our journey to net-zero, and how they can advocate alongside ELM.  

 

Building Cross Sector Support for Climate Policy

 

ELM drafted, coordinated, and recruited signatories for: 

  • A call on the legislature to incorporate key climatetech investments in the economic development bill. 81 leading businesses and institutions joined this effort.  
  • A letter urging lawmakers to finalize an ambitious climate omnibus bill and build a greener, resilient clean energy future, signed by 28 businesses and institutions.  

 

Thank you to Ceres and ACT (formerly NECEC) who supported recruitment of signatories.

We’re proud to be longtime members of the ELM Corporate Council. Through this collaboration, we come together with dedicated, influential business leaders from across MA to engage with policymakers on substantive and impactful climate progress to ensure a healthier, more sustainable Commonwealth.

Johanna Jobin Global Head of Environment and Sustainability, Takeda

Elections

In 2023, the ELM Action Fund endorsed an impressive slate of environmental champions for municipal offices across Massachusetts, contributing to victories in highly competitive races.  

Voters made it clear the environment was top of mind, casting their ballots for candidates focused on clean transportation, environmental justice, climate resiliency, and green jobs. The ELM Action Fund played a key role in bringing these voters to the polls. We supported campaigns through voter education, door knocking, phone banking, and digital outreach. 

24 of our 33 candidates won in 2023, demonstrating the power of the ELM Action Fund’s endorsement.  

Strong environmental leadership in cities and towns across the Commonwealth is crucial to achieving our state’s climate goals. Voters made it clear they are looking to their leaders to commit to advancing clean energy and protecting our natural resources.

Casey Bowers Executive Director, ELM Action Fund

33

Candidates endorsed by the ELM Action Fund

73%

Elected to office

700+

Doors knocked in targeted districts

1500+

Get out the vote phone calls made

15

Women candidates endorsed

19

Candidates of color endorsed

Carlos Garcia

Elected Shrewsbury Select Board Member
Carlos Garcia has an impressive history of environmental advocacy in Shrewsbury. Now elected to the Select Board, he is working to expand electric vehicle infrastructure, promote clean transportation, and support climate resiliency efforts.

Michael Nicholson

Elected Gardner Mayor
A lifelong Gardner resident, Michael Nicholson became the city’s first Latino elected official when he was elected Mayor in 2020. In his first term, he adopted a resolution to make all new city vehicles hybrid or fully electric, created green spaces, and reduced litter. Now in his second term, he is focusing his efforts on reducing the city’s carbon footprint.

Samantha Perlman

Ran for Marlborough Mayor
Samantha Perlman was a leader on climate action during her time on the Marlborough City Council, and ran for Mayor in 2023 with a focus on increasing tree canopy, increasing electric vehicle accessibility, and expanding conservation land. Despite her loss, she increased awareness of the importance of municipal climate action. 

Supporting Henry Santana

The ELM Action Fund is proud of our support for Henry Santana during his run for Boston City Council. Having grown up in Mission Hill public housing and attended Boston Public Schools, he is committed to making climate resilience accessible for all. His climate platform included retrofitting Boston Housing Authority facilities with renewable energy, investing in green jobs, and delivering a Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools.

Santana has committed to centering justice and equity by engaging with community organizations and uplifting the needs of marginalized communities.

Motivating Voters Across Massachusetts

Municipal elections provide crucial opportunities to advance local climate action

In the 2023 election cycle, the ELM Action Fund built voter awareness on key climate issues. We organized phone banks and canvasses, sent mailers, and promoted candidate rallies, making direct contact with over 3,000 voters in key districts

ELM launched targeted Get Out the Vote ads in Spanish to boost voter turnout in Worcester, informing residents about election dates and polling locations. We reached over 131,000 voters with these ads.

Green Voter Guide

The ELM Action Fund’s Green Voter Guide (www.greenvoterguidema.com) remains an effective voter educational tool, enabling voters to enter their address and learn which climate champions are on their ballot. Nearly 2,000 voters used the Green Voter Guide to prepare for the 2023 elections.  

 

Visit the Green Voter Guide

The ELM Action Fund’s endorsement didn’t just align with our shared values—it translated into tangible resources. They recognize that advancing climate solutions also means addressing displacement of BIPOC communities and ensuring that public health, economic stability, and access to affordable housing are top priorities. Their digital outreach and on-the-ground support empowered us to connect with voters and push for a more sustainable, equitable Boston. Thank you for your partnership!

Ruthzee Louijeune Boston City Council President

Events

Labor & Climate Canvass Kickoff

As we approached the general municipal election, the ELM Action Fund rallied alongside the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and SEIU 509 to support labor and climate champions. On October 15, we co-organized a canvass kickoff in Roslindale with Boston City Council candidates Ruthzee Louijeune, Henry Santana, and Enrique Pepén. Now, each are driving work on the council to create an equitable and just clean energy transition. 

Celebrating Progress at the Vineyard Wind Site

On August 2, ELM and New England for Offshore Wind co-hosted a trip to the construction site of the Vineyard Wind project, alongside the project’s co-developer, ELM Corporate Council member Avangrid. Our teams convened 100 guests, including lawmakers and community partners, who met in Hyannis and traveled 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. Passengers were among the first to see the site, which included a vessel that lays undersea cables for the project and a newly installed offshore substation – the first of its kind in U.S. waters.

The trip demonstrated the remarkable progress on offshore wind in Massachusetts and encouraged continued cross-sector collaboration. 

Making Massachusetts a Global Epicenter for Climatetech

ELM served as the leading environmental voice calling for robust climatetech investments in the economic development bond bill. On March 19, we hosted a panel discussion at Mintz to educate our partners and equip them to be effective advocates. 

Climatetech entrepreneur Carmichael Roberts opened the event. ELM Board Member Ben Downing of The Engine moderated a panel including the ELM Action Fund’s Casey Bowers, the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership’s Rebecca Davis, and ELM Advisory Council Member Dr. Aisha Francis from Franklin Cummings Tech. Our speakers were clear: the climatetech investments would be an excellent catalyst for decarbonization and innovation, positioning Massachusetts to become the best place in the world to start, staff, and scale companies that tackle the climate crisis. 

680+

Earth Night Attendees

20%

Attendee growth over 2023

76

Earth Night sponsors

ELM is looking good at 126! Your mission is rooted in very basic truths, built on the understanding that our generation doesn’t own this planet, but it is the one we are going to leave for our grandchildren.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark MA, 5th District

Congratulations to our 2024 Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Awardees

Attorney General Andrea Campbell, honored for her support for environmental justice communities. Presented by Lee Pelton, President & CEO of the Boston Foundation. 

Congressman Richard E. Neal, honored for playing a key role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act and his efforts to protect natural resources, address PFAS contamination, and invest in green infrastructure. Presented by Democratic Whip Katherin Clark, MA, 5th District.

Douglas Foy, honored for his lifelong career of advocacy in the environment, transportation, and energy fields. Presented by Cathy D. Stone, President of the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation. 

Your Contributions at Work

Financials
Financial Snapshot

The Environmental League of Massachusetts

Income: $3,178,009
Expenses: $2,466,598 

ELM Action Fund

Income: $467,859
Expenses: $584,015

Thank you to all of our donors for supporting our purpose to secure the health and wellbeing of the environment and of future generations.


Supporter Profile: Pam Steiner

Dr. Pamela (Pam) Steiner, a renowned conflict resolution psychologist, has long prioritized environmental action. Early in her career, she became the youngest member of her local conservation commission, validating what had already become her lifelong commitment to protecting the environment. 

Pam has supported the ELM for over three decades, and recently deepened her connection after learning our organization serves as the Massachusetts affiliate of the federally focused League of Conservation Voters. Once she got involved, she quickly gained confidence in our ability to impact climate policy and environmental justice. Climate action on the state and local levels interests her the most: “If any place will lead the way to limit climate change and promote fairness, it is Massachusetts.” 

Pam has helped introduce others to the organization, celebrating her recent birthday in June 2024 by hosting a fundraiser in support of our work. 


Supporter Profile: Ted Ladd

For more than thirty years, Ted Ladd, ELM Advisory Council member and retired Chairman Emeritus from Mellon Investment, has served as a trusted advisor and supporter of Massachusetts environmental organizations. He views ELM as a key player within this community, stating that our organization fills an “essential role, building coalitions and bringing us all together to be a strong voice to the legislature and the administration.”  

He recognizes the Commonwealth’s potential to be a leader in addressing the climate crisis: “I am proud to be a Massachusetts resident. We have enormous intellectual and people resources. We have the will, but government must step in to provide the necessary support.” He knows our work to educate state officials and drive momentum for climate action is instrumental in shaping the state’s future.  

This year, he helped create a $50,000 matching fund to support our efforts at the end of the legislation session. Ted has confidence in the ELM team’s ability to make Massachusetts the model for a thriving, inclusive green economy. 


Supporter Profile: Dan Harple

Dan Harple, Founder & CEO of the AI-enabled climate tech software company Context Labs, first connected with ELM through its Corporate Council. Context Labs joined the council in 2024, recognizing it as an effective vehicle for businesses to advocate for climate progress.  

ELM’s ambitious policy agenda also resonates with Dan and his wife, Caren, on a personal level. They are inspired by the state’s potential to lead on climate policy, and view ELM as a pivotal force in achieving this vision. “I regard ELM as the premier environmental advocacy organization in New England, and so it’s become an important vehicle for our family’s climate philanthropy.”  

In summer 2023, Dan and Caren hosted a gathering at their South Dartmouth home to introduce friends to our organization: “I want to be sure that the ELM community continues to grow so that we have more people working together on a shared climate commitment.” 


I first connected with ELM via its Corporate Council. I was impressed with the ambitious agenda they’re running to advance a clean energy future. I regard ELM as the premier environmental advocacy organization in New England, and so it’s become an important vehicle for our family’s climate commitment.

Dan Harple Founder & CEO of Context Labs
Financials
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