Annual Report

Fiscal Year 2026
July 2025 – June 2026

Table of Contents

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

Year at a Glance

  1. A Message from Leadership
  2. ELM's Impact Over Time
  3. Representing Nation-Wide Movements

Advocacy

  1. Advocacy Overview
  2. Toxic Chemicals
  3. Transportation
  4. Grid of the Future
  5. Energy Affordability
  6. Green Budget
  7. Environmental Bond
  8. Offshore Wind
  9. Corporate Council

Elections

  1. 2025 Elections
  2. Green Voter Guide
  3. Fellowship Program

Events

  1. 2025-2026 Events
  2. Earth Night

Support Our Work

  1. Financials
  2. Individual Support
  3. Individual Support
  4. ELM Staff, Board, and Advisory Council
Photo credit: Charlie Nutting

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.

A Message from Leadership

 


Dear friends, 

As Elizabeth Henry steps down after nearly a decade as ELM’s president, we have been reflecting on how much has changed since she joined the organization in 2017.

At the time, ELM and our partners had recently secured landmark legislation to launch the offshore wind industry. Solar supplied a fraction of the power it does today, and energy storage and networked geothermal were in their infancy. Coal was still polluting our air and harming our health.

Today, Vineyard Wind 1 provides 800 MW — enough electricity to power 400,000 homes. Solar drives down costs on a daily basis and helped New England retire its last coal plant in 2025. None of this happened on its own. This progress reflects years of sustained advocacy, policy development, implementation, and state investment.

For 128 years, ELM has shaped and advanced state policy to build a brighter future. Our advocacy improves our quality of life, the health of our children, and the integrity of the ecosystems we depend on. What we do in Massachusetts matters deeply to those who live here and offers a model for others.

As ELM prepares for its next chapter, we do so with gratitude for Elizabeth’s leadership. She helped translate ambitious climate goals into meaningful progress while strengthening the organization and its partnerships. She leaves ELM with a strong foundation and a staff and board ready to seize the opportunities ahead.

The next decade brings a new imperative: deliver the full health and economic benefits of the clean energy transition while protecting our communities and natural resources. Amid federal obstacles, adaptability is essential. ELM has focused on durable state solutions, including modernizing our grid, making it easier to build new clean energy, and improving our air and water quality. We remain unwavering in our support for responsibly developed offshore wind, a critical part of our clean energy future. These state-level solutions are delivering cleaner air, protected natural lands, lower energy costs, and good-paying jobs.

ELM is looking ahead. We envision a more affordable, flexible, and reliable energy grid that powers our buildings and transportation without fossil fuels. Healthier communities safe from toxic chemicals. Thriving forests, waterways, and open spaces. A booming clean energy sector that supports families and our economy.

Our track record gives us confidence in what Massachusetts can achieve. With your partnership, ELM will continue turning ambitious goals into lasting outcomes.

In gratitude, 

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

ELM's Impact Over Time

ELM’s 128-year legacy touches nearly every aspect of Massachusetts’ environmental history. From conservation to landmark clean energy legislation, we’ve shaped the Commonwealth in more ways than most people realize.

...HIKED MOUNT GREYLOCK?

In 1966, ELM helped protect the mountain from commercialization and secure its transfer to state stewardship.

...VISITED A STATE PARK?

ELM led the effort to establish the MA State Park System in the 1920s and continues to advocate for the funding needed to protect and maintain it.

...SEEN A WIND TURBINE OFF OUR COAST?

ELM championed the landmark 2016 Energy Diversity Act, helping clear the way for offshore wind in Massachusetts – including the completion of Vineyard Wind 1.

...JOINED A LOCAL CLEANUP?

In 1957, ELM provided critical support for the Conservation Commission Act, which authorized community conservation commissions in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.

...TAKEN THE T RECENTLY?

ELM has helped advance sustained investment in public transportation, creating a more reliable system for Massachusetts residents.

...PARTICIPATED IN MASS SAVE?

ELM successfully advocated for equitable access, electrification, and workforce development, and continues to support improvements to the program.

Championing the Nationwide Climate Movement

ELM plays a pivotal role in shaping a cleaner, more equitable, and more resilient energy future across New England. NWF is especially proud to partner with them on New England for Offshore Wind, where their leadership, coalition-building, and strategic advocacy is advancing meaningful, lasting change.

COLLIN O'MARA President & CEO, National Wildlife Federation

As our trusted state partner, the ELM Action Fund demonstrates strategic leadership in the fight for climate action. They consistently help elect environmental champions and pass nation-leading climate policy while building a bench of future climate champions for higher office. At a time when federal climate action is under assault and energy costs continue to soar, the ELM Action Fund is stepping up and underscoring the power of state leadership.

PETE MAYSMITH President, League of Conservation Voters

Advocacy

2025-2026 State Advocacy

ELM and the ELM Action Fund are committed to advancing practical climate solutions that strengthen our clean energy economy, lower costs for families and businesses, and position Massachusetts as a national leader in clean energy and climate action.

During the 2025-2026 Legislative Session, our advocacy focused on:

  • Advancing reforms to accelerate clean energy deployment that support our public health, communities, and environment
  • Strengthening the Mass Ready Act, an environmental bond bill that will protect our communities and natural resources for decades to come
  • Shaping effective energy affordability legislation that protects Mass Save and lowers utility profit margins.
  • Securing robust funding for climate and environmental agencies through the Green Budget
  • Modernizing the electric grid, accelerating building decarbonization, improving air quality, and expanding clean transportation options

As these priorities move from proposal to implementation, ELM and the ELM Action Fund will continue to advocate for policies that make Massachusetts more affordable, resilient, and prepared for a clean energy future.

In the face of federal attacks this past year, ELM has been a steadfast defender of our clean energy and climatetech industries, bold climate action, and our beautiful natural resources. ELM is on the frontlines advocating for innovative legislation and championing policies that will protect our residents and businesses from flooding, erosion, and extreme heat. We greatly appreciate the leadership of ELM at this critical time.

Secretary Rebecca Tepper Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Expanding Protections From Toxic Chemicals

Building on progress in 2024, when we helped pass legislation to phase out PFAS in firefighters’ protective gear, ELM is now working to expand protections from these toxic “forever chemicals.”  

After MassDEP detected PFAS in waterways across 99 cities and towns in the Commonwealth, ELM championed legislation filed by Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan and Senator Julian Cyr that would address major sources of contamination, including household products, industrial discharges, and PFAS-contaminated fertilizer. By preventing pollution at its source, the bill would help protect Massachusetts’ water, health, and communities.  

The Mass Ready Act also proposes historic new investments in PFAS remediation, authorizing $120 million in dedicated funding for addressing contamination in water resources for the first time. 

Modernizing Transporation

A modern transportation system is essential to a healthier, more affordable, and more competitive Commonwealth. ELM is advancing policies that reduce emissions while improving mobility for communities across Massachusetts.  

  • As leaders of the Zero-Emission Vehicles Coalition, ELM championed legislation to electrify the Commuter Rail, school buses, and public fleets, accelerating Massachusetts’ transition from fossil fuels.   
  • ELM advocated for smarter transportation investments within the Commonwealth’s Capital Investment Plan and Fair Share Amendment appointments, urging lawmakers to make historic investments in a modernized public transit system that aligns with Massachusetts’ climate goals.   

Dave Gottschalk: Ratepayers shouldn’t be public utilities’ piggy banks

bostonglobe.com Read more

Erin Smith: Battery storage safe, key to cheaper energy

bostonherald.com Read more

Building the Grid of the Future

After helping pass the 2024 climate omnibus law, ELM evolved its work to focus more deeply on implementation, ensuring the law delivers on its promise of new clean energy. Erin Smith joined ELM in April 2025 after serving in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office, bringing deep expertise in policy, energy markets, and grid modernization.

Erin’s leadership has made ELM a major voice on state and regional efforts to improve clean energy siting and permitting, expand energy storage, and strengthen transmission – critical tools for building a more efficient and reliable grid.

In her first year at ELM, Erin:

  • Advanced thoughtful reforms to the state’s clean energy siting and permitting regulations, helping ensure projects are responsibly sited, evaluated transparently, and developed in partnership with host communities. Erin is now working to help cities and towns understand and implement these reforms.
  • Advocated for the deployment of responsibly sited battery storage projects that can lower state energy costs, while helping local officials and community members better understand the technology.
  • Developed ELM’s first interregional transmission plan and drove regional coalition partnerships to advance grid solutions that efficiently deliver clean energy to homes and businesses across the Commonwealth.

Advancing Energy Affordability

The most effective path to affordability is building a cleaner, more efficient energy system. ELM led the charge for policies and regulatory reforms that tackle the root causes of high energy costs. 

  • ELM helped shape a robust affordability package in the State House. Our priorities include preserving critical funding for Mass Save, driving new clean energy deployment, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. In the fall of 2026, ELM is focused on guiding the House and Senate as they reconcile a final affordability bill that delivers practical solutions that our residents and businesses need. 
  • ELM drove regulatory recommendations to lower costs for residents. We submitted comments and legal briefs to the Department of Public Utilities to advocate for stronger consumer protections, expanded low-income discounts, and innovative solutions like thermal energy networks.  
  • ELM played a key role in charting the Commonwealth’s long-term affordability strategy. Vice President of Policy & Regulatory Affairs Amy Boyd Rabin served on the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Financing the Transition Working Group, developing recommendations that combine innovative financing strategies with measures to reduce peak energy demand and keep costs for building the grid we need as low as possible.

5 energy affordability policies to watch right now in Mass.

wbur.org Read more

Strengthening Pending Legislation

In 2025, Governor Healey introduced an energy affordability bill (H.5175/S.3166) to provide relief to Massachusetts families and businesses. ELM has played a key role shaping the bill as it moves through the State House, working to ensure it drives down costs while moving Massachusetts toward an affordable clean energy future. ELM:   

  • Offered detailed recommendations through every stage of the process, from the Governor’s initial bill to House, Senate, and conference committee negotiations.  
  • Mobilized over 500 members through targeted action alerts to both the House and Senate, demonstrating broad constituent support for key climate and affordability provisions  
  • Organized swiftly when news broke that an early version of the bill would threaten our Commonwealth’s net-zero climate goals, and ran targeted digital advertisements urging lawmakers to improve the bill that reached almost 200,000 voters  
  • Led efforts to protect Mass Save, educating lawmakers on the program’s proven role in lowering bills, reducing energy demand, and avoiding costly infrastructure investments 
  • Facilitated a coalition of leading businesses and institutions to demonstrate support for a final bill that advances affordability, economic competitiveness, and strong climate goals.  

 

As we face escalating energy prices, it remains paramount that we maximize energy efficiency and available clean energy resources while reducing our reliance on volatile fossil fuels. The result is a win-win-win for our economy, communities, and environment

AMY BOYD RABIN, Vice President of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Environmental League of Massachusetts

Advancing Our Green Budget

As leaders of the Green Budget Coalition, ELM works to ensure Massachusetts’ environmental agencies have the staff, resources, and funding needed to achieve the Commonwealth’s climate and environmental goals.

The coalition advocated for a robust FY27 state budget that supports agencies responsible for:

Preserving residents’ access to clean air and water (Department of Environmental Protection)

Reducing flooding and restoring riverways, wetlands, and coasts (Division of Ecological Restoration)

Ensuring equitable access to the outdoors and preparing state-owned land for future climate impacts (Department of Conservation & Recreation)

Securing and deploying new renewable energy resources and supporting local emissions-reduction initiatives (Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs)

Providing assistance to municipalities looking to approve new clean energy projects (The Department of Energy Resources)

Holding utilities accountable and advocating for the interests of ratepayers (Department of Public Utilities)

Despite being disproportionately impacted by air pollution, many Gateway Cities don't have state-run quality monitors

commonwealthbeacon.org Read more

Building A More Resilient Commonwealth

In 2026, ELM worked closely with lawmakers to shape the Mass Ready Act (S.3064/H.5518), a landmark environmental bond bill investing in climate resilience, clean water, waste reduction, and stronger environmental protections across the Commonwealth.

ELM ensured the inclusion of key policies that will:  

Building Our Offshore Wind Future

Offshore wind has moved from promise to reality in New England, now generating enough clean electricity to power 400,000 homes. Founded and led by ELM, the New England for Offshore Wind coalition has grown to over 130 members united in advancing responsibly developed offshore wind that creates local jobs, lowers energy costs, and strengthens the region’s energy security.

The coalition is working in communities and state capitals across the region to build support for offshore wind and lay the groundwork for its continued growth under future federal leadership. Together, we are strengthening the foundation for New England’s offshore wind future.

Mobilizing Regional Action

Coalition members united around seven state and federal advocacy initiatives, including strengthening Massachusetts’ Energy Affordability Bill and urging Congressional oversight of federal offshore wind lease buyouts. In total, 50 organizations from all six New England states spoke out for responsible offshore wind development.

Celebrating Vineyard Wind 1

After more than a decade of work, Vineyard Wind 1 became operational, generating enough electricity to power 400,000 homes. The project created more than 3,700 construction jobs and is expected to save ratepayers $3.7 billion over 20 years while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1.6 million metric tons annually. ELM celebrated this milestone alongside longtime partners in government, labor, and workforce development.

New England for Offshore Wind enables member-led projects across the region: 

Maine Audubon

Nurturing symbiosis between clean energy and natural ecosystems is a cornerstone of responsible offshore wind development. Maine Audubon is furthering this research with an upcoming report, analyzing the potential impacts of floating offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine on native bird species and comparing these impacts to those from other energy sources, including oil and natural gas.

Salem Alliance for the Environment

With their three-event series on Massachusetts' North Shore, our members Salem Alliance for the Environment and North Shore Labor Council are educating communities on how offshore wind provides well-paying jobs, lowers energy bills, and advances a future towards climate justice.

Yes to Wind

Support for offshore wind starts in our communities. Through their powerful pro-offshore wind campaign, Yes to Wind, Climate Action Rhode Island is building a network of local offshore wind advocates, educators, and activists. In a recent media press conference, attended by state and federal elected officials, local media, and advocates, Yes to Wind spoke against the Trump administration's continued attacks on the New England offshore wind industry. Actions such as these establish our coalition as leading expert voices.
Maine Audubon
Salem Alliance for the Environment
Yes to Wind

The New England for Offshore Wind coalition has been a great example of how labor, environmental advocates, and industry partners can work together to create good-paying jobs while advancing clean energy goals. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and look forward to continuing our work to expand opportunities and build support for offshore wind.

John Dunderdale Business Manager, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters

Tracking State Progress

Massachusetts has some of the nation’s strongest climate laws, but achieving our climate goals requires continued action. State leaders must follow through with the decisions, investments, and implementation needed to turn commitments into action.

ELM relaunched NetZeroMA.org in 2026 to track the most consequential actions shaping Massachusetts’ climate progress, provide expert analysis of key decisions, and serve as an accountability hub for our path to net-zero.

 

Corporate Council

At Sense, we’re focused on giving consumers and utilities better information to manage energy use, lower costs, and help build the grid we need. ELM’s Corporate Council gives us a valuable way to bring that perspective into the policy conversations shaping Massachusetts’ energy future. It connects the innovation happening in homes and on the grid with the decisions needed to accelerate the clean energy transition.

Mike Phillips, CEO & Co-Founder, Sense

Aligning Business & Government for Shared Progress

ELM’s Corporate Council brings together businesses and institutions that recognize strong climate policy as a key driver of Massachusetts’s economic success. Now at its largest in its two decades at 35 members, our Corporate Council members include leading employers in retail, healthcare, finance, life sciences, and education.  

Throughout 2026, members engaged with ELM on Massachusetts’ most pressing climate and clean energy priorities. Our partners joined us in advocacy to encourage policies that lower energy costs, improve air quality, and strengthen our clean energy economy.   

Members met with Attorney General Andrea Campbell in October 2025 to discuss environmental justice, ratepayer protections, and the Commonwealth’s role in advancing climate progress amid an evolving federal landscape. 

In January 2026, ELM welcomed Corporate Council members to our eighth annual Energy & Environmental Policy Briefing, hosted by the MIT Climate Policy Center.. Attendees explored the year’s legislative priorities, including making energy more affordable and investing in environmental resilience, conservation, and clean energy deployment.  

Members welcomed Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues in March 2026 to discuss priorities for the state budget and the Legislature’s work on the energy affordability bill and the Mass Ready Act. 

In April 2026, members joined ELM staff at the State House for a day of meetings with state lawmakers, urging them to advance key climate priorities through both bills.  

Elections

 

In 2025, the ELM Action Fund proudly endorsed 34 candidates running for office across 18 municipalities. On Election Day, 28 of those candidates were elected, including four mayors and 21 city and town council members, making it one of our largest and most successful municipal election cycles to date.   

Because cities and towns are where climate solutions take root, the Action Fund worked to elevate these races by reaching more than 140,000 voters through door knocking, phone banking, and targeted digital outreach. Our Green Voter Guide also helped 2,000 voters identify environmental champions on their ballots. 

These victories affirmed support for local leaders committed to growing the green economy, expanding cleaner transportation, strengthening coastal resilience, and building healthier communities. 

34

Climate Champions Endorsed by the ELM Action Fund

82%

Elected to Office

140K

Voters Reached Through Door Knocking, Phone Banking, and Digital Outreach

“ELM Action Fund’s endorsement helped demonstrate to voters that my commitment to protecting our environment and building a sustainable future was backed by a trusted organization with a strong track record. Their support went beyond the endorsement itself—ELM Action Fund volunteers showed up for our campaign through standouts at polling locations and GOTV phone banks, helping us reach voters and build momentum.”

Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw, Elected Weymouth District 2 Town Councilor

“Endorsed by the ELM Action Fund in both 2023 and 2025, Mayor Michael Nicholson successfully defended his seat with the support of the ELM Action Fund’s targeted digital campaign. Nicholson has advanced clean transportation, expanded green spaces, reduced waste, and continues to champion projects that lower the city’s carbon footprint.”

Michael Nicholson, Re-Elected Gardner Mayor

Mayor Mike Cahill successfully defended his seat in a competitive race with strong support from the ELM Action Fund. Our digital campaign reached more than 33,000 Beverly voters, while staff and fellows spent over 16 hours knocking on doors and highlighting Cahill’s leadership on building and transportation electrification, coastal resilience, and solar energy.

Mike Cahill, Elected Mayor, Beverly

Former ELM Action Fund fellow Kylie Raymond served as Mayor Cahill’s campaign manager, a connection made by our organization. Kylie built on the political experience she gained from her time at ELM Action Fund and later became Bedford’s Community Planning and Sustainability Manager.

Kylie’s path reflects the Action Fund’s long-term investment in developing leaders who are strengthening communities and advancing a more sustainable Massachusetts.

Green Voter Guide

The ELM Action Fund’s Green Voter Guide (GreenVoterGuideMA.com)

played a key role in mobilizing climate-conscious voters and helping them prepare for the 2025-2026 legislative elections.

By encouraging users to enter their address and identify climate champions on their ballot, we empowered over 2,000 users to make informed decisions about strong environmental leaders running for office this past year.

Visit the Green Voter Guide

 

 

 

 

 

An Early Endorsement For Mayor Wu

The ELM Action Fund was proud to endorse Mayor Michelle Wu early in her reelection campaign on December 17, 2024. “Mayor Wu is the most ambitious and effective climate mayor of any major U.S. city, governing with science, data, and community at the center,” said ELM Action Fund President Elizabeth Turnbull Henry.

During her first term, she prioritized clean energy deployment, increasing residents’ access to energy cost saving programs, and expanding bike and pedestrian access. Four years in, her vision for climate progress continues to drive groundbreaking action from her Administration.

 

 

 

SUPPORT FROM THE ELM ACTION FUND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE PAC

For the second consecutive election, the ELM Action Fund Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee (IE PAC) supported Mayor Michelle Wu’s candidacy. The ELM Action Fund IE PAC worked in partnership with Bold Boston IE PAC to raise and invest over $400K in support of Mayor Wu’s re-election. The partnership launched mailers and video ads highlighting Mayor Wu’s climate leadership and strength in the face of federal threats. The ELM Action Fund IE PAC’s backing helped Mayor Wu start her second term strong after securing an overwhelming 72% of the vote.

ELM & ELM Action Fund Fellows: 2025-2026

ELM and the ELM Action Fund’s competitive fellowship program provides high-achieving students and recent graduates with hands-on experience at the intersection of environmental policy, advocacy, and political strategy.

This year, 307 applicants sought opportunities for mentorship and professional development through the program. Thirteen fellows joined our team, contributing to policy, politics, communications, and video production. Alumni have gone on to build careers at organizations including Power Advisory, UPROSE, the Town of Bedford, CBRE Group, Inc., Native Plant Trust, and the Novus Group.

ELM gave me a deeper appreciation for how communications drives climate action in Massachusetts. They gave me room to bring in new ideas, including ways to use technology to reach people more effectively.

FLORA IBRAHIMI, Mount Holyoke College

 

Campaign & Advocacy & Policy Fellows

  • KYLIE RAYMOND
    Boston University
  • SOFIA GOVONI REYES
    Tufts University
  • SABINE CHU 
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • ANNA PAOLLILO
    University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • BRIANNA JACKSON
    Boston University
  • NAANA ASARE-QUARTEY
    Wellesley College
  • CATHERINE CARIGNAN
    Suffolk University
  • RUBY FYFFE
    Bowdoin College

Offshore Wind Fellow

QUINN GRANT

Connecticut College

Communications Fellows

  • FLORA IBRAHIMI
    Mount Holyoke College
  • MADELINE DARBY
    University of Miami

Videography Fellow

KATYA VEBER

Emerson College

Development & Events Fellow

JACKSON HOTCHKISS

Tufts University

Events

Building New Relationships

On October 7, ELM welcomed longtime and new supporters to the home of Dr. Joshua Boger and Dr. Amy Boger for an evening focused on opportunities for our clean energy economy. The event was one of several hosted with partners throughout the year to build new relationships and introduce more people to our work advancing climate leadership in Massachusetts. We extend our sincere thanks to Joshua and Amy for opening their home, and to everyone who joined us. Events like these fuel ELM’s ability to lead ambitious climate action, expand our community of supporters, and advance solutions for a healthier, more sustainable future.

Showcasing Solutions in Action

Massachusetts needs technologies that can strengthen the grid, reduce costs, and make better use of the clean energy we already generate. ELM brought together corporate, nonprofit, and government partners to visit innovative energy projects across the Commonwealth, explore solutions up close, and understand how state policy can help scale them.

ELM returned to Commonwealth Fusion Systems in November 2025 to see the company’s continued progress toward commercial fusion energy.

In April 2026, ELM and partners toured FirstLight’s Northfield Mountain Pumped Hydro Storage Station, New England’s largest energy storage asset. The visit highlighted the critical role flexible energy storage plays in maintaining grid reliability and managing costs.

ELM also visited Sense in Cambridge in May 2026 to learn how advanced metering infrastructure can give customers and grid operators better visibility into electricity use. Effective policy will be essential to support this advancement and unlock benefits such as time-of-use pricing, demand response, virtual power plants, and improved grid reliability.

ELM staff and partners’ May 2026 visit to the North Reading Minuteman Battery Energy Storage System highlighted the strong safety planning, monitoring, and local coordination required to operate battery storage projects successfully. The facility has helped reduce peak electric demand and save ratepayers approximately $4 million over seven years.

500

Earth Night Attendees

$745K+

Raised for Environmental Advocacy

78

Earth Night sponsors

I want to thank ELM because you are following in a long line of innovators and doers.

Mayor Michelle Wu Mayor of Boston

Congratulations to our 2026 Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Awardees

Climate Jobs Massachusetts, accepted by Chrissy Lynch, Board Chair: Honored for their role uniting the climate and labor movements, charting a course toward a more equitable and resilient future.
Presented by Governor Maura Healey

The Barr Foundation, accepted by Ali Noorani, President: Honored for transforming the landscape for local climate action, clean energy, and environmental justice in Massachusetts.
Presented by Ben Downing, CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

Alicia Barton: Honored for her decades of leadership building Massachusetts’ clean energy economy, and for leading with resilience and vision as CEO of Vineyard Offshore.
Presented by Eric Paley, Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development

Your Contributions at Work

The Environmental League of Massachusetts

Revenue: $3,060,363
Expenses: $3,702,854

Please note that these figures are preliminary, pending completion of the FY26 audit. They are presented on an accrual basis and do not include $1.2M in multiyear funding that was received in FY26 but recognized as revenue in prior years.

ELM Action Fund

Revenue: $787,502
Expenses: $464,468

Please note that these figures are preliminary, pending completion of the FY26 audit.

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

Recurring Donor Spotlight: Lauren Fragoza

Lauren Fragoza has always been drawn to supporting environmental work. When a new job prompted her to seek new organizations to support, the ELM Action Fund stood out for its focus on state-level advocacy.

With a background in tech rather than advocacy, Lauren looked for organizations that shared her values and that she could trust to put her resources to work. She recognized that while individual action matters, the scale of climate change demands systemic solutions. Lauren also sees Massachusetts as an ideal place to lead: the Commonwealth has an urgent need for climate solutions and has the resources to develop models that can be replicated in other states.

Lauren chose to give monthly because it makes it simple to make environmental advocacy a consistent part of her budget. For her, recurring giving is a meaningful way to share resources and support effective advocacy over the long term.

Supporter Profile: Chrisann Taras

Chrisann Taras was looking for a more active role in protecting the environment when a friend introduced her to ELM. She quickly recognized the organization’s role in turning ambition into action: “ELM didn’t just talk about climate leadership; it was shaping it. That clarity of purpose immediately resonated with me.”

As First Vice President & Financial Advisor at RBC Wealth Management, Chrisann has seen the role philanthropy plays in strengthening advocacy and environmental resilience. She was drawn to ELM’s 128-year history of state advocacy, which assured her that its work would continue long after her time.

Chrisann joined ELM’s Board of Directors in 2024 and chairs the Investment Committee. In 2025, she hosted a gathering at her home to introduce more people to ELM (pictured left). “ELM brings rigor, credibility, and strategic focus to environmental policy,” she says. “I wanted to contribute to an organization that consistently elevates the climate conversation.”

Chrisann has chosen to include ELM in her estate plans. Doing so is a meaningful way she expresses her optimism and values: “A legacy gift is my way of helping ensure that the work ELM does remains strong for decades to come.”

Foundation Profile: Sid Thorne

Sid Thorne, a member of the Charlotte Foundation’s grants committee, sees environmental progress as closely connected to public health and economic opportunity. Founded by his mother, Kath, the Charlotte Foundation supports ELM

in part because of the Thorne family’s shared love of the outdoors and ELM’s ability to unite partners from different sectors around environmental solutions.

While the Foundation typically supports community-based organizations providing direct services, it sees ELM’s state-level advocacy as an important complement. Policy change can strengthen local work and create impact at scale. As Sid put it, this particularly impacts communities that face the greatest environmental burdens and often have less political power.

Recently, the Charlotte Foundation has focused its resources on trusted partners with a record of success. ELM’s effective advocacy and commitment to environmental justice motivated the Foundation to increase its support.

 

 

Our Team

Carlos Avila, Community Engagement Director
Ben Bailey, Development Director
Barbara Beblowski, Coalition Manager
Casey Bowers, Interim President & Executive Director of the ELM Action Fund
Amy Boyd Rabin, Vice President of Policy & Regulatory Affairs
Leigh Chandler, Communications Director
Madeline Davey, Senior Data Systems Manager
Grace Doherty, Senior Corporate & Foundation Relations Manager
Mardi Fuller, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships & Communications
Dave Gottschalk, Regulatory Counsel
Robert Hart, Campaign & Advocacy Manager
Kelly Lynch, Finance Director
Ellen Macaulay, Chief of Staff
David Melly, Senior Policy Director
Harry Meltzer, Finance Manager
Lara Norman, Events Manager
Sophie Oehler, Communications Manager
Andrew Reed, Vice President of Development & Finance
Katie Segal, Senior Offshore Wind Director
Erin Smith, Energy & Grid Policy Director
Bella Southwood, Operations Coordinator

We thank former staff Jennifer Delony, Miriam Posner Harris, Elizabeth Turnbull Henry, Imani James, Hope Miller, and Bianca Pokrzywa for their contributions in Fiscal Year 2026.

Board of Directors

  • Gordon Burnes, Board Chair 
  • Bethany Patten, Treasurer & Clerk 
  • Dr. Gaurab Basu
  • Mark Bilbe 
  • JocCole “JC” Burton 
  • Dr. Lindsey Butler
  • Peter DeFeo
  • Wendy De Wolf
  • Kevin Dutt
  • Robert Fishman 
  • Bracken Hendricks
  • Seth Jaffe 
  • Namrita Kapur  
  • Kevin McGovern
  • Nikko Mendoza
  • Sandhya Murali
  • Pete Pedersen 
  • Isabel Grantham Rappoport
  • Chrisann Taras 

ELM Action Fund

Board of Directors

  • Matt O’Malley, Board Chair 
  • Bethany Patten, Treasurer & Clerk 
  • Gordon Burnes 
  • Robert Fishman 
  • Douglas Foy 
  • Seth Jaffe 
  • Eric Lesser
  • Annie Lydgate 
  • Lise Olney
  • Bethany Patten
  • Tedd Saunders
  • Warren Tolman 
  • Mark Walsh 

Advisory Council

 

  • WILL AUSTIN
  • DR. STEVE AVERBUCH
  • TOM BURTON
  • SHIRA TOEPLITZ CENTER
  • GEOFFREY CHASIN
  • JD CHESLOFF
  • WILLIAM “BUZZ” G. CONSTABLE
  • CHRISTOPHER DOMKE
  • RODNEY DOWELL
  • JESSIE DUNCAN
  • SAM FLEMING
  • DAVE FORBES
  • DR. AISHA FRANCIS
  • KATHY GASPERINE
  • ROBERT E. FURDAK
  • ERICA HARRINGTON
  • DONNA K. HAZARD
  • CARRIE JENKS
  • TED LADD
  • GINGER LAWRENCE
  • DR. BILL LUNDBERG
  • MAHMOOD MALIHI
  • AYR MUIR
  • NICOLE OBI
  • MATT PATSKY
  • ALY ROSE
  • GWEN RUTA
  • TEDD SAUNDERS
  • CHERYL SMITH
  • BOB TAYLOR
  • KATIE THEOHARIDES
  • ROB TUCHMANN
  • COLIN VAN DYKEN
  • ANN WALLACE
  • DAVID ZUG

The nation looks to Massachusetts for climate leadership. With your support, we’re proving that climate solutions will strengthen our economy, communities, and future.

Together, we are building a Commonwealth that is greener, healthier, and more just for all.

Get Involved

Invest in ELM

$100$250$500$1000$2500Other

Invest in the ELM Action Fund

$100$250$500$1000$2500Other

Download this Annual Report as a PDF