Mass. worries the new federal hate for wind energy will home

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Even with State House halls echoing with the sound of tourists and most lawmakers auto-replying with "back after Labor Day," the wheels of state government continue to creak along.

Sure, it’s the slowest season on Beacon Hill — when decisions are postponed, inboxes are ignored, and anyone still showing up to work (read: junior staffers and policy aides who drew the short straw) starts to wonder what’s quietly piling up on the desks of decision-makers.

The major legislation and budgets that could see action someday — like Gov. Maura Healey’s $2.9 billion environmental bond bill, a Senate-backed school cellphone ban and a spending package that sheriffs are watching closely — are all on hold, likely until around mid-September when lawmakers return from their summer escapes.

But that didn’t mean the week was completely devoid of activity. An energy industry bombshell, a pharmacy settlement, and a sheriff stepping aside amid federal charges made sure things didn’t go completely dormant.

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MassDOT is rushing a secretive 35-year lease with Applegreen, despite inflated numbers, weak financials, and better alternatives. KPMG flagged serious flaws, yet the deal moves forward. Public oversight is missing, and $900M in rent is at risk. Legislators must act now. Before signing away public assets for decades, the MassDOT Board must pause and review. Learn more.

Let’s take a look at what filtered through the August haze.

After the Trump administration abruptly halted the Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island, there were immediate questions about whether Massachusetts’ own marquee offshore wind installation — Vineyard Wind 1 — would be next on the chopping block.

The U.S. Interior Department wasn't forthcoming, saying only that "every project is reviewed on a case-by-case basis." While the stop work directive applied specifically to Revolution Wind, anxiety over future energy supply mounted as grid operators and developers warned that pulling the plug mid-construction on any large-scale renewable project could threaten New England’s energy reliability.

For now, Vineyard Wind continues churning away — with 17 turbines of a planned 62 delivering electricity — and construction is still expected to wrap by the end of the year. But after this week’s messaging from Washington, questions will continue to swirl about potential winds of change.

On solid ground in Suffolk County, Sheriff Steven Tompkins officially stepped aside from his duties as he faces federal extortion charges, alleging abuse of public office for personal gain.

While still technically in office — his term runs through 2028 — Tompkins has ceded control of the department to Special Sheriff Mark Lawhorne at the request of Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell.

In a statement, Healey said the department needs full-time leadership and that "the people of Massachusetts need to be able to trust in the integrity of the criminal justice system."

Tompkins' decision to step back marks at least a temporary answer to mounting calls for accountability — though the long-term future of his role remains in limbo.

Campbell also announced this week that CVS will pay $12.25 million to MassHealth after allegedly overcharging the state’s Medicaid program while giving better deals to cash-paying customers through its ScriptSave program.

The settlement follows a multistate lawsuit and requires CVS to implement a yearly reconciliation process to ensure MassHealth isn't overbilled going forward.

Campbell framed the agreement as a way to help preserve the integrity of the Medicaid program and "prevent future inaccurate price reporting and ensure MassHealth has the resources it needs."  Speaking of which, the spending bill mentioned above includes more than $2 billion in additional resources that MassHealth needs.

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Over in the House, action came in quieter form — with a round of extension orders that gave several bills a bit more runway. Topics like affordable housing, school drinking water safety, private well protection, and flood risk assessment all got additional time for consideration, despite a new House rule supposedly designed to force faster turnaround (60 days after a hearing.)

But the fine print is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Speaker Mariano’s office confirmed that the rule doesn’t apply to bills filed by the governor, and getting around new House rules may be easier than seeing them through.

One bill that did get at least some traction was Rep. Bruce Ayers’ proposal to ban tinted or smoked license plate covers that obscure numbers or registration details. The bill (H 4029) secured initial approval in the House and would prohibit a variety of accessories — from colored plastic covers to flashy frames — that can interfere with tolling systems and police visibility.

Ayers pointed to other states that have already taken similar action, saying New York, for instance, recovered over $19 million in lost toll revenue after cracking down on the practice. The bill still needs a final House vote before heading to the Senate.

Once lawmakers do swap sunscreen for suits and return to formal business sometime likely in mid-September (though no exact date has been announced), several weightier items await.

Possibly on the list is the Senate-backed bill mandating school districts adopt bell-to-bell bans on student cellphone use. The bill passed 38-2 in the Senate in July, but the House hasn’t indicated if it plans to act.

Speaker Ron Mariano, when asked in June, acknowledged the debate, saying, "I can understand why people would want to consider it, but I also understand the parents' concerns."

The Senate proposal allows schools flexibility to design cellphone policies that fit their local communities, as long as the policies implement full-day bans and are in place by the 2026-2027 academic year.

Also quietly sitting in the Legislature’s inbox: a $163 million ask from Healey to plug massive budget holes in the state’s county sheriff departments.

The governor’s proposal would boost core sheriff department spending by 22% for fiscal year 2025— from $720 million to nearly $883 million. The Massachusetts Sheriffs Association pointed to costs like staff raises, inmate addiction programs, and especially the no-cost calls program, which has exploded in usage.

"Sheriffs’ offices have seen a 175% increase in offender calls, a 188% increase in call duration, and a 574% increase in e-communications by offenders since the law was enacted" said MSA’s Jordan Noe.

Also a possibility for the fall docket, is Healey's $2.9 billion environmental bond bill. Filed back in June, it includes funding for coastal flooding repairs, dam upgrades, water infrastructure, PFAS cleanup and land conservation, among other initiatives.

Healey has pitched the bill as essential to preparing Massachusetts for climate change dangers, but for now, it remains one more item sitting quietly on a desk — waiting for vacation to end.

KELLER AT LARGE: 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV. MASSterList columnist Jon Keller's guest is Ed Davis, the former Boston police commissioner. They discuss the deployment of National Guard troops to cities, the expansion of ICE, the crime rate in Boston and the proliferation of bike/scooter mobs.

NBC10 BOSTON: 9:30 a.m., NBC 10. Reporter Matt Prichard interviews Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

ON THE RECORD: 11 a.m., WCVB. The guest is Mary Skipper, the Boston Public Schools superintendent.

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Digital Content Manager, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General

Vice President of Finance & Administration, Community Foundation for MetroWest

Program Coordinator I, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General

Director of Campaigns, Massachusetts Public Health Alliance

Vice President for Environmental Justice, Conservation Law Foundation

Director of Administration and Finance, Town of Acton

Building Commissioner, Town of Southborough

Websites Project Attorney, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Research Director, Boston Municipal Research Bureau

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