HBRAMA Urges State to Rescind National Grid Moratorium
Responding to the growing concerns of its members, the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts sent a letter to top officials in the
Baker Administration
urging the Department of Public Utilities to lift its recent
order
prohibiting National Grid from performing all but emergency and compliance work.
On October 19, HBRAMA President Hunter Marosits wrote to Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash and Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton explaining that the DPU’s moratorium, combined with the department’s previous order imposing a similar ban on Columbia Gas and the ongoing “lockout” by National Grid of approximately 1,200 gas workers, was having a devastating impact on homebuilders, developers and remodelers. The imposition of a moratorium on work by National Grid is “excessive and unjustified” wrote Marosits.
President Marosits emphasized that the HBRAMA does not undervalue the importance of public safety. The association does not think an indefinite moratorium is necessary, however, in order for the DPU to review National Grid’s safety practices. That is especially the case when balanced against the economic harm to our industry and the inconvenience to the public.
In his letter, Marosits cited nearly a dozen projects currently affected by the moratorium that illustrate the severe nature of this crisis to our members. A copy of the letter can be found
here.
The HBRAMA has now joined forces with
NAIOP Massachusetts
, the Commercial Real Estate Association. The members of NAIOP include some of the largest developers of office, research & development, industrial, mixed use, and retail space in the Commonwealth and they, too, are being severely impacted by the moratorium on work by National Grid. Addressing this situation is a priority for the HBRAMA. We will continue to keep you informed of our efforts.
