Lexington, MA– Republican Gubernatorial Candidate and former Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Mike Kennealy, submitted formal testimony today ahead of Governor Maura Healey’s appearance before the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy regarding her legislation, H.4144.

Kennealy’s testimony reflects the frustration of Massachusetts families facing skyrocketing energy costs and calls attention to what he describes as a crisis of the Governor’s own making. His remarks urge lawmakers to hold Governor Healey accountable for the energy affordability crisis that has gripped the Commonwealth.

In his testimony, Kennealy stated:

“Massachusetts citizens are rightfully furious that their lived experiences are being overwritten by political theater and partisan stunts. Outrageous energy bills can be traced back directly to Maura Healey’s partisan climate agenda.”

Kennealy called on Governor Healey to answer the questions on Massachusetts residents’ minds as it pertains to energy.

• A majority of state residents rely on affordable, reliable natural gas. Are you in favor, as some in your Administration are, of forcing those residents to give up their gas service?
• Do you stand by your decision to block natural gas pipelines? If so, what do you tell the single parents, individuals living on fixed incomes and young families struggling to get by that are crippled by high energy costs?
• Massachusetts is in the midst of a heatwave, which could turn deadly for individuals unable to afford to cool their homes or if the grid faces a capacity issue – what has ISO-NE told your office about the state’s energy supply and the grid’s ability to meet demand? What advice do you offer low- and fixed-income individuals suffering through this heat wave?
• Do you think it is fair for a ratepayer in Roxbury or Springfield, many of whom are also renters, to subsidize heat pumps for millionaire homeowners in Newton and Wellesley?
• Economic growth and housing development relies on sound, fiscally prudent energy policies. How do you plan to grow the economy and expand housing when the state’s environmental decarbonization policies make energy less reliable and unaffordable?
• What steps has the administration taken to ensure that no more environmental catastrophes occur due to the failure of offshore wind infrastructure?

Kennealy concluded his testimony by emphasizing the burden Governor Healey’s energy policies have placed on families across the Commonwealth:

“I am submitting this testimony today on behalf of the citizens of Massachusetts to express their rightful outrage over Maura Healey’s failed yet flaunted energy ‘policies’ that have left Massachusetts residents pinching pennies to heat and cool their homes.”

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Written Testimony:

Members of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, 

I write today in regard to H. 4144, Governor Healey’s reactionary legislation to the energy affordability crisis she helped manufacture. In 2015, then-Attorney General Healey commissioned a study that argued ISO-NE will not have a “reliability deficiency” through 2030. However, just today, June 24, 2025, ISO-NE expressed concern about energy availability during a peak wave. 

Even before she was Governor, Healey’s approach to energy can be defined by her belief that she knows better – now ratepayers are dealing with the consequences. 

The Governor has spent her tenure talking about affordability and claiming to bring down energy costs. Over the past several months I have been out in communities across the Commonwealth – the reality does not reflect the rhetoric. Why? Because this Administration does not have an energy policy, it has a climate agenda. 

While I support any sincere effort to lower costs for ratepayers, there are several crucial questions about Governor Healey’s approach to energy that the Administration should answer before any vote is taken. These questions include: 

• A majority of state residents rely on affordable, reliable natural gas. Are you in favor, as some in your Administration are, of forcing those residents to give up their gas service?
  
• Do you stand by your decision to block natural gas pipelines? If so, what do you tell the single parents, individuals living on fixed incomes and young families struggling to get by that are crippled by high energy costs?
  
• Massachusetts is in the midst of a heatwave, which could turn deadly for individuals unable to afford to cool their homes or if the grid faces a capacity issue – what has ISO-NE told your office about the state’s energy supply and the grid’s ability to meet demand? What advice do you offer low- and fixed-income individuals suffering through this heat wave?
  
• Do you think it is fair for a ratepayer in Roxbury or Springfield, many of whom are also renters, to subsidize heat pumps for millionaire homeowners in Newton and Wellesley?
  
• Economic growth and housing development relies on sound, fiscally prudent energy policies. How do you plan to grow the economy and expand housing when the state’s environmental decarbonization policies make energy less reliable and unaffordable?

• What steps has the administration taken to ensure that no more environmental catastrophes occur due to the failure of offshore wind infrastructure.

Massachusetts citizens are rightfully furious that their lived experiences are being overwritten by political theater and partisan stunts. Outrageous energy bills can be traced back directly to Maura Healey’s partisan climate agenda. 

I am submitting this testimony today on behalf of the citizens of Massachusetts to express their rightful outrage over Maura Healey’s failed yet flaunted energy ‘policies’ that have left Massachusetts residents pinching pennies to heat and cool their homes. 

Thank you, 

Mike Kennealy

Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts

Former Secretary of Housing and Economic Development