[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6611474,"mediaKeyId","2895546-83ee3b1fe7f816cfbad8f8e8f997efc7","parentId",2895546,"title","Somerville committee hears Eversource on grid modernization, supply‑chain risks and potential rate impacts","audioSeconds",2149,"startMs",209465,"endMs",2358465,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2895546-83ee3b1fe7f816cfbad8f8e8f997efc7&start=209&end=2358","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2895546-83ee3b1fe7f816cfbad8f8e8f997efc7/thumbnail_209465.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6611474/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-committee-hears-Eversource-on-grid-modernization-supplychain-risks-and-potential-rate-impacts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611474-29599770b6fe65f56ad471ac94567916/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004946&Signature=W1OrEyikaGsuBUQA3CJXQwVEsgaQz6MlSpTpBm4VUrEZJj37C1sl9LpfZ76gKhLJmy~tUq2GNI4VKskSo~Xv-NG1UkArcdjNi2lBW5Ndrn5AHwybr2g4TIC9uvPkerDPbpHHwwTiP0b2yEBG8iPGjSedyVixso3zTh~z8rCKIlp69hgvUgOgQtfqSBPyJzIIgDtfpXiTKdTEdCH5FFrDTSMuY0Gya1WwDsUR-unSvCS-On6jgIF-dgnhrvplk2JrHvskFZtoSjNS61UpEX0uSnqjzIY8~wDW2JUCwX9QU1Z8ieARamglZpHFFKdI4CTvTOqpgIFdlaxHRYcVW0d-iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Somerville City, MA","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","Eversource representatives updated the Somerville City Council committee on April 7 about the utility’s Electric Sector Modernization Plan and the company’s planning for substation, distribution and underground‑cable upgrades needed to support decarbonization and electrification.

City officials said they want timely public communication if project cost or timing pressures translate into higher utility bills for ratepayers. “I will be unsurprised if capital or project cost increase or if project timelines lengthen,” Councilor Davis said, urging Eversource to notify the public if those pressures would pass through to monthly bills.

The utility described supply‑chain and cost pressures that it says are already affecting procurement. “Since COVID, we continue to experience supply chain challenges, that without question, I think is impacting our purchasing strategy,” said Jason Wright, community relations, Eversource. Wright and system planners pointed to continuing long lead times for major substation equipment and possible geopolitical impacts on specific materials.

Why this matters: the city faces near‑term demand from commercial and lab development and long‑term load growth from potential residential densification. The committee sought clarity on whether planned projects such as the Prospect Street substation (Station 402) and other capital work now under way could be delayed or see cost increases that might ultimately be recovered through state mechanisms and appear on customer bills.

On the projects now under construction, Eversource said some major equipment was already ordered, which may reduce immediate exposure to supply shocks. “It might not have that bigger impact, at least on the immediate projects,” said Juan Martinez, Eversource system planning, noting that other projects further out in the pipeline could still face longer lead times. He added that some equipment lead times “are 4 years, 3, 4, 5 years.”

On the Prospect Street expansion (Station 402) timeline, Jason Wright said the transformer installation is ongoing and the utility projects the transformer will be energized in early second quarter of next year. He also described community‑engagement steps the utility intends to take during construction: “we have a special project engagement team… phone calls, dedicated emails, door hangers, dedicated websites, dedicated phone numbers,” he said.

City officials discussed rate protections the municipality already has. “In Somerville, we have the Community Choice electricity program, and that program has rates locked in through January of 2028,” Director Christine Blais, Office of Sustainability and Environment, told the committee, noting that the program can shield residents from short‑term statewide rate volatility.

On capacity for future housing growth, Martinez said the proposed substation upgrades include spare capacity intended to cover a 10‑year planning horizon: “in terms of substation capacity… we should be okay in the next 10 years.” He added that distribution‑level upgrades are location‑specific and typically have shorter lead times of one to three years.

Committee members pressed the utility on the link between capital costs and delivery charges. Eversource said that costs for many projects are recovered over the lifetime of the assets and are borne across state ratepayers, not only by Somerville customers.

The committee agreed to keep the item in committee and asked Eversource to return with periodic updates as federal and state policies, funding and market conditions evolve.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somerville City, MA - Open Space, Environment and Energy - 2025-04-07","oneSentenceSummary","Eversource representatives updated the Somerville City Council committee on April 7 about the utility’s Electric Sector Modernization Plan and the company’s planning for substation, distribution and underground‑cable upgrades needed to support decarbonization and electrification.","taxTitle","Somerville City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4564,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6611464,"Somerville to pilot extended yard‑waste pickup starting third week of October; city to evaluate at year end",151,4469215,4620860,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2895546-83ee3b1fe7f816cfbad8f8e8f997efc7&start=4469&end=4620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2895546-83ee3b1fe7f816cfbad8f8e8f997efc7/thumbnail_4469215.jpg","/articles/6611464/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-to-pilot-extended-yardwaste-pickup-starting-third-week-of-October-city-to-evaluate-at-year-end","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611464-43c482f9f248bf7b75b4478269cd5a6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004946&Signature=ZQf2E75GPZrabDke6hbfyds5NqzcP6YXcthhikOB3vx3t1GkKEvkbHB-Nlv00YrQ8Y8gjth9Tf6E47Yu2~BOQtSMWvUJkrJ5FFrMco48Sh~ifyu3CCKtVXHNWhGevC9dPJWaXGqt5KuOWLnmiOH173drO828yQqVrSPYqlwwGMecYhsRKCcWEJmTHzvRd4nomqsZYQXyH1rZ3c~cgUlgZ6OR9Obw0O1UsjudU56lUbGP94C1rOXP-ldGBHXVtDxHvk9wUHj2ySx8vlpHe~UzjT258eMq7U~NY47p5yX~~9N-tlcgVGHFSr8sHXsHvBmKmf7RNPvLjLmgdPdmTH1LOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council committee heard an update April 7 that the Department of Public Works will pilot an adjusted yard‑waste collection calendar this year to address constituent requests.

Per an email summarized by Yasmin Udassy, legislative liaison, DPW and its vendor will move the start of weekly pickup back one week in October and add an additional week in December as a cost‑neutral pilot. “Moving the start week back a week in October and adding another week in December… would be a cost neutral solution,” Udassy said, describing the plan and the vendor agreement to pilot the change.

The pilot will shift alternating every‑other‑week yard‑waste pickup to weekly service starting the third week in October, and the department will reevaluate the pilot at the end of the year to determine benefits and operational impacts.

Councilors and residents praised the swift administrative response. Director Oliveira noted the city’s Pollinator Action Plan guidance advising residents to delay cutting stalks and leaf cleanup until May in some areas to support habitat; councilors asked staff to share educational materials and translated brochures as outreach follows the pilot schedule.

DPW said the pilot is intended to be cost neutral and will be reassessed after one season.","The public works department will pilot moving the start of weekly yard‑waste pickup back one week in October and add an extra week in December; the change is cost‑neutral and will be evaluated at year end.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6611469,"Somerville committee closes invasive‑species job request after debate over education, volunteer efforts and municipal capacity",1772,2393145,4165305,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2895546-83ee3b1fe7f816cfbad8f8e8f997efc7&start=2393&end=4165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2895546-83ee3b1fe7f816cfbad8f8e8f997efc7/thumbnail_2393145.jpg","/articles/6611469/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-committee-closes-invasivespecies-job-request-after-debate-over-education-volunteer-efforts-and-municipal-capacity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611469-5ca9f26635fd82eb9579d7f7fd05e55a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771004946&Signature=fExEOvWcymVEBAkvVi0mb0PBFNO3rv14xW9spQSmDedsV4RH5-jpFHiKYixKZERPqStiy6hks42EpLddDUUtTMVuaia2Uhb8dEfdnO1FJ5EJMaVhBHX1eGM~uPICujYAMETO9yGmn5uaDI8DlNQCbL9eVHA6cyrreIEF6fsVnmNEE9SKeHKhZVFkgRv-dsnWMafl3sfmnBmgQ~YqkH4yceOqpuiIAoDRWEnCWhMr7f-S70J~teWlcSC9wLvCImQsdEim7oPEvL2gUrU6U1SdaQalXvVrKoZqPMmGhkpwF6SRqXWTYstIZ6MVtbIkS6Lbe5xDNe2m1KdodpvPUQrpIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Somerville City Council committee on April 7 discussed a long‑standing order to create a job for invasive‑species outreach, education and citywide removal and to allocate funding for the position in the FY2026 budget. After a lengthier discussion of city capacity, volunteer efforts and the limitations of municipal authority on private property, committee members agreed to mark the order as complete with the option to resubmit it in the future.

The conversation covered scientific, operational and community‑engagement aspects. “Invasive plants are non‑native plants that are very aggressive spreaders,” Director Oliveira said, describing why some species are difficult to control and why private properties present legal and logistical constraints. She cautioned that some control approaches can require herbicide use: “some of the more aggressive… often necessitate a pesticide or an herbicide.”

Advocates and some councilors urged more staffing and a formal position to sustain volunteer efforts. Councilor Burnley, who filed the order, and Councilor Bailey said volunteers have been central but that volunteers asked for a dedicated city position to coordinate long‑term work. Councilor Davis described concerns about Japanese knotweed and possible unintended spread from improper removal and urged a more coordinated approach.

City staff described current measures and next steps. Yasmin Udassy, legislative liaison, said the administration is working within a constrained FY2026 budget and is exploring lower‑cost, community‑based approaches. Director Oliveira said Parks & Trees contractors and a newly hired gardener are already removing invasives on many public parcels and that the city will expand outreach materials: “we are committed to… boosting the website about native species and how to get rid of them.” The city also noted recently released Pollinator Action Plan materials and distribution of native plants at Civic Day.

The committee accepted staff updates, requested improved multilingual outreach materials and agreed the item could be resubmitted when budgetary conditions allow. The committee marked the order as complete for now.","The committee discussed a request to create a city job for invasive‑species outreach and removal and agreed to mark the item complete while encouraging further outreach, website resources and volunteer engagement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Somerville committee hears Eversource on grid modernization, supply‑chain risks and potential rate impacts

Somerville to pilot extended yard‑waste pickup starting third week of October; city to evaluate at year end

Somerville committee closes invasive‑species job request after debate over education, volunteer efforts and municipal capacity