"Energy director plugs in to needy"

Boston Sunday Globe, North Weekly Section

By Lisa Capone, Globe Staff, 1/13/2002

Elliott Jacobson of Gloucester, the Cape Ann energy director for Action Inc. since 1977, was one of 10 people nationwide given an award recently by the US Department of Energy for demonstrating a commitment to low-income weatherization programs.

As the weatherization agent for New England Grid and Keyspan Co., Jacobson's agency subcontracts with 15 other community action agencies to help needy people save on energy bills. The services they provide range from weatherization work such as installing home insulation to smaller energy efficiency improvements such as replacing lighting and appliances. Last year, more than 10,000 low-income households in Massachusetts, including about 800 on Cape Ann, were served. The services are paid for primarily with electric and gas utility ratepayer funds, along with federal Department of Energy dollars.

During the state's deregulation of the electric industry in 1997, Jacobson intervened to ensure that poor people would be protected. According to his award nomination, Jacobson's intervention led to creation of the Massachusetts Low-Income Energy Affordability Network, which is funded by gas and electric companies to design and implement energy-efficiency programs.

Jacobson has served on various national energy committees. He represented the interests of low-income utility ratepayers on a White House Global Climate Change Plan from 1994 to 1996. Jacobson also served nine years on the Department of Energy's State Energy Advisory Board. Three members of that board's 2000 weatherization committee, which Jacobson chaired, nominated him for the National Recognition Award.

Jacobson received the award at a late November conference celebrating the US Energy Department's 25th anniversary and the weatherization of 5 million homes.