Taking a pass on gas

It seems like a day barely goes by without someone else jumping into the content creation game. That includes a former energy regulator who served under Gov. Maura Healey.

Jamie Van Nostrand, who worked for two and a half years as chair of Healey’s Department of Public Utilities, which oversees natural gas, electric power and water companies, left the post last year, landing at a nonprofit as its policy director.

Earlier this month he and his colleagues launched “Based Rates,” a Substack-based newsletter that takes its name from energy sector jargon and slang that means “being unapologetically authentic” about views that could be unpopular.

Van Nostrand, 70, admits he didn’t come up with the name. He credits Mike Bloomberg, the executive director of the nonprofit, which is called The Future of Heat Initiative (FoHI). Bloomberg – not the former New York mayor with the same name – once worked for the mayor of Holyoke and co-founded Groundwork Data, an advisory group focused on energy issues. The group has had consulting agreements with state agencies, as well as the attorney general’s office.

Van Nostrand met Bloomberg via Groundwork Data, and attended FoHI’s first meeting more than a year ago in Cambridge. Bruce Biewald is also involved as a co-founder and board chair, and the man behind the research and consulting firm Synapse Energy Economics.

Van Nostrand said FOHi’s mission involves increasing awareness about the spending on gas infrastructure, something he focused on as DPU chair. “The path we’re going down in Massachusetts is not sustainable,” he said. “People are transitioning from natural gas to electric” but gas companies keep spending money on replacing pipes. Two-thirds of the energy bill is for delivery and one third is for the gas, he added.“Those numbers are going to keep getting worse.”

They’re looking to work directly with regulators – who also make up the main audience for the newsletter – and governors, providing advice rather than getting directly involved in rate cases.

While he ran into Healey in Phoenix at a Democratic Governors Association meeting last December, Van Nostrand steered clear of Massachusetts and its officials. He said rules prohibit him from engaging his former colleagues, particularly on active proceedings, since he left Oct. 17, less than a year ago. His departure was part of a larger DPU shakeup.

Van Nostrand said he had previously told Healey energy chief Rebecca Tepper, who he called “my favorite boss of all time,” that he would not be able to serve out his full term. His wife, who teaches at Temple University, had to come back in-person in the fall, and the idea of commuting between Philadelphia and Boston was unappealing.

But there is plenty of work in other states “that are really tackling energy affordability and indicating they’re taking a serious dive into how rate regulation works,” he said. FoHI has been talking to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office, as well as officials in Illinois and Maryland. He noted that New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill in January released executive orders freezing utility bills and directing requests for proposals for energy and battery storage. “She’s really tackling the same issues we’re grappling with.”

He acknowledged many of the states are Democratic-leaning. “A lot of the red states, they like their natural gas and they don’t want to discuss transitioning away. We have to make the case it’s about affordability.”

“We’ve only been around for 18 months,” he added, referring toFoHI. “Those are the states that are calling us. If a red state calls us, we’re happy to help out. But it’s the blue states that have been calling.”

The more newsletters the merrier, I say. Send along your favorite newsletters, aside from this one, of course: gin@massterlist.com.

HAPPENING TODAY

9:30 | Gov. Maura Healey offers remarks at the 2026 International Association of Chiefs of Police Division midyear meeting. The governor’s office says this event is closed to press. | Hilton Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston

10:00 | American Red Cross of Massachusetts hosts its annual advocacy day while March is recognized as Red Cross month. Sens. Bill Driscoll and Julian Cyr and Rep. Steven Ultrino are set to provide remarks. | Nurses Hall, State House, Boston

12:00 | Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will give the keynote address at the Boston Municipal Research Bureau’s 94th annual meeting. | Seaport Hotel Boston, 1 Seaport Lane, Boston

12:00 | Sen. Michael Rodrigues and Rep. Richard Haggerty are the speakers at the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs‘ annual legislative reception. | Great Hall, State House, Boston

12:00 | Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools superintendent Mary Skipper host a roundtable discussion to highlight Advanced Placement courses’ role in BPS’ college, career and life readiness strategy for secondary schools. The discussion will be with educators, TechBoston students and those enrolled in AP courses. | TechBoston Academy at 35 Peacevale Road, Dorchester

1:30 | John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum will host a celebration of the naturalization of about 175 new citizens at a ceremony presided by the Judge Brian Murphy. The citizenship candidates are presented to the court by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. | Columbia Point, Boston

… An Author Talk at the State Library with retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer has been postponed….

AROUND TOWN

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) State Council has endorsed U.S. Sen. Ed Markey for reelection in the Democratic primary against Rep. Seth Moulton. The union represents 10,000 Bay State people who work at the MBTA, Boston Water and Sewer and the manufacturing sector.

A top aide to Rep. Ayanna Pressley when she was on the Boston City Council is opening up her own shop. Jessica Ridge launched her website earlier this month. She had previously worked at UpTogether, a national nonprofit, for the last six years. In addition to her seven years working for Pressley in City Hall, she also managed her 2011 council reelection campaign.

Daniel Lander, the senior Boston City Hall aide challenging incumbent Sen. William Brownsberger in a Democratic primary, has hired Will Woodring as his campaign manager. Woodring worked for Acton Rep. Dan Sena and was an organizer for the State House employee union. Lander, who will face off against Brownsberger in September, was recently endorsed by IBEW Local 2222, which represents telecom and high tech workers, and has been involved in the State House unionization efforts.

NEWS NEXT DOOR

WORLD CUP LATEST: Foxborough won its standoff with local World Cup organizers, agreeing to a deal with the Kraft Group on security funding for the soccer matches that will be held inside Gillette Stadium. The sides credited Gov. Maura Healey, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Sen. Paul Feeney, among others, for helping them reach a deal. – Boston Globe

PROTECTED STATUS: The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to step in and rule on a program that allows Haitians to stay in the country on a temporary basis. A federal judge stopped the administration from ending the program. The move comes a day after Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune, joined by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and others, worked to set up a new $4.4 million legal assistance fund for immigrants. – SCOTUSblog

FLAG ON PLAY: The economic impact of the World Cup in Massachusetts may be more limited than advertised, with some skeptics saying it will fall below the $1 billion touted by organizers. – Boston Business Journal

LONG, WINDING ROAD: A public transit-focused fix for Blue Hill Avenue has been debated for decades after the removal of trolley service led to it to become a commuter-dominated thoroughfare, rather than the business district it once was. A center bus lane is at the center of the latest fight. – Dorchester Reporter

FROM BEACON HILL

NUCLEAR POWER: Gov. Maura Healey has jumped on a bipartisan bandwagon formed around nuclear power, filing a bill that would strip out a state law creating hurdles for new projects. But new plants are expensive, and there are questions about the latest technologies. – CommonWealth Beacon

SHELTER CONTRACTS: State contracts with shelter providers will be up for a re-bid for the second time in nearly 20 years as housing officials look to rework a shelter system in the aftermath of a crisis driven by an influx of migrants. – State House News Service (gift link)

HEALTHCARE SPENDING: Health care spending has continued to jump past the 3.6% benchmark, increasing by 5.7% in 2024, according to a Center for Health Information and Analysis. – Boston Business Journal

2026 CAMPAIGN FIX

CAUCUS REPORT: There are indications that Seth Moulton, in his run against incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, may be struggling in Democratic caucuses ahead of the party’s convention in May. – Boston Globe

RENT CONTROL REPORT: Massachusetts could face a “fiscal tsunami” if rent control returns via a 2026 ballot question, as residential property values would fall and take tax revenue with them, according to a new report from the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University and the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. – CommonWealth Beacon

TRAHAN CHALLENGER: Gary Grossi, a retired U.S. Army colonel and Republican from Acton, is challenging U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan. Grossi indicated he plans to focus on border security and drug addiction treatment issues. – Eagle-Tribune

HEARING HIM OUT: The Democrat running against Republican Rep. Nick Boldyga, who represents Agawam and Southwick, says the lawmaker didn’t attend committee hearings in 2025. – MassLive

COUNCILOR V. COUNCILOR: Springfield City Councilor Michael Fenton is looking for a rematch with Governor’s Councilor Tara Jacobs. Fenton, who lost to Jacobs in a four-way 2022 primary, pulled papers for the seat. – Western Mass. Politics & Insight