Hub energy initiative aims to help small businesses

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino offered more details today of a previously announced energy initiative that aims to help the city's small businesses deal with rising energy costs.

The initiative is called Boston Buying Power, and it seeks to allow small businesses to purchase energy as a large group at a long-term fixed price through access to the deregulated energy market.

“Boston Buying Power is designed to give our hard-working small business sector the peace of mind that comes from long-term price certainty and budget stability, including access to energy efficiency programs,” Menino (right) said in a statement.

Menino's announcement came a day after a survey of more than 400 small businesses based in Boston found that 62 percent identified rising energy costs as their top concern.

The survey was designed and conducted for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the city's planning agency, by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute, the mayor's office said.

The survey was conducted to find the best ways that the city could help small businesses be more sustainable, Menino's office said.

“Boston Buying Power is designed to give our hard-working small business sector the peace of mind that comes from long-term price certainty and budget stability, including access to energy efficiency programs,” Menino said in a statement.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)