Worcester Business Journal

28 Worcester Business Journal • June 22, 2015 www.wbjournal.com T he Baker administration says Massachusetts is poised to hit its solar energy production target, which would lower or eliminate the need to provide incentives, such as net-metering, which allows utility customers to receive the retail rate for solar power that's sold back to the grid. Recently, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton reportedly told lawmakers he opposes raising the cap on net-metering without a "sustainable" framework that lowers costs for ratepayers. Should the state raise the cap to help the solar energy installation industry grow? Most voters in our poll for the week of June 8 said yes. Should Massachusetts lift its net- metering cap to help encourage wider adoption of solar energy? Lift cap, give us more solar energy Best Advertising Agency Best Web Design Firm Proud Winner of Two 2015 Best of Business Awards COMMENTS: Join the WBJ's LinkedIn discussion group by scanning the code to the left on your smartphone. To scan the code, you need the NeoReader. Visit get.neoreader.com to download it onto your phone. Want to participate in the conversation? T he owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox want to move the minor league baseball club to nearby Providence, but have been rebuffed in their efforts to get Rhode Island taxpayers to pick up the tab. While Worcester officials would welcome a minor league sports franchise here, City Manager Edward Augustus has made it clear that Worcester will not use public money to build a stadium for the team. But is it worth the effort? Not for a stadium, voters said last week. Should Worcester use public funds to help bring the Pawtucket Red Sox here? Public money for PawSox? For the most part, no F L A S H P O L L T A L K B A C K 65% Yes "The less dependent we are on fossil fuels, the better! Other countries have far outpaced us already." "The reimbursement at retail cost allows the residential customers, the main consumers of net-metering credits, to not pay for the infrastructure costs. (It) would be like letting all electric cars to use the Pike for free." 18% Yes KNOW ETHICAL LIMITS ON USE OF DRONES Our Page One story in the June 8 issue (Drones take flight in business) drew this comment on the ethical implications of using the airborne devices: "It's a complicated world and the issues need to be thoughtfully discussed. There will always be people who are abusive." Online reader TechSandBox SPREAD OUT THE GAMES ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS? As Boston continues its push to host the 2024 Olympic Games, a recent poll revealed that voters across Massachusetts are much more inclined to support a Games in which events are spread around the state rather than concentrated in Boston. In a LinkedIn discussion, two readers aren't crazy about the idea. "Hosting the Olympics in Massachusetts is guaranteed to cost every taxpayer in the commonwealth substantial dollars – with no long-term advantages, no matter what we're being told." LinkedIn group member Matt LaBarre "The word 'boondoggle' comes to mind." LinkedIn group member Brian O'Mallley 30% No 5% Not sure "The current cap should continue as it is, but … over time, like a business deduction it should start weaning down." 44% No 38% Only for infrastructure improvements "It's doubtful that the revenue brought in would offset the cost of the stadium over any time frame." "This would be a great investment for Worcester and its taxpayers!" "Support and enjoy the Bravehearts!"

• Cover