Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com January 18, 2016 • Worcester Business Journal 3 No one likes to give money back. That is a hallmark of capitalism. Our businesses – and our personal finances – are built upon the revenue we have coming in and the expenses we have to pay for, all under the rules established by the government and financial institutions. If it could, the solar industry would never relinquish the very generous subsi- dies that Massachusetts and the federal government provide for clean energy. Nor should they. Oil and gas companies aren't about to start giving back subsidies they receive for exploration, so the solar compa- nies shouldn't volunteer to cut off theirs either. Higher subsidies mean lower prices for customers. This leads to more installations being sold, more employees being put to work, higher revenues for companies, growth in the industry and the economies of scale that can help a fledgling industry become an established one. Yet, Massachusetts is an expensive state, especially for business. There isn't one factor that makes it expensive but a combination of factors, including the high cost of energy. Now, those high energy prices are mostly driven by limited supply and high demand for fuels, but tacking clean energy subsidies onto rate- payer bills every month doesn't help the cause. At some point, Massachusetts lawmakers are going to have the make the tough choice to scale back those clean energy subsidies, for the good of the whole state. In our cover story this issue, National Grid – as it has been for the past year – is making the argument that now is the time for those subsidies to scale back. Its evidence shows the industry is clearly growing, even without the net-metering subsidy that was used up early last year. It appears the solar industry in Massachusetts is here to stay, even without some of the generous subsidies that have made the state a national leader in clean energy. Our article doesn't reach a hard conclusion on whether it is time for the net-metering subsidy to go; as all good balanced news stories do, it only asks the question. WBJ is on record from an editorial last year saying we believe the net-metering subsidy should be expanded. But, as time goes on and the clean energy industry grows, state officials need to start think- ing about when will be a good time to change the financial rules for solar installations. - Brad Kane, editor This Week In The WBJ Worcester Business Journal (ISSN#1063-6595) is published bi-weeky, 24x per year, including 5 special issues in April, July, September, November and December, by New Engand Business Media. 172 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester, MA. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Worcester Business Journal, PO Box 330, Congers, NY 10920-9894. Subscriptions: Annual subscriptions are avail- able for $54.95. 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Worcester Business Journal • 172 Shrewsbury Street • Worcester, MA 01604 • 508-755-8004 tel. • 508-755-8860 fax www.wbjournal.com A division of: Picking the right time to shut off subsidies NEWS & ANALYSIS DEPARTMENTS 34 Accolades & Honors 4 Briefing 37 Editorial 36 Flash Poll 34 Incorporations 31 Knowhow 35 Movers & Shakers 33 Networking/Events 38 Photo Finish 5 Real Deals 8 Ticker 37 Viewpoint ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS Worcester Business Journal's third annual Best of Business awards dominate this issue, providing a listing of what our readers consider to be the top companies and organizations in the region in 40 different categories. 12 From WBJournal.com to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn, the Worcester Business Journal offers breaking news and thoughtful analysis throughout the Internet. Tweet of the week "anks @WBJournal-Excited to use the opportunity to create ways to destigmatize and expand treatment to this disease - Kim Lenz (@kimlenzumassmed) Jan. 11, on medication addiction Top Facebook post "I don't think this one is going to fit under the tree. A Worcester company purchases a 65,000-square-foot building for its expansion." Another Tweet of the week "Add a zero and I'll be impressed #mapoli" - Pundit Review (@PunditReview) Jan. 11, on Gov. Baker cutting $50M in spending from the budget Most read stories on WBJournal.com 1. OSHA investigating Holden worksite death 2. Area colleges focus on big data 3. Boston private equity firm acquires Gulf Oil 4. House redraft limits initial opioid supply to seven days 5. Assumption grad to star on 'Shark Tank' Editor, Brad Kane, bkane@wjournal.com Digital Editor, Sam Bonacci, sbonacci@wbjournal.com (Real estate, construction, retail) Staff Writers Emily Micucci, emicucci@wbjournal.com (Health care, government) Laura Finaldi, lfinaldi@wbjournal.com (Manufacturing, energy, technology, higher education, finance, nonprofits) Contributors Susan Shalhoub, sshalhoub@wbjournal.com Livia Gershon Research Director, Stephanie Meagher smeagher@nebusinessmedia.com Research Assistant, Heide Martin hmartin@wbjournal.com Production Director, Kira Beaudoin kbeaudoin@wbjournal.com Associate Art Director, Mitchell Hayes mhayes@wbjournal.com Manager of Video/Multimedia Services, Matthew Volpini mvolpini@nebusinessmedia.com Senior Accounts Manager Matt Majikas, mmajikas@wbjournal.com Custom Publishing Project Manager Christine Juetten, cjuetten@wbjournal.com Account Manager Daniel Pelletier, dpelletier@wbjournal.com Marketing & Events Manager Kris Prosser, kprosser@wbjournal.com Controller, Mary Rogers mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com Accounting Assistant, Valerie Clark vclark@nebusinessmedia.com Collections Manager, Raki Zwiebel rzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com Human Resources Manager, Donna Currie dcurrie@nebusinessmedia.com Publisher, CEO, Peter Stanton pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com Associate Publisher, Mark Murray mmurray@wbjournal.com Group Publisher, Joseph Zwiebel jzwiebel@nebusinessmedia.com WBJournal .com Worcester Business Journal Online 10 Companies finding new ways to go mobile The idea that all businesses need an app for smartphones and tablets is fading away, but Central Massachusetts firms are looking at new ways to capture the mobile consumer, including through social media and mobile-friendly websites. 31 Making the most out of trade shows Worcester display design firm Blue Hive provides some helpful hints on how companies can maximize their time and investment at trade shows to engage customers and raise revenue. Top social story Mass. could be East Coast marijuana legalization catalyst WBJ Facebook post: Ballot initiatives continue to move through the signature process. Massachusetts voters will likely be able to vote on legalizing marijuana and imposing a new tax on millionaires. • The story reached 1,541 people and was shared or liked 24 times on Facebook.

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