Boston Law Firm Rich May, P.C. Makes Tangible Sustainability Effort to Combat Climate Change

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - Feb 4, 2016) -  Boston law firm Rich May, P.C. has taken direct and innovative steps toward carbon reduction and mitigation of climate change by "greening" its electricity usage through the purchase of certified Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), covering both office and employee home electric usage, and by energy efficiency efforts in the firm's downtown offices. 

According to Eric J. Krathwohl, a Rich May Managing Director and Energy Group Chair, "Consistent with our firm's strong commitment to the environment and renewable energy, we have purchased our entire electric consumption for the next year from green, renewable electric generation resources. To our knowledge, there are no other U.S.-based law firms that provide the employee/sustainability benefits of providing green electricity to their employees. Also, working through the Mass Save® program, we completed a lighting retrofit and installed energy-saving LED lighting and lighting controls throughout our offices, with valuable technical assistance and rebates provided by Eversource Electric."

Through these and other efforts, Rich May was recognized as a Green Power Partner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Green Power Partnership Program. This voluntary program requires the purchase of RECs, which serve to offset carbon emissions associated with a participant's annual electricity usage. To qualify for this recognition, Rich May needed to purchase 20% of its annual electricity usage of 60,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) from green sources. However, the firm opted to purchase 60,000 kWh of RECs to cover 100% of its annual electricity usage, making it the first law firm in Massachusetts (and one of only 22 across the country) to be recognized as a Green Power Partner that uses 100% green energy. These RECs were purchased through the firm's client, Current Choice and Renewable Choice Energy, and are based on 100% Green-e Certified American Wind power. As further commitment to sustainability, Rich May also purchased 300,000 kWh of RECs to cover the estimated annual usage of all of its employees.

For over 50 years, Rich May has been at the forefront of providing a full range of legal services to the energy industry, especially relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives and projects. In 2007, the firm was one of the initial 19 signatories to the Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyers' Eco-Challenge. The firm expanded those efforts through office-wide smart lighting control technology and other efficiency measures, provision of financial incentives to employees to take public transportation, maintenance of a robust recycling program, including encouragement of paper use reduction through duplex printing and increased reliance on electronic documentation and communications. 

In addition, Rich May supports a range of sustainability and land-conservation organizations such as Climate Action Business Association (first law firm member), Essex County Greenbelt, the Essex County Trail Association and The Trustees of Reservations. 

Rich May continues to influence proactive change throughout the community. For example, the firm supports the non-profit Willka Yachay, which serves the indigenous Q'eros Nation of the high Andes in Peru. The firm worked to bring electricity to their villages in order to provide lighting for their schools and community buildings, through solar panels for power and small solar-powered lights, called "D'Lights." Specifically, Rich May attorneys made significant efforts to establish an ongoing relationship between Willka Yachay and global renewable power companies that support such underdeveloped world electrification endeavors.

About Rich May, P.C.

Rich May, P.C., a law firm founded in 1937 and located in the heart of Boston's financial district, concentrates its practice on corporate, financial, civil litigation, energy, real estate, entertainment and wealth planning matters. The firm's clients include a broad group of businesses in New England and throughout the country. Rich May, named by Super Lawyers as the "Top Massachusetts Medium-Sized Law Firm for Business and Transactions" for the last two years, provides the breadth and depth of expertise generally associated with large, national firms, while maintaining the prompt, personal service found in smaller, regional firms. Clients have direct access to experienced attorneys who are familiar with both the client and the area of inquiry and can provide timely and practical legal solutions.

Rich May has been elected and admitted as a member of the International Alliance of Law Firms. This membership, which provides affiliations with 62 firms in 43 countries, supplements the firm's ability to assist clients throughout North America and overseas.

More information about Rich May, P.C. is available on its website, www.richmaylaw.com, or from Eric Krathwohl, ekrathwohl@richmaylaw.com.

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