James W. Hunt, III

Chief of Environmental and Energy Services
City of Boston

Jim Hunt serves on Mayor Thomas Menino’s Cabinet as Chief for Environmental and Energy Services for the City of Boston.  In this capacity, Jim Hunt is the Mayor’s lead advisor on Environmental and Energy policy and oversees several City agencies including the Inspectional Services Department, the Environment Department, Parks Planning, and Boston’s Recycling Program.  Jim also serves as a Mayoral Appointee to the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and as a Trustee on the Boston Groundwater Trust.

The City of Boston has recently implemented a number of sustainability initiatives under Mayor Menino and Jim Hunt’s leadership, particularly in the areas of climate protection, green building policy, renewable energy and efficiency, and groundwater protection.  In January, Boston became the first major city in the nation to require private development to follow the US Green Building Council’s LEED standards as part of the City’s zoning review process.  Boston has also been recognized by the US EPA as the largest municipal purchaser of green power and biodiesel fuel in New England.  This commitment to sound environmental and energy practices has led to the City of Boston being ranked the “7th Most Sustainable City” in the nation by SustainLane Government, a national organization dedicated to introducing innovative green practices to cities and towns across the U.S.      

Prior to joining the City, Jim Hunt served as Assistant Secretary for the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) and was responsible for administering the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA).  As administrator of the Commonwealth’s MEPA program, Jim was in charge of major project reviews for the state including downtown waterfront development, MBTA transit projects, and energy projects such as Cape Wind.  Jim Hunt served on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force and served on the Environmental Oversight Committee for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. 

An attorney, Jim received his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School and his Bachelors Degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  Jim serves on several non-profit boards, including the Boston Harbor Association and the Dorchester Youth Academy, an alternative middle school serving the at-risk youth or Boston.  Jim is a lifelong resident of Dorchester, where he lives with his wife Robin, daughter Ella (4 years old) and son Matthew (1 year old).