OPT UP for MORE RENEWABLES
with community aggregation
UPDATE: The DPU has reset the municipal aggregation program with a pledge to process applications within 120 days. Updates to existing programs will only require a 30 day public review period before submitting the revision to the state. This means more Southcoast communities can opt UP as a default in their aggregation program!
Read more here
Download this file to learn more about the aggregation program, watch our PSA, or read below!
Read more here
Download this file to learn more about the aggregation program, watch our PSA, or read below!
| aggregation_handout.pdf |
There are two separate issues w/community choice aggregation:
1. Town level
The town of Fairhaven has currently opted up as a default town-wide to 10% more renewables (Class I, local, New England energy) than is required by the state. People can opt down from that 10% using a simple form on the masscea website. We (Good Energy, the Fairhaven Sustainability Committee, Climate Reality Massachusetts Southcoast) did a big outreach campaign to seniors in particular to let them know how they could opt down. Currently Fairhaven is the only town on the Southcoast that has opted up for more renewables. That green dot on the pic below (found on this site) is Fairhaven. Our group helped make that green dot happen! We want to see more green for the Southcoast. The DPU has recently been reformed so now other towns can opt up, as well!
1. Town level
The town of Fairhaven has currently opted up as a default town-wide to 10% more renewables (Class I, local, New England energy) than is required by the state. People can opt down from that 10% using a simple form on the masscea website. We (Good Energy, the Fairhaven Sustainability Committee, Climate Reality Massachusetts Southcoast) did a big outreach campaign to seniors in particular to let them know how they could opt down. Currently Fairhaven is the only town on the Southcoast that has opted up for more renewables. That green dot on the pic below (found on this site) is Fairhaven. Our group helped make that green dot happen! We want to see more green for the Southcoast. The DPU has recently been reformed so now other towns can opt up, as well!
2. Individual/Business level
People in any of the Southcoast towns can individually (or as a business) opt UP to 100% renewable energy for their home/business by using the simple form on the masscea website. This is easier than adding solar panels to your house. By the way, if you do have solar panels on your house, please also opt up! Participation in the municipal aggregation program or green municipal aggregation does not affect net metering. We want to support the program and local renewable energy as much as possible. Opting up does involve a modest cost increase, but your investment in local renewable energy by opting up is one of the single best ways to combat climate change as an individual.
***BONUS***Once a town (like Fairhaven) has opted up by a default, any individual or business in the community can opt up to 100% and claim the extra cost as a deduction on their taxes. Individuals/businesses get a letter in February indicating the extra they paid for 50% or 100% clean energy for the previous year.
Resources:
https://masscea.com/ has aggregation info town by town. Again, this is a town approved program so each page has the town seal. This website also includes calculators for residents/businesses to see how much more opting up to 50% or 100% will cost per month based on their average kWh usage.
Green Energy Consumers Alliance exists to educate towns about aggregation.
Good Energy (more on community aggregation from their website here) is the company that negotiates the aggregation contract once each Selectboard decides on their energy package.
**The two other great things about aggregation (and why the towns have signed up and other towns that don't have it yet are jealous) is that because the towns all buy in bulk and purchase energy at a fixed rate over two years, there is a huge cost savings. Eversource must typically go out for bid every six months, which means lower prices for energy in the summer and much higher prices in the winter.**
People in any of the Southcoast towns can individually (or as a business) opt UP to 100% renewable energy for their home/business by using the simple form on the masscea website. This is easier than adding solar panels to your house. By the way, if you do have solar panels on your house, please also opt up! Participation in the municipal aggregation program or green municipal aggregation does not affect net metering. We want to support the program and local renewable energy as much as possible. Opting up does involve a modest cost increase, but your investment in local renewable energy by opting up is one of the single best ways to combat climate change as an individual.
***BONUS***Once a town (like Fairhaven) has opted up by a default, any individual or business in the community can opt up to 100% and claim the extra cost as a deduction on their taxes. Individuals/businesses get a letter in February indicating the extra they paid for 50% or 100% clean energy for the previous year.
Resources:
https://masscea.com/ has aggregation info town by town. Again, this is a town approved program so each page has the town seal. This website also includes calculators for residents/businesses to see how much more opting up to 50% or 100% will cost per month based on their average kWh usage.
Green Energy Consumers Alliance exists to educate towns about aggregation.
Good Energy (more on community aggregation from their website here) is the company that negotiates the aggregation contract once each Selectboard decides on their energy package.
**The two other great things about aggregation (and why the towns have signed up and other towns that don't have it yet are jealous) is that because the towns all buy in bulk and purchase energy at a fixed rate over two years, there is a huge cost savings. Eversource must typically go out for bid every six months, which means lower prices for energy in the summer and much higher prices in the winter.**
How we advocated for an increase in renewable energy as a default in Fairhaven in 2020:
Fairhaven gave residents the opportunity to give feedback on whether to increase the town's default renewables by 10% for the contract starting in January 2021. The projected cost increase was around $2 - $3 per month per household. A survey was conducted in June and July of 2020. Members of our group and the community attended various Selectboard meetings to give feedback on the proposal. The Fairhaven Selectboard voted on the issue at their September 2020 meeting and the measure passed 2 - 1. Then we (Good Energy, the Fairhaven Sustainability Committee, Climate Reality Massachusetts Southcoast) did a big outreach campaign to seniors in particular to let them know how they could opt down to if they couldn't afford the modest cost increase.
Fairhaven gave residents the opportunity to give feedback on whether to increase the town's default renewables by 10% for the contract starting in January 2021. The projected cost increase was around $2 - $3 per month per household. A survey was conducted in June and July of 2020. Members of our group and the community attended various Selectboard meetings to give feedback on the proposal. The Fairhaven Selectboard voted on the issue at their September 2020 meeting and the measure passed 2 - 1. Then we (Good Energy, the Fairhaven Sustainability Committee, Climate Reality Massachusetts Southcoast) did a big outreach campaign to seniors in particular to let them know how they could opt down to if they couldn't afford the modest cost increase.
Reach out to Laura at [email protected] with any questions!