Sustainability Comm. backs aggregation

Dear Editor:

At the May 22 annual town meeting, Canton voters will decide whether to authorize the Select Board to start the process for Municipal Energy Aggregation. The Canton Sustainability Committee supports energy aggregation and urges voters to attend town meeting to vote ‘Yes.’

Energy aggregation allows a town to use its bulk purchasing power to negotiate more stable electric utility rates on behalf of all its residents, while also offering them renewable energy options to supply the electricity. If the negotiation does not yield a favorable contract, the town can decide not to move forward. The process is simple and has no risk or cost to the town or to residents.

Billing and service remains with Eversource so from a customer perspective, nothing changes. Current Eversource customers are automatically opted in. Residents who do not want to participate can opt out at any time.

There are two major reasons why energy aggregation is good for Canton. The first is price stability. Right now, Eversource changes it rates every six months. An energy aggregation contract locks in the price for a period of two to three years, thereby protecting all resident customers from market rate fluctuations.

The second reason is sustainability. Canton could choose the percentage of energy that it wants to be supplied from green sources. Right now utility companies are required to include a certain amount of renewable sources in their energy supply. However, an energy aggregation contract can require Eversource to use a higher amount of locally sourced renewable energy to supply our electricity. This benefits Canton and also the broader community by reducing the use of fossil fuels and increasing local renewable energy jobs.

A major part of Canton’s recently enacted Master Plan includes sustainability goals in general and adoption of municipal energy aggregation in particular. Canton has already taken steps towards sustainability by becoming a Green community, establishing a Sustainability Committee, and participating in the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, just to name a few. Passing Municipal Energy Aggregation is a meaningful next step.

Over 160 other Massachusetts municipalities have adopted energy aggregation, including Dedham, Milton, Sharon, Walpole and Westwood. It’s time to join them by voting ‘Yes’ at town meeting on May 22.

If you want to learn more about Municipal Energy Aggregation, join us for a public presentation on May 10 at 7 p.m. via Zoom at http://bit.ly/CantonMEA.

Canton Sustainability Committee

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=74388

Posted by Canton Citizen on May 7 2021. Filed under Featured Content, From One Citizen to Another, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.