The Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) applauds the release of new energy efficiency guidelines from the Massachusetts Departments of Energy Resources (DOER) for the 40 municipal light plants in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts and Municipal Light Plants Taking Leaps Forward In Energy Efficiency
Boston, MA (February 26, 2020)- The Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) applauds the release of new energy efficiency guidelines from the Massachusetts Departments of Energy Resources (DOER) for the 40 municipal light plants in Massachusetts. These first-time guidelines, as part of the Residential Conservation Services (RCS) programs, set up achievable efficiency goals within the municipal light plants to line them up with the Commonwealth’s energy and climate goals, officially making them part of the climate solution.
“With this announcement the municipal light plants will be part of the energy solution, striving for the same high standard for efficiency we all expect in Massachusetts. By developing and implementing their efficiency plans, municipal light plants will be able to succeed as centers of innovation in energy efficiency,” said Carolyn Britt, Ipswich resident and member of the Climate Resiliency Committee.
In February 2019 MCAN released What’s The Score?, a report and scorecard on each of the municipal light plants in Massachusetts. Scores were based on clean energy, transparency, dirty energy, and energy efficiency. Individual light plant scores for energy efficiency varied from plant to plant but were generally poor overall. As a result of these first-time energy efficiency guidelines developed in collaboration between the light plants, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the municipal light plant service companies, Energy New England (ENE) and Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC) those scores will start to rise across the board.
Massachusetts has been ranked as the top energy efficiency state in the country for more than 10 years by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Homes across the state are moving away from dirty energy and towards electrification for home heating and cooling (air source heat pumps), water heating, cooking, and electric vehicles. This represents an increase in electric load that will potentially overburden municipal grids without these cutting edge energy efficiency guidelines from DOER.
These guidelines from DOER and resulting efficiency plans from the municipal light plants will culminate in increased service and monthly savings for electric bill payers. As customers are able to do more with the same amount of electricity and light plants integrate more wind and solar into their energy portfolio, the result will be less climate pollution and cleaner air and water for everyone.
“With these new guidelines Massachusetts municipal light plants are positioned to be utility industry leaders in efficiency and clean energy,” said Andrew Grande, MCAN Clean Energy Program Director.
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The Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN), is a 501(c)3 non-profit that fights the climate crisis at a municipal-level. MCAN works as a facilitator to 51 chapters across the entire state of Massachusetts, representing more than 100 towns and cities. MCAN empowers local chapters by enhancing communication, promoting town-level projects that improve communities, decreasing climate change-causing pollution, and reducing development time for those projects. The organization speaks on behalf of all chapters to improve Massachusetts’ energy and climate policies and programs. Visit our website, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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