Support green energy for our town
By Canton CitizenDear Editor:
At our recent town meeting, Canton adopted Municipal Energy Aggregation (MEA). Simply put, MEA is a form of group energy purchasing in which the town selects an electricity supplier on behalf of its residents and businesses.
Now that the town has adopted MEA, the Select Board will develop a plan to become the bulk purchaser of our electricity, to be billed and serviced through Eversource.
As part of that plan, the town will decide the percent of renewable electricity in the community’s electricity supply. The state currently requires 18 percent renewable sources, but we can do better than that. We can make a real difference as a town by selecting a baseline program that includes at least 23 percent renewable energy, with the option for residents and businesses to “opt-up” to 100 percent.
Our Select Board members want to know our clean energy preferences, so Canton Residents for a Sustainable, Equitable Future (CR4SEF), with help from Indivisible Canton, is circulating this online petition: https://bit.ly/35JbpMW.
You can be part of the climate solution by signing the petition and sharing it with your Canton friends.
A few notes on what to expect after MEA is fully implemented, which could take a year or more:
* Your electricity supplier will remain the same (Eversource). Eversource will continue to deliver electricity, address power outages, and bill customers, but they will use Canton’s price to calculate the supply charge portion of each customer’s electricity bill instead of their own price.
* Enrollment in MEA will be automatic (this is state law), but consumers may opt out at any time with no fee or penalty. If you have an existing electricity supply contract, you will not be automatically enrolled, but you are always invited and allowed to enroll.
* If you have solar panels and receive net metering credits on your electricity bill, you will continue to receive those credits.
* If you have a low-income discount, you will continue to receive that discount.
Congratulations to town meeting voters for choosing MEA, and we hope that you will take a minute to ensure that we choose the most sustainable energy sources available. Sign the petition now at bit.ly/35JbpMW. Our representatives on the Select Board need to hear from you!
Denise Falbo
Board member, Canton Residents for a Sustainable, Equitable Future
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=75822
Posted by Canton Citizen
on Jul 23 2021. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
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