An energy plan should be treated as a living document that can be continually supplemented and passed down to new community stakeholders on an ongoing basis. To that end, a community should annually review progress made towards implementing the actions and meeting the goals described in the plan and update it as needed. This strategy […]
Continue reading...The Green Communities Designation and Grant Program, is an initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) that supports and rewards communities that meet certain clean energy goals established by DOER. In addition to receiving the title of “Green Community,” a city or town that receives this designation is qualified for special energy efficiency, renewable energy initiatives […]
Continue reading...As part of a long-term energy plan, after baselining energy use across their portfolio of accounts and facilities, municipalities should track the changes in their energy use over time. This strategy shows municipalities and municipal light plants how to develop monthly energy reports, building on available data in MassEnergyInsight (MEI) to institutionalize the practice of […]
Continue reading...The Green Communities Act (MGL Chapter 25A) put in place several mechanisms to encourage the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including streamlined procurement pathways for energy conservation measures and energy management services. Solicitations issued pursuant to 25A, as well as questions pertaining to these procurement processes, fall under the jurisdiction of the […]
Continue reading...Energy retrofit projects can have multiple benefits for municipalities in addition to resiliency preparation and climate change mitigation, including operational cost savings, reduced maintenance, and greater comfort. However, large retrofits in particular require significant oversight in order to identify the most effective projects to prioritize and the resources and timeframe needed to complete them. This […]
Continue reading...Electricity suppliers in the New England grid generate primarily from fossil fuel and nuclear power resources. However, electricity produced from renewable sources is beginning to gain clout in the market. In Massachusetts, utilities are subject to a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires them to supply a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable or […]
Continue reading...In addition to energy generated by large facilities, Massachusetts also allows excess energy generated by small-scale, distributed systems to be purchased by utilities (for up to 3% of their peak load) and fed back into the grid. This is known as “net metering.” When the system owner is consuming energy, their electricity meter spins forward. […]
Continue reading...For municipalities that want to encourage residents to think comprehensively about their energy use, it makes sense to bundle both efficiency and solar outreach into one program in which residents are encouraged to get a energy assessment at the same time as a solar site assessment. A community collective purchasing model can be used to bundle […]
Continue reading...The purpose of a Green Business Program is twofold: to acknowledge the clean energy efforts and energy savings of the business community; and, to encourage local businesses to take advantage of energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities, such as MassSave. As part of the program, neighboring businesses or business sectors can compete to showcase their […]
Continue reading...When the biological waste inside landfills becomes trapped without exposure to air, it undergoes anaerobic decomposition and produces organic compounds, such as methane (CH4). Landfills are the largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions in the United States. Although methane is a potent greenhouse gas, it is also one of the primary fuels used to generate […]
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