Local & Green, May 2024
Municipal electricity aggregation is the most effective effort cities and towns can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is projected to happen through the Amherst Climate Action and Recovery Plan. We’ve been working on this for over six years, and it’s finally been approved. Yay!
Local officials, activists and residents are celebrating a major milestone in the move towards the realization of Valley Green Energy (VGE), a joint municipal power aggregation for Amherst, Northampton and Pelham. On April 9, the Department of Public Works approved Valley Green Energy’s application. Now the work of informing and educating residents in the three communities and procuring power supply has begun, primarily handled by consultant and broker Mass Power Choice. The official launch of the program is scheduled for fall 2024.
There are many benefits to joining Valley Green Energy: You will receive cleaner electricity from local renewable energy projects. Participants automatically receive more electricity from renewable sources in the New England region. Your participation supports local jobs, creates demand for more renewable energy on the local power grid, and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions.
VGE also offers stable, competitive electricity prices. Valley Green Energy offers long-term, fixed electricity prices that protect you from seasonal utility price fluctuations. Additionally, the program aims to offer prices that are competitive with Eversource’s basic service prices. However, because Eversource prices fluctuate and future prices are unknown, savings cannot be guaranteed.
Unlike many of the “green” products people receive in the mail today, VGE offers transparency and consumer protection.
Power aggregation is a type of joint power purchasing program for municipalities with no hidden fees or penalties, and in our case it is administered by the Town of Amherst, the City of Northampton, and the Town of Pelham.
If Eversource is your electricity supplier, your electricity account will automatically be enrolled in Valley Green Energy unless you choose not to participate. The automatic enrollment model is governed by Massachusetts law.
If Eversource is not your supplier, you will need to opt-in to Valley Green Energy.
Valley Green Energy offers four energy options to choose from: If you do nothing, your energy account will automatically be enrolled in “Standard Green” service, which allows you to receive an additional percentage of your electricity from premium renewable energy sources in the New England region, in addition to the minimum renewable energy required by state law.
You can also request a “100% Green Option” where you receive all of your electricity from New England Regional Premium Renewable Resources (MA Class I RECs), a “Local Option” where you receive a percentage of your electricity from Valley Green Energy Regional renewable energy projects in addition to the minimum renewable energy required by state law, or a “Budget Option” where you receive no additional electricity from renewable sources beyond the minimum required by state law while still enjoying price stability and consumer protections.
The three towns are currently working under a Memorandum of Understanding and Aggregation Plan. There is a Valley Green Energy Working Group made up of staff from each community and non-voting community members. Mass Power Choice is providing staff to the project under a three-year contract to help implement the launch. With the launch of Valley Green Energy, Amherst, Northampton and Pelham join over 150 other cities and towns in Massachusetts that have implemented similar programs. Many of these cities and towns are “green aggregates.”
The implementation of Valley Green Energy could be a game changer for Amherst in meeting its climate change goals and stabilizing electric rates for customers.
In my next column, I will provide more background on how Valley Green Energy came about.
Darcy Dumont is a former city council member and sponsor of the bill. He is a founding member of the Amherst Energy and Climate Action Committee. Zero Waste Amherst, Western Massachusetts Community Energy Advocacy GroupAmherst Climate Justice Alliance and non-voting members Valley Green Energy Working GroupContact details: email address.
