A community choice energy aggregation program for customers in Amherst, Northampton and Pelham, which would rely on green energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, could launch as early as 2021.
With a report from the Inter-Municipal Task Force on Community Choice Aggregation complete following 18 months of study, an affirmative decision from Amherst Town Council, which may come at its Jan. 6 meeting, would set in motion the process of establishing the program.
On Monday, the council received the report recommending that the three communities work together on community choice aggregation, or CCA, that will encourage a more resilient local energy system, create competitive and more stable long‐term electric rates and mean broader and more equitable access to clean energy resources.
Pelham and Northampton have already moved forward with authorization for the plan under the 1997 Massachusetts law that allows communities to choose the electricity supplier for residents and businesses within their town or city. Neighboring towns and cities can also coordinate to create aggregations between their municipalities.
Stanley Swiercz of Pelham said a vote by Amherst Town Council is the town’s first legal step in the process. Each legislative body has to authorize development of a plan that goes to the state’s Department of Public Utilities for approval.
Unlike some community choice aggregation projects that aim to reduce costs, the primary goal of this entity would be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Swiercz said.
Amherst Sustainability Coordinator Stephanie Ciccarello said the state budget includes $50,000 for this project, and she hopes additional money for start-up costs can come from the Municipal Vulnerabilities Program.
The money is needed for initial staff, including hiring a broker to identify and then negotiate with the green suppliers, and eventually create programs and other services to fight climate change.
At Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke said one concern she has in going this route is the potential for increased costs for customers.
Swiercz said keeping people in the program is done by having a competitive price with the distributors who remain – Eversource in Amherst and Pelham, and National Grid in Northampton. If prices are not competitive, the risk is people will choose to opt out.
District 5 Councilor Darcy DuMont said she is supporting the program as a response to the goals of the Energy and Climate Action Committee recently adopted by councilors that make Amherst carbon neutral.
“In the long run, it’s my hope that we can be a part of a very innovative and effective CCA entity that will be a model for others around the United States in greenhouse gas reduction,” DuMont said.
Adele Franks of Northampton said her city is eager to move forward, and needs Amherst’s support, as Northampton does not want to do the program on its own.
“We would love to take the next steps together with Amherst and Pelham,” Franks said.
Franks said she sees development of a community choice aggregation program as a way to keep money in the communities, where it can be invested in solar and other green energy, as well as to mitigate climate change.
Alisa Pearson of Pelham, a former member of that town’s Select Board, said the aspect of community choice aggregation that is most appealing is to promote local sources of energy.
“This to me feels very real, very true and very local,” Pearson said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
