Contact: Calish Castro, (617) 423-5775, or calish.castro@sierraclub.org
Boston, MA -- Following yesterday’s well-attended public hearing, the Boston City Council voted unanimously in support of a resolution to authorize the adoption of a Community Choice Energy (CCE) program in the city.
Community Choice Energy (also known as municipal aggregation) has already been successfully implemented in a number of Massachusetts cities and towns, including Melrose, Dedham, and Brookline. Through this process Boston would be authorized to contract for electricity on behalf of their residents and small businesses. By taking advantage of bulk purchasing negotiating power, the City would be able to require a higher percentage of renewable energy, above and beyond the level required by law. If implemented, this program would also help to stabilize energy prices in the City and provide market incentives for renewable energy projects in Massachusetts and New England.
Although there is no anticipated additional cost to residents or small businesses, they would be able to opt out of the program at any time and return to their original Eversource rate.
“With this bold move today the Boston City Council has made it clear Boston is a leading city in the fight against climate change,” Emily Norton, Massachusetts Chapter Director for the Sierra Club said. “Community choice energy means more local jobs, better public health, stable electricity prices, and more access to clean, renewable energy for all Bostonians. We are especially grateful to Council President Wu and Councilor O’Malley for their leadership pushing CCE forward.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.