EPA Recognizes the Town of Swampscott as a Top User of Green Power

PRESS RELEASE

 

JUNE 5, 2017

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: S. PETER KANE, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, 781.596.8829


 

EPA RECOGNIZES THE TOWN OF SWAMPSCOTT AS A TOP USER OF GREEN POWER
Use Supports New Development of Clean Renewable Resources

 

The Town of Swampscott has appeared for the first time on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Green Power Communities list as No. 37. Swampscott is using nearly 17 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which represents 24 percent of its total power needs. Swampscott’s choice to use green power is helping to advance the green power market and support clean renewable energy alternatives.

 

“I’m extremely proud of the direction our town is taking to move toward a greener future,” said Naomi Dreeben, Chair of the Board of Selectmen. “It’s exciting to not only see Swampscott gain this recognition but more importantly that we’re leading the way. Swampscott is currently one of only two communities in Massachusetts to receive the designation.”

 

Swampscott's green power use is thanks to the community's electricity aggregation program, Swampscott Community Power. Developed with support from the consulting team of Bay State Consultants and Peregrine Energy Group, the program was approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities in 2015, and the first electricity supply agreement to provide green power to residents and businesses started in January 2016. The Community's program not only provides 100% green energy, but it also ensures customers have choice thanks to a three-tier structure as well as transparency in the supply costs.

 

“Swampscott is proud to be recognized by the U.S. EPA for our green power use,” said S. Peter Kane, Director of Community Development. “Town Meeting members agreed with our desire to bring price-reliable electric supply in 2012 and we married that with the community’s focus on greenhouse gas reduction by developing the aggregation program. By making the choice to use clean, renewable energy, our community becomes more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the United States that using green power is a sound business and community decision. It’s an important tool in reducing one’s carbon footprint in the first against climate change.”

 

Green power is zero-emissions electricity that is generated from environmentally-preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact hydro. Using green power helps build demand for the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and helps users reduce their carbon footprints.

 

According to the U.S. EPA, Swampscott’s green power use of nearly 17 million kWh is equivalent to the electricity use of nearly 2,000 average American homes annually.

 

About Swampscott’s Community Power Program
Swampscott Community Power is a Town electricity program that gives Swampscott residents and businesses an electricity supply alternative to National Grid, while also helping to support the Town’s sustainability efforts. The program is an electricity aggregation. Electricity aggregation is a form of group purchasing in which a city or town selects an electricity supplier on behalf of its residents and businesses. The program impacts the electricity supply charges on your National Grid bill. Swampscott launched the program to provide access to trustworthy, well-vetted supply options and cost-effective 100%-green energy. For additional information, please visit here.

 

About Bay State Consultants and Peregrine Energy Group
Bay State Consultants and Peregrine Energy Group partner to design, implement, and manage municipal electricity aggregation programs that make more renewable energy available within communities, support local renewable energy projects, and move municipal sustainability goals forward.

 

About EPA’s Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 60 Green Power Communities and 1,400 Partner organizations voluntarily using more than 40 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500® companies; small and medium sized businesses; local, state, and federal governments; and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit here.