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Date: 12/20/2022
SPRINGFIELD – The City Council approved the adoption of an order supporting Community Choice Energy Authorization during their Dec. 5 meeting. The order was originally conceived by City Council President Jesse Lederman, Ward 1 City Councilor and Sustainability & Environment Committee Chair Maria Perez and Ward 8 City Councilor and Maintenance and Development Committee Chair Zaida Govan.
Community Choice Energy Aggregation is a Massachusetts program that allows local communities to assume the responsibility of contracting the supply source of electricity that flows to ratepayers in their municipality. Over 170 cities and towns in Massachusetts have Community Choice Energy Aggregation plans in place, including Boston and Worcester.
Eversource is currently Springfield’s electric utility. Under the Community Choice Energy Aggregation, Eversource will still deliver energy, but Springfield businesses and residents could decide between Eversource’s energy supply and the supply provide by the city’s aggregation agreement.
In her introductory remarks, Perez said that energy costs continue to be one of the most taxing issues facing Springfield residents. She shared that she, Lederman and Govan hosted several meetings with Community Choice Energy Aggregation during the development of the City Council’s proposal.
“The most important issue facing our community is the unstable cost of electricity,” said Perez.
Lederman explained that Community Choice Energy Aggregation was a City Council topic of discussion for “many years,” originally being conceived by the former Green Committee that featured current City Council members, such as Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton, Ward 3 City Councilor Melvin Edwards and Ward 7 City Councilor Timothy Allen.
“This is something we have wanted to advance in the city of Springfield, but have not yet had the opportunity to do so,” said Lederman.
Lederman discussed the need for the energy program. He stressed that the ability for municipalities to create their own energy contracts ensures that Springfield receives the best deal.
“By adopting a Community Choice Energy Aggregation plan in partnership with the commonwealth, the city of Springfield can assume that responsibility and it can go out and contract on behalf of the residents and businesses of Springfield to ensure that they are getting a strong deal on the supply side of their electricity,” said Lederman.
The Community Choice Energy Aggregation program also allows Springfield to establish thresholds for what they seek in their electrical supply, such as rate stabilization. Currently, the supply and delivery rates for energy can change every six months.
“That can lead to a lot of chaos for ratepayers. Through Community Choice Energy Aggregation, we can advance longer term contracts with energy suppliers and really address that issue for our residents,” said Lederman.
Lederman also highlighted how Community Choice Energy Aggregation programing promotes developing renewable energy sources.
“We know that cities like Springfield are going to be the ones that suffer the most from pollution as a result of energy generation. Through Community Choice Energy Aggregation, we can make sure when we are paying our bills, we are supporting the development of renewable energy,” said Lederman.
The program allows residents and businesses to opt in or opt out at any time. This gives both parties the ability to decide what rate they would like to pay, according to Lederman.
Lederman stressed that the council’s approval of the order is a “first step” for Community Choice Energy Aggregation. The approval allows Mayor Domenic Sarno’s administration to contract a consultant that will seek out different energy rates and submit a request for proposal before operating a community education campaign. Each step would then allow Springfield to finalize their optional energy plan with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.
Lederman also spotlighted the importance of the nonprofit coalition Live Well Springfield, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, the Pioneer Valley Planning Committee and Arise for Social Justice throughout the development of the City Council’s order.
“We have community support and individuals who are working in our neighborhoods to understand the process,” said Lederman.
In her remarks, Govan applauded Community Choice Energy Authorization and stressed the need for it in Springfield.
“This would be a great project for us to take on … I am excited to see this coming forth. I am really excited about the possibility of us getting to a very efficient way of producing energy along with saving money for our residents,” said Govan.
Perez said the additional energy supply opportunities provides more options amidst rising energy costs.
“The city has been dealing with the outrage of bills, they don’t have options … This is really an important issue for the community, because they feel that their utility bills are going up and up and there are no answers,” said Perez.
The City Council approved the Community Choice Energy Authorization order in a unanimous vote.