Guest columnist Paul Fenn makes a compelling argument for advancing energy aggregation collectives for purchasing energy for Massachusetts municipalities (“‘Local Power for the People’ bill key to a real energy transition,” Recorder, Nov. 21). Municipal aggregation is so popular because it provides the best option for both lowest cost and greenest content, allowing communities to aggregate the purchasing power of many small customers to negotiate better terms from suppliers.
Massachusetts, once a leader in energy aggregation, is now lagging by focusing on buying existing out-of-state energy. Instead, the state could adopt the “Community Choice Aggregation” (CCA) model used by California. CCAs can use municipal green bonds and private investment to develop new local renewable energy resources. California CCAs have created new energy supply that is more than 30 times the power that Massachusetts has generated from already existing facilities.
Developing CCAs can be part of an ambitious climate strategy that maximizes production of new renewable energy installations. This approach would represent real change that reduces carbon and reduces the need for new fossil or nuclear power plants. Building new energy supply will stabilize prices and add to the supply of clean energy.
Marvin Berkowitz
Needham Heights