Sustainable Arlington

Arlington Sustainable Action Plan

Heat from a representative of the consultant that helps Arlington negotiate its bulk purchase of local renewable energy for all households and small businesses.

Gives residents and businesses access to additional amounts of local renewable energy generated here in Massachusetts and other New England states. Speeds the transition away from fossil fuels. Saves money by using the Town's bulk purchasing power to negotiate rates. Learn more from this 2018 video interview with Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine, Select Board member Joe Curro, and Green Energy Consumers Alliance's Erin Taylor.  

PDF version of the Community Choice Aggregation PowerPoint Presentation to the BOS - 1/2/16

Interview recorded at Arlington, MA EcoFest, March 4, 2019

In 2019, Arlington residents and small businesses can take advantage of this state-sponsored, Town-approved program providing education and purchasing options for 4 highly efficient heating and cooling technologies:  air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, solar hot water, and modern wood heat (central wood pellet furnace or boiler).

https://www.masscec.com/heatsmart-mass-residential-program-background

Talk to Arlington's HeatSmart Coach:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Interview recorded at Arlington, MA EcoFest, March 4, 2019

Interview recorded at Arlington, MA EcoFest, March 4, 2019

Interview recorded at Arlington, MA EcoFest, March 4, 2019

The Town of Arlington, MA, launched its Community Choice Aggregation electricity program for residents and businesses in Aug., 2017.  The Town used its bulk purchasing power and a competitive bidding process to obtain fair, longer-term rate stability.  The following 3 organizations play important roles.

Dynegy. [energy supplier] Houston, Texas-based Dynegy was selected as the winning supplier for the program. Dynegy is one of the largest energy suppliers in the US, and supplies power to more than 500 municipal electric aggregations, serving approximately one million residential electric accounts. Dynegy began supplying aggregation programs in 2012. Reach them by phone Mon.-Fri., 9AM to 8PM EST (866) 220-5696, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Good Energy, L.P. [energy consultant] is a leading national energy management and consulting firm that has been implementing large and small community choice aggregation programs in various states across the country since 2008. They have partnered with your municipality to design and operate this CCA program. Good Energy is headquartered in New York City and is currently the retained community electricity aggregation consultant for over 200 communities across the country. Arlington selected Good Energy to serve as its energy consultant through a competitive process, in partnership with neighboring cities and towns.

Green Energy Consumers Alliance (formerly Mass Energy). [local renewable energy supplier] For the Town of Arlington and other communities in Greater Boston, Green Energy Consumers Alliance is supplying the local renewable energy above the amount required by the state law known as the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Mass Energy, a Boston-based nonprofit, purchases renewable energy wholesale mostly from community-based wind power projects located in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Green Energy Consumers Alliance has entered into a number of long-term contracts with wind power projects located in communities such as Plymouth, Gloucester, Scituate, and Ipswich.

What does the HERS Index say about a house?

The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index is the industry standard by which a home's energy efficiency is measured. It's also the nationally recognized system for inspecting and calculating a home's energy performance.

...gas pipeline project (Spectra Energy’s Access Northeast pipeline). ... this project is likely to be twice as expensive as previously proposed ($6b v. $3b), and the need for natural gas will fall in the future due to the environmental and renewable energy policies in New England. Therefore, the study concludes, this gas pipeline project is not needed.

1. Owning and Driving An Electric Vehicle   

2. Owning and Driving a Hybrid Vehicle   

3.  Community Choice Aggregation for "Green" Electricity (electricity bulk purchasing)  

 4.  Moving Beyond Natural Gas to Renewables

5.   HeatSmart for Arlington and Winchester (2019 program)

6.   The 9 R's (Refuse, Reduce, Repurpose, Repair, Etc.)

Arlington's participation in the HeatSmart program is one of many steps on the town's path to achieving net zero by 2050.

• https://www.masscec.com/heatsmart-mass-residential-program-background
• www.HeatSmartArlington.com. 
• This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

RECs =  Renewable  Energy  Certificates.  To benefit Massachusetts, choose Class I RECs.  Find out why.

You can have milk from a local dairy delivered to your doorstep.  But you can't have the exact electricity generated by local wind or solar generating companies routed to your home.  That's where RECs come in... click to read more.

Free home energy audits and energy efficiency rebates

Class I RECs -- make sure the renewable energy program you choose only supplies Class I Renewable Energy Certificates. Class I RECs build our local renewable energy capacity, create local energy sector jobs, and support our local economy.