Posted onFebruary 1, 2024|Comments Off on DPU approves town’s CCA
This week the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Department of Public Utilities (DPU) gave final approval to the Town of Medfield’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). The DPU had previously given its conditional approval on December 22, 20323, which opinion had telegraphed that final approval was not far behind.
Next steps include selecting the electricity provider for the town residents. Once operational, residents should save by getting electricity at a lower price as a result of leveraging the buying power of contracting for all town residents together, with options for residents to select even greener electricity.
Per the town website – “On the Medfield Community Electricity (MCE) website – electricity.medfield.net – you can read more in-depth information about the program and follow the program development timeline.”
Huge thanks should go to Bob Winograd, the Chair of the Medfield Community Choice Aggregation Committee for steering the town through the lengthy DPU process (a process designed for much larger projects), and to the Medfield Energy Committee for initiating the CCA idea.
Posted onDecember 22, 2023|Comments Off on We’ll be aggregating! DPU provides approval
Thanks to the work of Medfield Energy Committee members Bob Winograd and Megan Sullivan, the DPU has approved Medfield’s application to engage in community choice aggregation to have the whole town bundle its electricity buying together to get everyone a better rate and more green energy.
ANNOIUNCEMENT EMAIL TODAY FROM THE DPU –
This email below is thanks to the kindness of Fred Davis, the former Chair of the Medfield Energy Committee –
Good morning – I’d like to alert you to an Order issued by the Department of Public Utilities today in the Town of Medfield’s municipal aggregation plan. Please see attached.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely,
Andrew
Andrew Strumfels (he/his)
Director of Government Relations & Public Affairs
Department of Public Utilities
The ruling is 53 pages, but this is the summary:
VI. CONCLUSION Consistent with the discussion above, the Department finds that each Municipality’s proposed Plan, with all modifications required herein, satisfies the procedural and substantive requirements contained in G.L. c. 164, § 134(a). In addition, the Department finds that each Municipality’s proposed Plan, as further amended consistent with the directives contained herein, meets the requirements established by the Department concerning aggregated service. Accordingly, the Department approves each Municipality’s Plan, as amended consistent with the directives contained herein. Failure of either Municipality to launch its Program within two years of the date of final Department approval of the Plan (i.e., Department approval of the compliance filing) shall result in revocation of the approval of the Plan without further notice or other action by the Department.
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Resolution Voted by the Medfield Energy Committee about Fred Davis:
Resolution for Fred Davis
WHEREAS, Fred Davis has given generously of his time as a member of the Town of Medfield’s Energy Committee since its inception in 2008.
WHEREAS, during his tenure, Fred has served as a dedicated committee member as well as Chair of the Medfield Energy Committee for three years.
WHEREAS, Fred is an experienced energy expert, bringing his 30 years of professional experience in the energy sector to the town.
WHEREAS, Fred always was extremely knowledgeable and thoughtful about climate and energy issues.
WHEREAS, Fred actively networks and educates himself, both to stay current and to broaden his understanding of climate and energy issues.
WHEREAS, Fred has been a pioneer in the energy efficiency industry, helping to reduce energy costs and GHG emissions.
WHEREAS, Fred and his company are well known for expertise and quality in lighting.
WHEREAS, Fred has continued to stay on the leading edge, advancing and advocating carbon reduction strategies.
WHEREAS, Fred is a good, tough, and powerful advocate for the ways and needed things to solve climate and energy issues.
WHEREAS, Fred is a passionate visionary who leads by example.
WHEREAS, Fred estimates that the Medfield Energy Committee has saved the Town of Medfield over $9 million, and he was responsible for affecting much of that savings.
WHEREAS, Fred during his chairmanship:
recognized the need for the Energy Committee to bring its expertise and perspective to the School Building Committee for the New Elementary School project. This resulted in the establishment of a Sustainability Subcommittee and eventual plans for a net zero school. Guided MEC (Medfield Energy Committee) members to train with the MAPC (Massachusetts Planning Council) and generate the first (baseline) Medfield Municipal Green House Gas Inventory.
Explored low-carbon solutions for the Medfield State Hospital development.
Recognized the need for specialist consultants and introduced them to the Town (with continued benefit to the town.
Lead the town’s adoption of Medfield Net Zero 2050 resolution.
Oversaw the development of the Towns first Climate Action Plan (TOMCAP).
Inspired and supported the town’s adoption of Community Choice Aggregation.
Initiated the MEC’s annual presence at Medfield Day.
Began the partnership with Sustainable Medfield to amplify the MEC’s community outreach.
Started the partnership with Medfield Environmental Action (MEA) with whose support he produced and hosted several community educational and decarbonizer webinars.
WHEREAS, Fred repeatedly attracted and guided new MEC members who brought energy and climate expertise to the committee.
WHEREAS, Fred is the driving force behind the town’s thoughtful adoption of solar installations, including the Wastewater Treatment Plant solar field and the Town Garage roof.
WHEREAS, Fred led the Town’s transition from incandescent streetlights to LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights.
WHEREAS, Fred was instrumental in transitioning Medfield to become a Green Community.
WHEREAS, Fred kept track of and quantified the financial and carbon benefits to the town of Medfield Energy Committee recommended projects.
WHEREAS, Fred engaged in tracking the uptake of climate-friendly technologies by residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the Medfield Energy Committee by action of the committee on October 11, 2023, adopts this resolution of appreciation for the outstanding contributions rendered by Fred Davis.
Posted onApril 28, 2023|Comments Off on MEA’s Climate Week starts this weekend
From Megan Sullivan –
Hello!
What a busy weekend coming up in Medfield. So exciting. Three quick announcements.
1) In addition to the Fairy Walk at Bellforge & Medfield History Weekend, the Medfield Environment Action Climate Week is starting. It looks like an amazing week with participation from many organizations. 9 days of events all over Medfield. With nearly 30 events planned, there is something for everyone! Here is a link to the full schedule with details.
I’ve attached an image you can share via social media or include in an email if you would like to share with your constituents. Here’s a tiny URL if that is helpful: https://tinyurl.com/Climateweek2023
You can follow MEA on Instagram and Facebook. There is good content which can be shared and liked!
The Medfield Energy Committee, along with the School Committee, is exploring the possibility of adding solar arrays to the schools’ parking lots and/or roofs. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a minute to take this quick survey to inform us of the community’s current feelings on these potential solar projects.
Posted onFebruary 1, 2023|Comments Off on Great movie!!! Repeats Sunday at 1PM
I saw this movie last night at its penultimate Medfield showing at the UCC, with about forty other Medfield people, and I highly recommend it to you. Such a hopeful message about what our carbon future can be, by solving climate change with things that already exist. The movie plays again on Sunday at 1PM at the library – do not miss your last chance to see it in Medfield.
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Posted onJanuary 12, 2023|Comments Off on MEA “Movie Night” 1/31 & 2/5
From Helen Dewey –
Happy New Year! Could you please post the attached flyer on your blog? MEA is hosting 2 free screenings of the documentary 2040. It offers new hope for the climate crisis conversation! Here’s a summary.
Motivated by his 4-year-old daughter and concern for the planet she will inherit, Damon Gameau, Australian award-winning director (That Sugar Film, 2015) and actor, embarks on a global journey to meet innovators and changemakers to discover what the future of the planet could look like by the year 2040 if we embraced the best solutions already available to us, and shifted them rapidly into the mainstream.
I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.
For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.
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