By K.B. Sherman, Contributng Writer
Grafton – The Grafton Board of Selectmen heard presentations from two alternative electricity supply companies at its Dec. 1 meeting as a result of a study done by the Grafton Energy Study Committee.
Using the Solarize Mass Program (http://www.masscec.com/solarizemass) as a springboard, the first of two teams heard was from Direct Energy Solar (DSE), with Jill Appel, director of community programs presenting. The Solarize Mass Program seeks to increase the adoption of small-scale solar electricity in participating communities through a competitive tiered pricing structure that increases the savings for everyone as more home and business owners sign contracts. A premise of the presentations is that companies that offer town residents and businesses lower electricity rate through aggregating them into a town contract allow each participant to share savings through bulk providing of electric power from an independent vendor.
According to Appel the company provides solar power panels, associated electronics, and installation to individuals and companies in a town through a single town-approved contract, with rates per kilowatt hour (kWh) significantly less than that charged by, in this case, provider National Grid. Appel noted that Massachusetts has a goal of providing at least 1600 megawatt hours of electricity by 2020 through solar power. DSE is not a shared solar program, but rather, a group purchase of solar power. Appel said that solar power through such agreements costs about 20 percent less than that through such companies as National Grid, and that over 2,500 individuals and businesses have benefited through Solarize Mass. Communities now running such programs include Franklin, Ashland, Concord, New Bedford, Dartmouth, and Natick. They claim that Grafton already has had about 275 solar power users, with the potential to add at least 100 new solar users, all for significant savings to electricity users, especially with existing state and federal rebates and tax cuts for users.
The board also heard from John O’Rourke, director of marketing northeast for Good Energy (GE), L.P.
Good Energy New York – with a subsidiary in Massachusetts – is a discount seller of electricity. GE uses the town aggregate model by getting subscribers in a town to enjoy reduced rates for electricity by having them become part of a contracted user base in that town. While National Grid currently charges approximately 13.1 cents/kWh, GE suggested that they could sell the same energy to their town customer base for 9.49 cents/kWh, which rate would not bounce up and down as the seasons changed.
O’Rourke said GE is a national leader in this market – averaging as little as 73 days to get plans through for a town when the industry average is about a year. GE has been selected by Millbury and other nearby towns and is working to get the business in Douglas, Uxbridge, and Webster.
Town Administrator Timothy McInerney interjected that no matter what the board might recommend, the decision would have to be made at Town Meeting, presumably in the spring.