To the Editor;
Marion Has Saved over $1 Million from Renewable Energy Agreement. Renewable energy pays. A lot.
About a decade ago, Marion’s Energy Management Committee helped negotiate an agreement to buy electricity from four new wind turbines to be built on cranberry bogs in Plymouth along Route 25. Through this so-called Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the town agreed to acquire enough power to supply about 90% of our municipal needs (town buildings, sewage treatment plant, streetlights, etc.) for 20 years, and in exchange we would receive a discount hovering around 20% off the regular rate. The agreement was simple: The town pays its monthly electric bill to Eversource as usual, then every month the town receives a check for the agreed-upon discount.
At the time, the town explored questions about the benefits and possible downsides of the agreement:
What if the turbines failed? Answer: The town would pay its electric bill as it always had.
What if it’s a scam? Answer: PPAs have been around for years, supporting renewable energy projects and helping organizations save money.
Are my tax dollars being used to fund the state incentive program? Answer: No, the funds come from a small fee on each of our electric bills every month called the “Renewable Energy Charge.” They’re typically about $1/month per household.
The new wind turbines began pumping out electricity in 2017, and now – eight years later — we are reporting the results. As of August 2024, the town had received a total of $913,662. Monthly checks since then pushed our savings over the $1,000,000 mark. These funds go directly into Marion’s general fund to help pay for all the facilities, services, and expenses needed to run our beautiful town. Residents should also feel good about their town’s municipal electricity coming from a renewable source and not from fossil-fuel-burning power plants. Compare this with the electricity for the state as a whole: in 2023, two-thirds came from burning methane and propane (a.k.a. “natural gas”). Additional savings are reaped from a similar PPA with the ORR school district, the total for which was not available at the time of this writing.
These renewable energy agreements are a win-win for us all: They reduce emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases that are warming the planet, which leads to more intense and volatile weather systems, higher sea levels, and more acidic ocean waters. They also save the town a boat-load of cash. Marion’s Energy Management Committee has been working on many other projects to save money and energy, and we are just getting started. Do you want to be part of the solution? Join us.
Jennifer Francis, Marion
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