The Local Energy Advocates of Western Massachusetts will host Ben Weill, director of the Northampton Climate Action and Project Administration and Northampton’s representative on the Valley Green Energy Working Group, at their Zoom meeting on Tuesday, August 20. Weill will present “Everything You Need to Know About Valley Green Energy, Your New Power Pooling.” The Zoom meeting begins at 7 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.
Northampton, Amherst and Pelham will launch their new shared municipal electric network, Valley Green Energy (VGE), on November 1. Information will be mailed to residents on August 30. VGE is a regional, shared electricity purchasing program designed to provide residents and businesses in all three communities the dual benefit of clean electricity and stable prices. Program prices are locked in through November 2026, providing 24 months of stable prices and protection from seasonal electricity price spikes.
Valley Green Energy participants will automatically receive an additional 10% renewable energy share at 13.994¢/kWh. This price is lower and more stable than Eversource residential electricity rates in effect at launch (14.023¢/kWh starting in August). However, because utility rates change and future rates are unknown, future savings cannot be guaranteed.
Valley Green Energy is a regional energy services program known as power aggregation, which is a type of group power purchasing program for cities and towns with no hidden fees or penalties. Valley Green Energy is administered by the Town of Amherst, the Town of Northampton and the Town of Pelham. The purpose of Valley Green Energy is to contract for power on behalf of consumers. Similar programs already exist in Greenfield, Hatfield, Leverett and Northfield.
