On the heels of the 50th Earth Day, we’re excited to introduce Climate Reality Massachusetts Southcoast, a group aimed at finding local solutions to the climate crisis and building public awareness to address them. We believe there’s an urgent need for climate action at all levels of society, and we welcome newcomers at our monthly virtual meetings (see more info below).
Like everyone else, we had to cancel the events we’d planned for this spring. Then we spoke at length with Fairhaven Selectboard member Bob Espindola about the regional aggregate energy contract. Fairhaven has been buying electricity for the last two years together with 23 other Southcoast towns, netting savings for individuals and businesses alike. The new contract for 2021 allows for everyone to opt-up to 50% or 100% renewably sourced electricity.
To promote this new opportunity, we’re thrilled to announce “100% Committed,” Climate Reality Southcoast’s new campaign to help convince everyone — businesses and individuals alike — to commit to using 100% renewably sourced electricity by 2030. We’ll also work with Mr. Espindola, local officials, and the many regional green and sustainability committees, to build support for a steady increase in renewables in our joint Community Electricity Aggregation contract, with the aim to reach 100% Renewable Energy by 2030 as a region.
This may be our biggest collective opportunity to make an impact on the climate crisis at the local level. Quickly moving from brown to green energy will reduce our future costs for rising sea level mitigation, environmental degradation, and natural disaster recovery. With renewables getting cheaper by the year, purchasing more, locally generated solar and wind power could not make more sense, because it will help create much-needed jobs in the region, including from the Cape Wind projects.
Let’s honor the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by working together to avert the worst of the climate crisis. The stakes couldn’t be higher: scientists tell us we have ten years to make the switch from fossil fuels to renewables to prevent the worst outcomes of the climate crisis. Please join Climate Reality Southcoast in promoting “100% Committed,” encouraging open discussion, and building community support for 100% participation in renewable energy from every sector across the region.
We hope to see many of you at our next online meeting, on Monday, May 4 at 6:30 pm. For more information, please visit, https://bit.ly/joincrsc, or email crmasc2019@gmail.com> for more information.
Laura Gardner, Founder and Co-Chair, Climate Reality Massachusetts Southcoast
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