The flows and stores of energy in any system act to organize that system. How Acton and our region deal with generating, transporting, and using energy is one of the key indicators of whether we are moving toward sustainability, or digging ourselves more deeply into environmental trouble.
Here are some of the energy-related initiatives Green Acton has taken on:
- in 2016, encouraging the Town, at Town Meeting and in the subsequent research and planning process, to investigate, develop, and implement a Community Choice Aggregation program (aka a municipal electricity aggregation program) for Acton
- opposing the proposed Kinder Morgan Northeast Direct (NED) natural gas pipeline that would cut across much of northern Massachusetts and possibly, southern New Hampshire
- organizing the Acton Energy Challenge, with Sagewell, Inc., to identify opportunities for increasing residential energy efficiency
- implementing, with the Mass Clean Energy Center and the Town of Acton, the 2012 Solarize Acton project, which brought clean, low-cost, and reliable solar energy systems to residences and businesses in Acton
- continuing the work of the Outdoor Lighting Education Committee by hosting information about light pollution and how to prevent it
- conducting Community Solar research: investigating how the many households that want solar power but can’t have it on their own rooftops could share in the ownership of a large solar installation