1K Arlington Households Switched To Renewable Energy Last Year

ARLINGTON, MA — More than 1,100 Arlington households made the switch to 50 percent and 100 percent renewable energy in 2021, according to the town.

Participants enrolled in the program used an additional 15.1 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy last year, enough to power 2,600 Arlington homes entirely on renewables, and reduced their carbon dioxide emissions by 10.9 million pounds. That's the equivalent of annual emissions from more than 1,000 passenger vehicles, according to a statement from the town.

"The program is an instrumental component of the Town’s Net Zero Action Plan, by providing residents and businesses tiered options all the way up to 100 percent renewable energy," Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine said in a statement. "I commend the many volunteers who have been actively promoting the program, which provides these options to reduce carbon pollution and support the development of renewable electricity sources in New England."

Volunteers with the Arlington Community Electricity program need to sign up 400 more residents to meet their goal of 1,500 participants. The program has conducted community outreach in various ways, including through lawn signs to help residents spread the word.

"We’ve set out around 150 lawn signs by now, all around Arlington," said Alan Linov, a volunteer with the Climate Action Working Group at First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Arlington. "I’ve been distributing the lawn signs since the fall, and the sign requests have kept coming, showing a strong interest in the community. People can request a lawn sign on the program website, which makes it simple to reach us."

Proponents of the program say it also stabilizes electricity rates. The Local Green product from ACE costs 11.029 cents per kilowatt-hour, versus the standard Eversource rate, which recently increased to 15.76 cents per kilowatt-hour, according to the town. This saves those enrolled in the Local Green program about $23 a month, and those who have opted for 100 percent renewable energy about $10 a month.

Information about the program, along with forms to enroll in the program or sign up for 100 percent renewable energy, can be found on the program website ACE.arlingtonma.gov. For more information about ACE and other Town sustainability programs, please contact Talia Fox, Sustainability Manager at 781-316-3428 or tfox@town.arlington.ma.us.