Sustainable Marblehead Aims for 100 Percent Renewable Energy

MARBLEHEAD, MA - Marblehead has started on its way to using 100 percent of renewable energy to power the town. According to Sustainable Marblehead Executive Director John Livermore, it's just one of a few green initiative that are gaining traction in town.

In April, Livermore and Sustainable Marblehead started work to get a 100 percent renewable energy resolution passed by the Board of Selectmen.

Currently, he said, the 100% renewable resolution is currently in draft form and Sustainable Marblehead is in discussions with the Marblehead Municipal Light Department (MMLD) commission on specific language.

Once the language can be finalized, he said, Sustainable Marblehead will present their case to the Town Selectmen and ask for them to pass the resolution.

"It basically says that the town goes on record saying that getting our energy from 100% renewable resources is a goal that we all support, and we'll move in that direction as quickly as possible," he said.

This month, Livermore alongside dozens of leaders from across the state gathered at Salem State University for the North Shore for 100% Renewable Energy Summit to share perspectives on renewable energy.

In addition to work on renewable energy, Livermore said that Sustainable Marblehead will also be releasing a report on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Report focused on the amount of carbon pollution from each of the major sectors in town: Residential, Commercial, Municipal.

"We will recommend that the report be the first step in developing a comprehensive Climate Action / Sustainability Plan for the town," he said.

Additionally, Livermore said, Sustainable Marblehead has seven action groups that are working on various initiatives, including planning for Marblehead's first Sustainability Fair, planned for May 5, 2018.

In a letter, Livermore laid out several other town-wide green initiatives from the Marblehead Municipal Light Department, guided by MMLD’s Light Commission that are set to roll out soon:

-Marblehead Municipal Light Department General Manager, Andrew Hadden, has secured a grant to replace all of the town streetlights with highly efficient LED technology.

-The MMLD 125-year old Headquarters on Commercial Street is currently being renovated, and the updated building will include a solar electric system and geothermal heating and cooling.See the renovation progress drone videos here.

-The Light Commission’s renewable energy subcommittee, Mike Hull, Mike Tumulty, and Joe Kowalik, is exploring multiple options for bringing more renewable energy capacity online in Marblehead.

For more information on Sustainable Marblehead, visit www.SustainableMarblehead.org or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/susta...

Courtesy Photo / John Livermore