September 23, 2021
Honorable Michael Barret, Senate Chair
Honorable Jeffry Roy, House Chair
Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
State House
Boston, Massachusetts 02133
Dear Chair Barrett, Chair Roy, and Members of the Committee,
I am writing on behalf of the Cape Cod Technology Council, Inc. (“CCTC”). I am submitting this letter in support of An Act Relative to Municipal Energy Plans (H.3360) which was heard earlier this year in a hearing held by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. For the reasons set forth herein, the CCTC supports the adoption of H.3360.
Founded in 1996, the CCTC is a membership based non-profit organization whose mission is to promote technology, education, and economic development on Cape Cod, the Islands, and Southeastern Massachusetts. Our membership includes local Cape, Islands, and Southeastern Massachusetts businesses, technology innovators, educational organizations, government entities, working professionals, and community leaders.
It is essential that the legislature provide cities and towns with greater flexibility in developing energy plans to benefit consumers and address the threat that climate change poses to the Commonwealth in general, and Cape Cod in particular. Presently, the ability of cities and towns to accomplish this goal is limited by the lengthy review process employed by the Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) in considering such plans. Adoption of H.3360 will provide that flexibility.
The innovative Cape and Vineyard Electrification Offering (“CVEO”) offered by the Cape Light Compact (the “Compact”, a CCTC member) starkly illustrates the need adoption of H.3660. The CVEO is an innovative proposal from the Compact that will deliver cost-effective energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The offering will replace a customer’s fossil fuel-based or electric resistance heating system with a cold climate heat pump that uses electricity for space heating and cooling. The CCTC supports the CVEO. The Compact submitted the CVEO in 2018. Notwithstanding the much-needed benefits to be obtained by implementing the CVEO, the proposal has languished before the DPU.
Employing innovative approaches to increase energy efficiency aligns with the mission of the CCTC. We encourage the Committee to support H.3360.
The CCTC appreciates your consideration of our views. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Jennifer Reid, President
cc: Senator Julian Cyr
Senator Susan Moran
Representative Sarah Peake
Representative Timothy Whelan
Representative Kip Diggs
Representative David Viera
Representative Dylan Fernandes
Representative Steven Xiarhos