rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/canton-for-renewable-clean-local-energy-now?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-canton-for-renewable-clean-local-energy-now' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Canton Residents for a Sustainable Equitable Future https://actionnetwork.org/groups/canton-residents-for-a-sustainable-equitable-future https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/279/003/normal/IMG-4517_(2).jpg At the May 2021 Canton Town Meeting, residents voted in favor of Article 30, enabling the Town to develop a Municipal Energy Aggregation (MEA) program over the next year. This program allows the Town to become the bulk purchaser of our electricity, to be billed and serviced through Eversource. As Canton residents, we will benefit from the Town purchasing our electricity through an MEA program that gives us choices about what kind and how much clean, renewable energy we can use. Our preference is for Class 1 REC* electricity that is locally generated. We want to ensure that Canton’s baseline program includes a minimum additional 5% over the requirement with the option for residents and businesses to “opt-up” to 100% New England based renewable energy.   This means that our homes and buildings will be powered by locally produced clean renewable electricity that will be part of the climate solution by creating a livable, breathable future for all. Class 1 RECs are the only clean renewable electricity source that will rid our electrical grid of polluting and dangerous fossil fuels, including natural gas/methane.   We understand that when the Next Generation Roadmap bill becomes state law in June 2021, the Commonwealth is required to rapidly reach net zero emissions. We need a MEA program that gives us the choice to increase the amount of locally generated clean electricity as the Commonwealth reaches its net zero emissions targets in 2030 and 2040. We demand more choices for clean energy and see great value in creating a Municipal Energy Aggregation program that helps build a civic culture that improves the climate, contributes to healthier, safer homes and environment by providing reliable electricity, by including Class 1 RECs in the contract. *REC stands for Renewable Energy Certificate. A REC acts as proof of purchase for the attributes of renewable energy generation. One REC is equal to one megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable energy generated and delivered to the grid. The purchase of RECs are important because of how the electricity grid operates. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/canton-for-renewable-clean-local-energy-now