Energy Aggregation Initiative: Some Answers

As you may know, SOMA is participating in a new energy aggregation initiative that will be hitting your electric bill soon. Tracey Woods, the chair of the Maplewood Green Team answers some questions about it.

 Can you briefly tell me what this new initiative is, and how it makes things different?

 This program allows municipal governments to increase the percentage of renewables the are included in the default electric supply. Using the combined electric purchasing power of their residents, the municipalities can negotiate a higher percentage of renewables without raising costs for their residents. 

 Why would anybody opt out of this?  

 I’m not sure, but it is their right to do so. Anyone can opt-out at anytime with no fee or penalty.

If I upgraded to the 100% renewable option, how much money would that really cost me?  

The average residential account for our area uses about 721 kilowatt hours of electricity per month.  For this average user, the 100% renewable product would cost an additional $5.30/month. 

How much of a difference will this initiative really make?  

R-GEA is one action in a set of steps we need to be taking.  It is an important move for our community; but not the only action we need to take. 

What else can I be doing to help save the planet? 

Consider what you EAT and what you DRIVE.  Reducing the amount of meat and other high carbon foods in your diet is one of the most impactful choices you can make to reduce your carbon footprint. Also, start planning for your next car to be electric. Did you know that, because of the lower fuel costs and maintenance costs, electric cars purchased today have a significantly lower lifetime cost than their gas-powered corollaries? In addition, New Jersey has new incentives to lower the purchase price of electric vehicles. 

Representatives of the municipalities in the first round of the project receiving an award from ANJEC for the project along with ANJEC’s director, Jennifer Coffey (in pink).