The Andover Community Power program presents a unique opportunity for the Town of Andover to influence the development of renewable energy resources, going above and beyond the requirements of the Commonwealth by voluntarily purchasing additional renewable energy. See the State’s renewable energy requirements.
In Andover Community Power, all purchases of renewable electricity will be certified by purchasing and retiring Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), the accepted legal instrument used to track renewable energy generation and to substantiate claims of renewable energy use. Read more about why we need RECs.
Sourcing Additional Renewable Energy
On Our Grid
All of the additional renewable energy in the Andover Community Power program will come from sources designated as MA Class I. These sources must be physically part of our New England electricity grid. This stands in contrast to some electricity supplies that obtain their renewable energy from national sources (e.g. Texas) that are not physically connected to our New England electricity grid. While those sources provide very cheap electricity, you get what you pay for: including them in the electricity mix does not move our region away from fossil fuels.
Only from New England
By law, MA Class I renewable energy can come from New England or adjacent parts of Canada and New York that are connected to our electricity grid. Andover, however, plans to source its additional renewable energy exclusively from New England. We’re helping to keep our energy impact local and supporting New England’s clean energy economy.
Solar, Wind, Low Impact Hydro & Anaerobic Digestion
Andover plans to source renewable energy only from zero-emission sources, such as solar, wind, low impact hydro1, or anaerobic digesters which destroy the potent greenhouse gas, methane2. Although traditional biomass such as wood-fired generation is eligible as MA Class I, Andover Community Power will not include it in its additional renewable energy.
A Local Option
Andover Community Power may choose to source additional renewable energy, above and beyond State requirements, from Green Energy Consumers Alliance, a local non-profit that helps bring new renewable projects to New England through strategic support of development opportunities with short and long-term contracts.
Resources that are part of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance portfolio as of October 2020.
What Are RECs and Why We Need Them
When electricity generated by renewable sources, such as solar and wind, is added to our regional electricity grid, it becomes indistinguishable from the other electricity sources on the grid. It is not possible to physically separate out renewable electricity from the grid mix for your individual consumption.
As a result, a tracking system called Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), was created to enable the purchase and use of renewable electricity. For every one megawatt-hour of renewable electricity generated, one REC is created. In order to use renewable electricity, one must purchase a quantity of RECs equal to the amount of electricity purchased from the grid. Once used, a REC is retired so that no one else can purchase that same REC or claim to use it.
1 Hydro projects that do not exceed 30 MW built after 1997 or have capacity additions or efficiency improvements made after 1997 (MA Class I eligible), and Low Impact Hydro Institute (LIHI) certified.
2 Environmental Protection Agency. Understanding Global Warming Potentials. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/understanding-global-warming-potentials