Monday, October 13, 2014

Moomaw's ask Williamstown town manager about fuel and CO2 mix of winter electric supply

From: MSMoomaw
Date: October 13, 2014, 10:45:14 AM EDT
To: Mark Cappadona <mark@colonialpowergroup.com>, <pfohlin@williamstown.net>, <selectmen@williamstown.net>
Cc: Nancy Nylen <Nancy.Nylen@cetonline.org>, <greenreply@massenergy.org>
Subject: Fuel mix

Dear Mr. Fohlin:

I spoke with Mark Cappadona a week ago and at that time he recited a fuel mix for the Williamstown Community Power alternative.  He said he would send
the numbers (and percentages of each type) to me via email.  I have not received it, so I am requesting it again, as well as the answer to the following questions:

  • What is the overall mix of fuels?
  • What is the composition of the 19% miscellaneous cited to me over th telephone?
  • Is the current mix that was cited to me by telephone the mix that wil be maintained through the winter?


There is real concern that in reducing the "price" of electricity, that Colonial Power will be using coal and other highly polluting fuels and that it will purchasing these as demand for electricity increases during the winter.  This alternative is only less expensive (for the planet and us as citizens) if it produces less CO2 than the existing National Grid mix of fuels.

Many people in Williamstown installed solar panels on their homes in the past year out of a desire to do their part for the planet, and to help mitigate the effects of climate change.  They do not want to counteract this by buying less environmentally friendly electricity this winter.  You owe
the community honest written information about the fuel mix and carbon footprint of the fuel you are buying for the community. I am requesting the same information from National Grid so Williamstown citizens can make their own comparison. For our part, we will opt out for Green Start, the supplier we currently have.

--
Margot S. Moomaw
870 Henderson Road
Williamstown, MA 01267
413-458-4862
msmoomaw@comcast.net