Bulletin - April 2008
Highlights from "Solar Power for Non-Profits" Workshop
In February, over 60 PowerOptions members attended a workshop at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, designed to answer questions about installing photovoltaic systems (solar panels). Renewable power is a wonderful option for your organization to investigate. Here are some practical considerations that we learned about at the workshop:
- Private partnerships are an option: If you have 15,000-20,000 (or larger) sq. ft of roof on a facility, there are private companies that will "rent" your roof: install solar panels and sell you the power for about what you'd pay the utility company. Several non-profits have used this method, which has the advantage of not requiring any up-front payment and allows the installer to take advantage of tax credits.
- Roof-mounted panels: Solar panels are designed to last more than 20 years, so it usually makes more sense to install them on a newer roof. Most roofs are strong enough to support solar panels, but you may need to have a structural assessment of your roof before you can get a permit for panels.
- Most cost-effective way for a non-profit to be "green" is to invest in energy efficiency. Non-profits don't have access to tax credits for solar panels so the payback time is significantly longer than for private citizens or for-profit businesses. Even with the state's rebate programs, solar panels probably won't save your organization very much on your electric bill over the lifetime of the panel.
Workshop presentations are available on our website at www.poweroptions.org/news
Institutions that want to install renewable energy technologies at their sites can get more information on available rebates at www.masstech.org
"Green" Power Working Group
A group of PowerOptions members interested in exploring "green" power purchasing met on March 20th for a preliminary discussion of options for a possible program. A follow-up discussion is scheduled for May 1. Information from the meeting and the initial presentation are available on www.poweroptions.org/news -- it discusses what "green" power is, your current options for buying it, and discussions you might want to have within your organization. If you have any thoughts on how PowerOptions might help your organization buy "green" power, please contact Carter Wall at cwall@mhefa.org
Attorney General Announces Settlement with Energy Supplier Accused of Misleading Customers
On March 20, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced an agreement with Spark Energy LP, a Texas-based energy supplier, to resolve allegations that Spark Energy violated Massachusetts consumer protection laws by misleading customers in the promotion of its electricity supply service. As a result of the agreement, Spark refunded some charges to 900 electricity users in Massachusetts and also agreed to pay $55,000 to the Attorney General's Local Consumer Aid Fund.
Misleading marketing practices and complicated, hard to understand contract terms that are not customer-friendly are unfortunately something every energy consumer must beware of. There are more and more energy companies attempting to sell electricity in Massachusetts and it is difficult to tell whether a proposed offer is in your best interest. A "Consumer's Guide to Contracting for Energy" on our website talks about what to do when someone calls offering to sell you electricity or natural gas: www.poweroptions.org/publications/consumer_guide.html
Our thanks to the Attorney General and her staff for their efforts on behalf of Massachusetts energy consumers!
PowerOptions Switching to an Email Newsletter
In an effort to "be green" and to save money, we are going to begin the transition to an email version of our Bulletin beginning with the next issue, in July. If you would like to continue to receive a paper copy by mail, please call Tricia Rush, Program Coordinator at 617-737-8480 or email her at: prush@mhefa.org
Alternative Fuel Buses and Vans – Exploratory Group
Many organizations have a fleet of vans or shuttle buses and are interested in looking into options for alternative-fuel buses to save money and reduce their carbon emissions. But how do you figure out which is the best type to buy or lease? PowerOptions is putting together a group of universities and hospitals and other interested non-profits to explore the possibility of "sharing" a test-drive lease – in other words, lease several different types of vans and buses and make each of them available to interested organizations for several months at a time, to test drive.
There would be a number of issues to resolve – which buses, what emissions, which technologies, cost, maintenance, insurance, etc. We are in the process of scheduling an initial meeting to explore this idea further. If you are interested in participating in an advisory group, email Carter Wall at cwall@mhefa.org
If you are not in charge of the fleet for your organization, feel free to pass this on to the appropriate person. We'll be in touch with some dates once we hear from interested organizations and we will report back to the entire membership on our findings.
