A Massachusetts Town Realizes a Community Vision to Transition from Coal to Sol — Episode 73 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

Date: 28 Mar 2019 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States, Podcast | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In this episode of the Local Energy Rules podcast, John Farrell interviews Lena Entin about an inspiring and successful community-driven campaign in Holyoke, Mass., to shut down an aging coal plant operated by one of the world’s largest multinational electric utility companies. The two discuss the campaign’s efforts to replace the dirty plant with clean energy to improve health outcomes for the community and provide a just transition for the power plant’s workers.… Read More

The State(s) of Distributed Solar — 2018 Update

Date: 12 Mar 2019 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

As investments in renewable energy grow, more states are prioritizing solar. But how much of that solar is coming from smaller, distributed sources that help communities build wealth locally? Using updated data for 2018, we examine state-by-state solar markets and the corresponding share of distributed solar systems to see which states have seen the greatest success in investing in local, clean energy.… Read More

Charlemont Chooses Community-Owned Fiber Over Comcast

Date: 13 Dec 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The people of Charlemont, Massachusetts, are ready to pay approximately $1.5 million to own broadband infrastructure rather than shell over $462,000 to Comcast for cable Internet access in their community. At a packed December 6th town meeting, voters showed up to handily defeat the proposal from the cable giant and express their support for a publicly owned fiber optic network.… Read More

Massachusetts Town Moves Forward With Municipal Broadband Plans

Date: 21 Nov 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Ninety miles west of Boston, the small town of South Hadley, Massachusetts, will soon have a new, municipal option for Internet access. In October, the South Hadley Electric Light Department (SHELD) Board of Commissioners unanimously approved plans to build a Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network throughout the town of 17,000.… Read More

Massachusetts City To Get High-Speed Internet Access Sooner Than Expected

Date: 25 Oct 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Chicopee, Massachusetts, is on its way to better connectivity through a publicly owned network after all. Chicopee Electric Light (CEL) has announced that the municipal utility plans to develop a pilot program yet this year to experiment with business connectivity. If all goes well, they have a long-term vision to also serve residents.… Read More

Massachusetts Official Creates Petition for Municipal Broadband Supporters

Date: 12 Oct 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Sometimes city councils don’t quite have their fingers on the pulse of their constituents. It can be difficult to know what everyone wants, so there are instances when taking a direct approach it the best way to share our thoughts. In Chicopee, Massachusetts, City Councilor Joel McAuliffe is giving constituents from across the city a chance to express their support for municipal broadband with an online petition…and people are responding.… Read More

Internet Network Stars in Massachusetts Promo Vid

Date: 27 Jul 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The City of Westfield in western Massachusetts recently launched a new marketing initiative designed to attract business and promote sustainable growth. The GoWestfield campaign features a website and promotional video that focuses on showcasing the many incentives for businesses that the small city of around 41,500 offers, including an environment where businesses can thrive. As the city points out in the video, one of Westfield’s largest selling points is its high-speed fiber optic Internet network.… Read More

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