Green Energy Initiative

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Kent Conservation Committee, Chair, Wendy Murphy shared a new report produced by People’s Action for Clean Energy. Using publicly available sources, PACE estimated Kent’s total annual energy usage, including residents, businesses and municipal operations. The report describes two scenarios: energy use today and by contrast energy use in a 100% clean energy economy. This analysis showed that that the town currently:

  • spends $15.2 million each year on energy, or $5,435 per resident,

  • has roughly 53 residential solar installations with total capacity of 0.4 megawatts (MW), providing 1.7% of the town’s electricity usage,

  • has 29 electric vehicles (EVs) or 0.9% of vehicles in town and

  • has 11 heat pumps, representing 0.7% of buildings in town (PACE noted that this number is probably low because heat pump installations are not all recorded by the town).

The outcome would be much different in a 100% clean, renewable economy, Kent would:

  • use 54% less energy,

  • produce 40% of its energy needs locally, with the remainder coming from regional sources,

  • over time, spend 26% less on energy and create local jobs, keep energy expenditures and ownership local, while enhancing resiliency and improving air quality.

As energy prices have increased and with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, many municipalities and individuals are planning to make energy improvements. Kent, Sharon, and several other towns in the Northwest Corner are among those looking to take advantage of this funding in order to improve building efficiency and electrify transportation.  As part of the plan, these communities are participating in the Green Energy Initiative, an education and outreach program. The program will kick off Saturday, October 15 at 3pm at Kent School. Representative Maria Horn will speak along with Bernie Pelletier of People’s Action for Clean Energy. A solar installer, heat pump vendor, an Eversource representative, and other clean energy advocates will be available to provide information on energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and building improvements. Additionally, students from the Kent School will have the solar car that they developed on display.

To learn more about energy in northwest Connecticut and how you can take advantage of new incentives, register for the Green Energy Initiative program at KentMemorialLibrary.org