CAP Energy Action Dashboard

Energy is one of six pathways in Wellesley’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). The CAP Energy Action Dashboard tracks progress on implementing CAP energy actions. Each action supports a CAP goal and strategy. The dashboard indicates the status of each action (“not started,” “in progress,” “implemented”) and provides numerical values for metrics associated with each pathway. Scroll down to view action status and metrics.  

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Energy Action Status

Energy Pathway Small
0
Not Started
13
In Progress
0
Implemented


Goal 1: Carbon-free sources provide 100% of Wellesley’s electricity by 2050.

Goal 2: Energy is used in ways that foster decarbonization through efficiency, beneficial electrification, and demand curve management.

Strategy 1: Accelerate the installation of local renewable energy generation and storage in Wellesley.

Identify opportunities for and install solar and, where appropriate, energy storage on municipal buildings.
Details: Scheduled for installation in fiscal year (FY) 2024: BESS  battery storage (4.99 MW) system at MLP and solar PV arrays on the DPW buildings, the new Hunnewell school, and the new Hardy school. The Town is exploring the possibility of battery storage at the Police or Fire Station as well as battery storage and a solar PV array at the Main Library.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant, Climate Action
Status: In Progress
Design and deliver outreach programs to encourage the installation of solar and energy storage on residential, commercial, and institutional properties.
Details: New in FY24: MLP is offering a $1.20/watt rebate for solar PV installations on residential and commercial buildings that participate in the WECARE program. MLP management is discussing how to incentivize and manage batteries  and awaits launch of an Energy New England  (ENE) demand management program to start.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant, Climate Action
Status: In Progress
Work with other municipal light plants and key partners to advocate for State incentives for local renewable installations, energy storage, and other emissions reduction programs in municipal utility communities.
Details: MLP board and staff members participate in regional municipal light plant collaborations to advocate for State support. 
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Board
Status: In Progress
Explore opportunities for ground-mounted solar in the solar district and for local installations of geothermal and wind projects.
Details: The Climate Action Office, with assistance from the GIS Office, began scoping out Wellesley neighborhoods for potential networked geothermal sites.
Lead Departments:  Climate Action, Municipal Light Plant
Status: In Progress

Strategy 2: Maximize amount and diversify the non-emitting energy purchased by the MLP.

Advocate for access to State initiatives for procuring non-emitting energy sources.
Details: MLP board and staff members participate in regional municipal light plant collaborations to advocate for State support. 
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Board
Status: In Progress
Identify and directly enter into Power Purchase Agreements for non-emitting energy sources.
Details: ENE, MLP's joint action partner, continually looks for new contracts and proposals for non-emitting sources of electricity on MLPs behalf.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant
Status: In Progress

Strategy 3: Use electricity rates, technology, and incentive programs to optimize emissions reductions in the management of electricity demand.

Design ‘Time of Use’ rates that incentivize decarbonization actions, shift and reduce system peak load, and promote more efficient use of electricity.
Details: Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is required before Time of Use (TOU) rates can be instituted. MLP is moving forward with AMI installation with completion expected in summer 2024. MLP is currently evaluating different TOU models.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant
Status: In Progress
Design MLP’s energy efficiency incentive programs to optimize impact, including an energy conservation campaign to educate residents and businesses on how to best use electricity, avoid waste, and reduce GHGs.
Details: MLP retained the Center for EcoTechnology to evaluate incentives and align them with carbon reduction and revenue targets. CET recommendations were adopted in 2022. A pilot demand reduction program for Small Commercial customers was launched in 2023.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant
Status: In Progress
Design and implement voluntary and automated demand response programs.
Details: Sagewell manages Wellesley's voluntary program for off-peak electric vehicle charging. MLP continues outreach to increase enrollment. ENE is developing a demand-response program that Wellesley MLP hopes to join once the details are finalized.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant
Status: In Progress
Reduce peak demand and create a resilience enhancement plan utilizing energy storage, critical load management, and microgrids.
Details: MLP's Shave the Peak initiative delivers Critical Peak communications to residents and commercial customers to lower annual peak electricity demand. MLP is researching incentives to reduce peak demand and options for dispatch management for a residential battery program. MLP also explored the option of a microgrid at the Main Library, but it is currently not cost-effective.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant
Status: In Progress
Look for opportunities to develop Virtual Power Plants that aggregate distributed energy storage and flexible demand resources in ways that optimize real time energy costs and carbon content.
Details: Virtual Power Plant technology is still developing and not yet available for small municipal utilities. MLP will continue to track the progress of this promising technology.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant
Status: In Progress
Promote and support beneficial electrification programs that take into account the electrical system load profile.
Details: The Energy Coach Program, no-cost home energy assessments and decarbonization audits, the Wellesley Drives Electric and  Clean Comfort Programs, and incentives for weatherization, heat pumps, appliances, and off-peak EV charging all encourage and support beneficial electrification. Additionally, AMI will assist Wellesley in understanding the community's system load profile.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant
Status: In Progress
Support building electrical service upgrades and local infrastructure development to fully enable renewable energy generation, energy storage, and beneficial electrification.
Details: WMLP conducted a study to determine the steps needed to bring more power into town as electricity demands increase. MLP has determined that the supply and reserve options that are currently available are sufficient to meet near-term demands.
Lead Departments: Municipal Light Plant
Status: In Progress

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Energy Metrics

Acronym Key:

MLP = Municipal Light Plant

Solar PV = Solar Photovoltaic

GHG emissions = greenhouse gas emissions

EVs = electric vehicles

MLP = Municipal Light Plant;  DPW = Department of Public Works;  WPS = Wellesley Public Schools

BETR = Building Energy Tracking and Reporting program

MSBG = Municipal Sustainable Building Guidelines

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