Coalition submits plan for energy efficiency

BOSTON – A coalition of the Massachusetts’ energy-efficiency providers last week announced a three-year plan to create more than $4 billion in energy savings.
If the plan is approved, the coalition will begin offering an increased level of services to their customers in 2010, according to a statement.
The coalition is made up of Massachusetts utilities NSTAR, National Grid, Western Massachusetts Electric, New England Gas, Unitil, Berkshire Gas, Bay State Gas, Blackstone Gas and the municipal aggregator Cape Light Compact.
The providers drafted the plan in response to the Green Communities Act, Gov. Patrick’s energy legislation that called for an energy-efficiency plan.
The plan, which is being reviewed by Mass. Energy Efficiency Advisory Council, calls for a savings of close to 2.5 million megawatt-hours of electricity and roughly 45 million thermal units of natural gas over the three year period.
The plan also calls for the creation of 4,000 jobs in the clean-energy sector in the Commonwealth.
The Mass. Energy Efficiency Advisory Council will make a recommendation to the Mass. Department of Public Utilities with respect to the plan by July 31. •