Guest article by Monte Pearson
Pearson delivered these remarks at a rally at the Danversport Bridge on September 27, 2022.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, we experienced–mostly–the good side of fossil fuels–electricity, cars, and airplanes. Now in the 21st century, the dark side of fossil fuels is becoming more and more dominant.
Given the urgency of the climate crisis, how can we manage the electrical system to rapidly reduce dependence on burning fossil fuels? Instead of looking only at the dollar cost of energy, we should also measure greenhouse gas emissions and the increase in disease and death from emissions. Life is worth more than money.
Energy democracy—public participation in policy— is the best way to engage the whole community in our clean energy future. The energy revolution has begun—clean, climate-friendly power from renewable resources is beating fossil fuel on price, reliability, pollution, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To enable the transition, reform is needed at every level of the energy system. In Peabody, we need education, transparency, citizen participation, and long-range planning.
Re: Revisions to ISO New England Transmission, Markets and Services Tariff of Buyer-Side Market Power Review and Mitigation Reforms, Docket No. FERC ER22-1528-000
I urge you to require ISO-NE to immediately end the minimum offer price rule (MOPR) and to re-open their forward capacity and forward reserve auctions to all renewables.
On a bright November Saturday, advocates for clean energy from across Massachusetts joined Peabody residents in the "Peabody Peaker Push" at the courthouse in Peabody Square to advocate against the proposed gas- and oil-fired electric generator (“Project 2015A”).
Among them was Peabody resident Hunter, a young man of 8 years, holding a sign that said, “Non Renewable Energy is Peak Stupidity.”
When we stepped into ‘activist central,’ aka, the Hull home of Judeth Van Hamm, her computer sat on a desk, layers deep with books, articles, papers, art that echoed out into a fully utilized office/living room. Her abundant personal library features books on spirituality sitting next to those on Urban Planning, Solar Transit, and Biodiversity. Judeth is a dedicated climate activist who never separates the physical from the metaphysical, and she is determined to change this world for the better.
We can reconcile the urgent demand of citizens to have carbon-free energy and the obligation of our municipal light plants to provide affordable, reliable power when the two sides, citizens and light plants, join together.