Clean Energy Incentives for All (at Westfield State and Livestreaming)
Location: Westfield State. Please read below for full event details. Light refreshments at 5:45pm with a full panel discussion at 6:30pm. Registration is required- please see the image or use this link: https://westath.libcal.com/event/10939744
The Pioneer Valley Library Collaborative [PVLC] and Voices for Climate [V4C] are pleased to announce the keynote event for Climate Preparedness Week, September 24-30, 2023. On Wednesday, September 27th, the public is invited to the Clean Energy Incentives For All Forum at Westfield State University. The Forum’s goal is to highlight state and federal incentives for homeowners, renters, businesses, municipalities, nonprofits and individuals to cut costs by shifting to clean energy sources, move away from fossil fuel use and thus assist Massachusetts in the transition to a greener, low-carbon economy.
Special opening remarks from Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni will welcome our audience, followed by a distinguished panel featuring Larry Chretien, CEO of Green Energy Consumer Alliance; Massachusetts Deputy Climate Chief, Jonathan Schrag; and Massachusetts Senator Paul Mark. Beth Spong, the new CEO of Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, of Orange, MA, will share her company’s historical journey and successes to become a business committed to ecological accountability and highlight the business benefits of the MA and Federal incentives. A Q&A session will close out the evening.
Clean energy financial incentives exist in the form of rebates and tax credits for individual consumers, businesses and communities. Everyone can reduce long-term energy costs while benefiting, in the short term, from rebates, tax credits and other incentives, as they install solar panels, purchase new or used electric vehicles, buy energy efficient appliances or otherwise reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The Forum is designed to educate the general public on how to access these federal and state tax-based incentives that are available for implementing cleaner means of heating and cooling, transportation, energy efficient appliances, and whole building energy efficiency.
Panelist Larry Chretien encourages the public to take advantage of the Forum to learn about the incentives that will be presented. He stated, “We are fortunate that there are many federal and state incentives available to help consumers and communities adopt clean energy – from wind and solar to heat pumps and electric vehicles. I’m looking forward to sharing some details with folks who attend the Forum.”
The PVLC’s focus for this year, along with its community partner, V4C, is to turn climate change awareness into action using the incentives that are broadly available. The Collaborative is a partnership of 10 Western Massachusetts libraries that aspires to be a hub of climate education and conversation for communities in the region. The partners annually share their resources and talents to plan events and programming during Climate Preparedness Week. This dedicated group currently includes the public libraries of: Agawam, Granville, Westfield, Northampton, Southwick, Tolland, West Springfield, Easthampton, Williamstown, and Westhampton.
This September 27th free forum will take place in Wilson Hall at Westfield State University. There will be a reception with light refreshments beginning at 5:45 p.m. during which clean energy resources and information will be exhibited. The forum presentation will begin at 6:30p.m., followed by a Q&A segment.
Registration is required for this event. The registration link can be found on the websites of each of the member libraries. Interested members of the public who are unable to attend may watch the forum over livestream on Facebook, or through the recorded video available approximately two weeks after the event through member libraries’ websites. Any questions about the event may be directed to John Meiklejohn at jmiserve183@gmail.com or call 413- 348-2848.
The PVLC and V4C are grateful to the Forum’s sponsors: Westfield Gas & Electric; Citizens Climate Lobby-Pioneer Valley; Elder Climate Action-MA; Climate Action Now-W. MA.; First Churches’ Peace & Justice Team; and the Center for EcoTechnology. We’re grateful as well to the Forum’s partners: Sierra Club-MA; Mass Audubon; Citizen Climate Lobby-Berkshire; League of Women Voters of the Northampton Area; Kestrel Land Trust; Connecticut River Conservancy; Interfaith Power & Light, and Local Energy Advocates.