WBMLP News

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West Boylston Municipal Light Plant News Coverage

It's our job to not only provide you with dependable electrical power via a modern, well-maintained infrastructure, but also to advocate for our customers. Here are some recent events, actions and activities that WBMLP has undertaken.

Sept
2023

COST-REDUCING BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT

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(September 26, 2023) West Boylston Municipal Light Plant is partnering with Convergent Energy battery storage systems to install a battery storage system for the town's electrical system in the very near future. Battery storage systems like this 3MW/9MWh utility-scale system help reduce transmission and capacity expenses, as well as stabilize and further insulate our electric customers against rising energy costs in volatile energy markets. Also, battery storage systems such as the one being installed for West Boylston will enhance WBMLP's transition to clean energy by optimizing renewable energy performance, reducing costs, and increasing reliability. Convergent's storage battery systems utilize the company's proprietary energy storage intelligence called PEAK IQ® to ensure 24/7 maximum efficiency. The facility will be co-located near WBMLP's existing solar and flywheel assets.

The BESS will generate approximately $257,680 annually in transmission and capacity cost savings over the first 10 years for WBMLP. These annual savings will be used to repay $2M in reserve account funds used to construct the 29 Prospect St Garage Project. Convergent will finance, own, and operate this new battery storage system and it is expected to come online in 2024. Read the Press Release.

June
2023

UPDATE! West Boylston to achieve 80% Clean and Renewable Energy Supply by 2030 — thanks to careful planning and local control by WBMLP's ratepayers!

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With 56% of WBMLP's energy supply already clean and renewable at the end of last year, your light plant is already ahead of other electric utilities in meeting state-mandated Greenhouse Gas Emission (GGES) goals. These goals essentially require all MLPs to achieve a 50% clean and renewable energy supply by 2030. The mandate increases to 75% by 2040, and ultimately, Net-Zero GHG emissions by 2050.

How is WBMLP doing it?

  • Planning today and securing and integrating more wind, solar, nuclear, and hydroelectricity generation into our energy portfolio now and over time.
  • Retiring environmental attributes called RECs from local solar and wind projects.
  • Entering into longterm fixed cost contracts for additional clean energy that doesn't emit any GHGs.
  • Encouraging our customers to save money and reduce GHG emissions by offering attractive rebates and incentives to electrify their homes with Heat-Pump HVAC Systems, Heat-Pump Hot Water Heaters, Electric Induction Stoves, and Electric Vehicles and EV Chargers.
  • Keeping your rates low while accomplishing everything above. WBMLP's low rate of $0.14 per kWh hasn't changed in almost 14 years!

Learn more about WBMLP's outstanding progress by reading our Press Release, going to our GGES Emissions Standard webpage, WBMLP's 2022 Energy Supply webpage , or any other destination under our website's "NET ZERO EMISSIONS" category.

Nov
2022

PUBLIC POWER VIDEO

Watch the new 1-minute video showing how your West Boylston Municipal Light Plant and other consumer-owned electric utilities in Massachusetts work harder and better for our customers — courtesy of MMWEC (Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company).

Oct
2021

PUBLIC POWER WEEK — OCTOBER 2-8!

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WBMLP and public power utilities across the U.S. celebrate Public Power Week every year during the first full week of October. It helps our customers and stakeholders understand how they can better engage with your community-owned electric utility and understand the many benefits and advantages that we offer.

Public Power Week is sponsored by the American Public Power Association, the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities in the USA. Thank you for being a customer of West Boylston Municipal Light Plant!

Sept
2022

WINTER 2022/2023 CUSTOMER NEWSLETTER

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(Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2022) WBMLP has good news and updates for our customers. Read all about it in our Winter 2022/2023 Customer Newsletter.

June
2022

WBMLP EXCEEDED OUR NET-ZERO BY 2050 GOALS!

WBMLP News icon (Thursday, June 30, 2022) According to a report by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) released in June, WBMLP is significantly ahead of its goals to achieve Net-Zero GHG Emissions from its Energy Supply by 2050!

See the good news in our latest infographic. See the complete MA DEP Report.

March
2022

WBMLP PLANS TO EXPAND TO FORMER VETERINARY HOSPITAL SITE

WBMLP News icon (March 4, 2022) "If all goes according to plan, the old veterinary hospital at 29 Prospect St. will be razed this spring. In its place, the West Boylston Municipal Light Plant is planning to build a new facility to house equipment."

Read the story in the The Item.

Feb
2022

WBMLP & MASS SAVE® ANNOUNCE AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP (ASHP) SYSTEM REBATES OF UP TO $10,000+!

WBMLP News icon(February 15, 2022) WBMLP Electric Residential Customers who qualify can convert from Gas Heating to an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) for 2 Big Rebates.

These exceptional new rebates are a big incentive to convert from Natural Gas Heating and Cooling Systems to super-efficient Electric Air Source Heat Pump Heating/Cooling Systems.

See details and links for customers on our Air Source Heat Pump Rebate website page.

June
2021

PROJECT 2015A PROPOSED PROJECT WILL HELP PREVENT BLACKOUTS & BROWNOUTS

WBMLP News icon(June 24, 2021) MMWEC (the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company) is spearheading an important development—Project 2015A in Peabody. Once built, 2015A will increase electric capacity during peak load times, and help prevent brownouts and blackouts for WBMLP customers (like the disaster in Texas during 2 whole weeks in February of 2021).

See our Project 2015A Page for more information.

April
2021

"ELECTRIFICATION" SAVES MONEY & MOVES TOWARD MEETING NET ZERO GOALS

WBMLP News iconSwitching from the fossil fuels used to heat and cool our buildings and power our vehicles is called "electrification". Because West Boylston’s energy supply is already mostly clean and our electricity rates are so low—electrification will lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce your operating costs.

WBMLP is planning to eliminate all GHG emissions from our power supply by 2050. You should prepare too. Review the tips on our Electrification Infographic when replacing or upgrading major appliances and vehicles beginning now. Be ready for the future.

Learn more by clicking the Electrification Infographic, or see WBMLP's Electricity Rate Comparison Table. On a cost-per-BTU, WBMLP electric power is less expensive to operate than natural gas, oil and propane!

Also, check out our Electrification Pages for West Boylston and the Commonwealth of MA.

April
2021

WBMLP CELEBRATED DRIVE ELECTRIC EARTH DAY IN APRIL!

WBMLP News icon WBMLP helped celebrate Drive Electric Earth Day 2021, with a month-long nationwide celebration to increase awareness of the benefits of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). Consider going electric! Check out all of WBMLP's EV Discount offerings every month. Once on the page, click on "EVs".

Sept
2020

COVID-19 REOPENING UPDATE

WBMLP News icon The WBMLP Office is now open to public access. Please practice safe distancing and wear a mask over your nose and mouth.

If you don’t feel comfortable in public yet, please continue to pay your bill online. Thank you!

Mar
2020

COVID-19 RESPONSE & SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT

WBMLP News icon Due to the declaration of a Massachusetts State of Emergency and Governor's Orders to assist in the containment and response to Coronavirus COVID-19, the West Boylston Municipal Light Plant has implemented and is recommending the following safety measures, until further notice, including:

  • 1. The WBMLP office is closed to public access until further notice
  • 2. Payments. Please consider making electronic payments versus mailing or dropping off your payments. We have a drop-box in parking lot and a payment slot in front door.

Please send us a message or call with any questions at (508) 835-3681. View the complete PDF Announcement here.

5/24
2019

New Residential Solar Rebate Program

WBMLP News iconWest Boylston, MA. – May 24, 2019 – The new Massachusetts Municipal Light Plant Solar Program, offered through the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), allows residential customers of municipal light plants such as the West Boylston Municipal Light Plant (WBMLP) to apply for a rebate for the purchase and installation of PV Solar Panels on their homes.

WBMLP’s goal is to install approximately 73 kW of new renewable solar energy in West Boylston. Read more here.

12/7
2017

State ACES Grant for WBMLP

WBMLP News iconWest Boylston, MA. – December 7, 2017 – The West Boylston Municipal Light Plant received a state grant for an energy storage project, as part of the state’s Advancing Commonwealth Energy Storage (ACES) initiative. As part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s Energy Storage Initiative (“ESI”), the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and Department of Energy Resources (DOER) announced the award of $20 million dollars to support 26 projects, including West Boylston’s, for energy storage demonstration projects across the Commonwealth. These projects are aimed at piloting innovative, broadly-replicable energy storage use cases/business models with multiple value streams in order to prime Massachusetts for increased commercialization and deployment of storage technologies. The ACES Program will help direct the Commonwealth’s first substantial investments in energy storage projects that demonstrate the benefits of storage to Massachusetts ratepayers.

1/14
2017

Community Shared Solar output is already subscribed

WBMLP News iconWEST BOYLSTON (January 14, 2017 courtesy of Telegram.com) — As the town's municipal light plant adds the 1.5 megawatt solar field on the old landfill to its power sources, many residents have gone green with their electricity.

The project is based on a subscriber system, with users able to sign up for power from the solar field, with no added cost, at the same rate the town offers all residents.

All of the Community Shared Solar output is subscribed already, according to Jonathan Fitch, manager of the West Boylston Municipal Light Plant. With more than 350 subscribers, there is a waiting list, as customers choose to participate or not on an ongoing basis, such as when a homeowner moves out of town. Read the complete story here.

10/23
2014

WBMLP’s Electric Rates are NOT Increasing

WBMLP News iconWEST BOYLSTON October 23, 2014)— As you may have heard in the news, the distribution companies and competitive energy suppliers (IOU) are significantly increasing their electric rates. The good news is that West Boylston’s electricity rates are not increasing. In fact, WBMLP’s electricity rates haven’t significantly changed or increased since 2009. WBMLP maintains some of the lowest possible electric rates in Massachusetts, especially compared to the distribution companies and competitive energy suppliers.

The average homeowner in West Boylston consumed approximately 750 kWh’s per month and spent approximately $97.16 per month for that electricity between July 2013 and July 2014. As you can see in the chart below, WBMLP’s average residential electricity rate is lower than the investor owned utility residential rates in Massachusetts. This comparison does not even include the IOU rate increases you’re hearing about! Our large commercial and industrial electricity rates are also much lower than the comparable IOU rates.

Read more in our PDF Newsletter by clicking here.

1/24
2014

WBMLP Part of Deal for Wind Power from Maine

WBMLP News iconWEST BOYLSTON (January 24, 2014)— US-based renewable energy company First Wind and the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. (MMWEC) signed an agreement that will bring renewable energy from First Wind’s planned Hancock Wind project near Ellsworth, ME to 17 Massachusetts municipal utilities including West Boylston Municipal Light Plant.

Under a 25-year, fixed-price contract, First Wind will sell nearly 75 percent of the power and capacity generated at the 51 MW wind farm to MMWEC.

MMWEC will resell the power and capacity at cost to 17 of its member municipal utilities. Burlington, VT Electric Department in Vermont is purchasing the remaining energy from the project.

MMWEC’s commitment to renewable energy includes the financing and development of numerous wind and solar resources in conjunction with its member utilities. Such resources include the 15 MW Berkshire Wind Power Project in western Massachusetts and several smaller municipal wind and solar projects.

When built, the Hancock Wind project will feature 17 turbines with a capacity of 3 MW each and be situated near the operating 34 MW Bull Hill Wind project in Hancock County, ME, which began operations in November 2012.


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