April 11, 2025 By John Borger, Hingham Net Zero, Hingham Energy Action Committee
Citizens will vote at Town Meeting on Monday, April 28th on a warrant article proposing that Hingham adopt the state’s most recent building energy code – the Opt-In Specialized Code. This code encourages those involved in constructing new buildings to erect all-electric buildings that do not use fossil fuels. The code is another step in the Commonwealth’s transition from fossil fuels to clean electric energy, the strategy for fighting climate change that is often referred to as electrification.
Electrification, Clean Energy and the Capacity of the Grid
There is a constant flow in the media these days of news and opinion on climate change and electrification. If you read the comments that are often included, you have encountered skeptics who maintain that today’s electrical grid simply cannot handle replacing fossil fuels with electricity. Furthermore, they argue that much of the electricity available today is still being generated by burning fossil fuel and that it is therefore misleading to characterize electricity as “clean energy.” These views are often couched as common sense from down to earth realists. Do these objections reflect realism – or lack of vision?
Skeptics typically fail to note that this transition will be gradual, occurring over the next two and a half decades or more. During that time, the people entrusted with managing electric utilities and the transmission system will be taking advantage of the increasing expansion of renewable generating capacity, and they will be building out the grid in phases to meet the demand forecasted under the Commonwealth’s electrification strategy.
The Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant’s Readiness
Hingham is fortunate to have its own electric utility, with an elected board accountable to rate payers, not investors. The board is committed to Hingham’s goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and recognizes the central role that HMLP must play.
Accordingly, HMLP has initiated The Hingham Electrical Infrastructure Reliability Project (HEIRP) to add an underground transmission line to the two current above ground transmission lines. The project will increase reliability and also augment overall transmission capability, enabling delivery of increased amounts of electricity from the regional grid, including power from renewable sources. General Manager Tom Morahan is confident that HMLP will be able to supply all the electricity the future requires, both for electrification and for new buildings that may result from Hingham’s current economic development initiative.
HMLP’s Sourcing of Carbon-Free Electricity
HMLP’s mission statement reads as follows:
“HMLP’s mission is to provide reliable electric service to the Town of Hingham while keeping rates reasonable, service quality high, and operations environmentally sustainable, including a commitment to 100% carbon-free energy.”
Hingham is one of 41 communities in Massachusetts with a municipal lighting plant. MLPs are required by state law to have specified percentages of non-carbon emitting energy in their power supply: 50% carbon-free by 2030, 75% carbon-free by 2040, and 100% carbon-free by 2050.
How close is HMLP to attaining its ultimate goal of 100% carbon-free energy?
In 2023, the latest data available on the HMLP website, 72.79% of HMLP’s electricity was considered sourced from non-fossil fuel. A regulatory technicality relative to the Board’s current policy of selling Renewable Energy Credits on the open market for REC’s prevents HMLP from being able to officially declare that 73% of its sourcing is generated by carbon-free sources, but that is nonetheless the reality on the ground.
HMLP need only to retire the RECs it currently sells to be credited for the environmental benefits of its carbon free sourcing, enabling it to meet required levels of renewable energy without changing any contracted sources. (Note that most of HMLP’s fossil fuel-generated power results from short term, spot market purchases during peak demand.) Meanwhile, it is reassuring to know that electricity from non-fossil fuel sources is currently available at the levels indicated by HMLP’s data.
Key Takeaways for Voters
Electrification is the solution to carbon pollution and it is happening. 100% renewable sourcing of Hingham’s electricity is coming. HMLP is ready right now to support the transition from fossil fuel to electricity encouraged by the new DOER energy code and will be further scaling up its capacity to meet the demand forecasted for the coming years. You can vote to adopt the new Opt-In Specialized Energy Code at Town Meeting April 28th fully confident that HMLP stands ready to supply the power. Vote YES on the Opt-In warrant article! – John Borger, Hingham Net Zero, Energy Action Committee.
