To begin concluding our blog series highlighting our collaboration with Tufts UEP graduate students, we will present the recommendations for SAFE that the team found through their research.
By KC coryatt
Through their interviews, case studies, and further research, a clear theme emerged: energy democracy alongside coalition building, transparency, and tangible benefits to residents are key components of true community-owned energy (COE). COE assists in addressing issues of energy affordability within communities. High power costs impact many households and can especially become a burden for low-income, BIPOC, and disadvantaged communities. Many COE structures provide benefits that alleviate costs as a result of local energy production. This kind of energy system proves to be helpful in mitigating environmental risks and increasing climate resilience by increasing the usage of renewable energy.
Microgrids showed up time and again in the team’s research as the most effective way to enable COE in cities like Salem. A microgrid is a local energy system that utilizes clean sources of energy like solar, can disconnect from the main grid during outages, and be governed by the community itself. This kind of system is promising for an urban neighborhood like Salem, offering scalable, resilient, and locally controlled energy solutions.
For microgrids to work, they must have community buy-in. These systems must be built with residents, not just for them. Meaning Salem residents should have a voice in the conversations surrounding microgrid implementation, which then leads to embedding microgrids into strategies rooted in engagement, partnerships, and diverse funding streams. With this in mind, the students created the following sequential, and actionable steps:
- Drive Community Engagement
This involves building trust. SAFE can host visioning sessions and planning workshops with all residents, especially those who have typically felt excluded from these processes. Community buy-in isn’t only a nice consideration, but an essential factor in the long-term success of this kind of project.
- Build and Strengthen Strategic Partnerships
None of this work can happen alone. SAFE can collaborate with local organizations, universities, city departments, and technical experts to build a strong coalition. This partnership can bring capacity, crucial know-how, and credibility to planning and implementing COE.
- Diversify Funding with Community Benefit Agreements
Rather than relying on a single source of funding, the coalition should be looking towards spreading a wide net. Using a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) , state and federal grants such as MassCEC and Mass Solar for All. This layered approach increases long-term financial resilience.
- Launch a Microgrid and Resilience Hub Pilots
Lay the foundation. Creating a community-focused resilience hub can deliver immediate local benefits, support a trained workforce, and serve as a blueprint for expanding COE across Massachusetts.
Despite these distinct steps, Salem’s journey will not be barrier-free. COE projects require significant upfront capital, must navigate regulatory frameworks, demand specialized technical expertise, wrestle with land-use regulations, depend on funding that shifts with the political climate, and sometimes require major upgrades in order to integrate into the main grid. Knowing this, Salem can be prepared for these challenges and proactively work toward the best path.
KC Coryatt is SAFE’s Summer Intern.