Community Choice Electricity Programs: A Survey of Massachusetts Municipalities
Assistant Professor of Economics and School of Public Policy Marta Vicarelli co-authored a report on municipal energy aggregation programs in Massachusetts. The research was mentioned in a Boston Globe story, produced in partnership with WBUR, that sheds light on the state’s energy market.
This study by a team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst focuses on opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of Community Choice Energy (CCE) aggregation programs across Massachusetts municipalities. The study examines the goals that motivated municipalities to acquire CCE programs, the self-reported challenges associated with their implementation, and the benefits obtained, including cost-savings. The researchers also discuss the potential of CCE programs to support federal and state climate goals by increasing renewable energy demand while reducing costs, thus contributing to climate mitigation (i.e., ability to reduce CO2 emissions), and facilitating the green energy transition.
Lead Author: Marta Vicarelli, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and School of Public Policy - Contact: Dr. Marta Vicarelli <@email>
Research team:
Ajay Dawani, Department of Economics '22
Emily Laus, Department of Physics '23
Nihal Warawdekar, Department of Economics '20, and Department of Resource Economics '23
Former School of Public Policy students David Wasielewski, Cobi Frongillo, Jiawei (Jared) Liu supported the early stages of the data collection effort.