Newton’s Energy Action Plan urges residents to conserve AND support Clean Energy Development. You know that energy costs are rising, but did you know that fossil fuels provide over 80% of Newton's electricity? And did you know that the City of Newton now has an Energy Action Plan? Bound color copies of the Plan have been placed at every Newton Public Library reference desk, and can also be viewed online.

The plan includes many useful recommendations, including these two:

1. We should learn about and act on ways to use less energy.
2. We should encourage development of new sources of clean energy.

These two ideas can be linked, since if we reduce energy consumption, we can put the financial savings towards a state program called Clean Energy Choice. For residents of Newton, the official vendor for Clean Energy Choice certificates is the non-profit Mass Energy Consumers Alliance; phone is 617-524-3950 and email is info@massenergy.com.

Currently there is an attractive 2x matching grant -- for every donation of $50 or more to the program, an equivalent amount will go to renewable energy projects on public schools (in Newton) and for energy efficiency projects in low income housing (wherever the need is greatest in the state).

Financial support for Clean Energy Choice is needed, since energy and climate experts tell us that a transition to a clean energy future is urgent, is not happening fast enough, and the "business as usual" approach of simply pumping more oil remains relatively inexpensive. Getting to the future will take time, and now is when we should begin. Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation to support the three great goals of clean energy development in New England, renewable power education at every Newton school, and more energy efficiency for low income Massachusetts citizens. Call 617-524-3950 today and ask about: