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Mass Energy To Provide Carbon Offsets for Nine-Day Northampton to Boston Walk

BOSTON, MA—March 1, 2007—Mass Energy Consumers Alliance is supporting the Interfaith Walk for Climate Rescue, a walk from Northampton to Boston, March 16-24, where the Massachusetts religious and other communities are expressing their commitment to taking action on climate change.

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Mass Energy Consumers Alliance, a non-profit organization committed to affordable and sustainable energy, will, through its New England Wind Fund, offset over 10,000 kilowatt hours of electricity used at houses of worship where walkers will gather during the 9-day journey.  The New England Wind Fund works to create more wind energy in the Northeast region, offsetting carbon emissions from the use of fossil fuels, a leading cause of global climate change. 

The growing use of wind energy also benefits local economies by creating jobs, while also improving health and fostering energy independence.
“We are extremely impressed by the commitment of so many Massachusetts citizens who are joining this walk to press the government for action on climate change,” said Mass Energy Executive Director Larry Chretien.  “Mass Energy is more than happy to do our part by providing wind energy to offset the emissions of any energy used in connection with the walk.”

The walk is an interfaith moral call for individuals, businesses and government to reduce global warming pollution 80% by 2050..  The use of offsets such as those provided by Mass Energy represents one of many steps being taken by people and businesses nationwide.  The wind power being provided is offsetting the equivalence of five tons of carbon dioxide emissions, an amount that would take four acres of trees a full year to absorb.

In addition to calling on state and federal governments to rise to the challenge of combating climate change, the walk will highlight municipal governments in Massachusetts that have taken such steps. One such municipal government is the city of Northampton, where the walk begins, a community where over 5% of the residents have chosen clean energy.  For achieving this milestone, Northampton was rewarded with funding from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to use for the installation of solar panels on the John F. Kennedy Middle School.

The walk will go through Worcester whose city council has voted to be “20% Clean Energy by 2010.”  The walk will also go through Cambridge, another “20% Clean Energy by 2010” community, whose residents have over 150 households and businesses that have contributed to the New England Wind Fund, earning the city a free solar panel system for its high school.

Further information about the Interfaith Walk for Climate Rescue is available online at www.climatewalk.org.  

Further information about the New England Wind Fund is available at www.NewEnglandWind.org.