Page 12 - BusinessWest March 7, 2022

Editorial
FMoving Toward ‘Normal.’
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or more than two years now, this region and its business As we see more important signs of ‘normal’ — on our calen- community have been longing for a return to something dars, and in general — there is room for optimism that the time approaching ‘normal,’ or what we knew before COVID may soon be approaching when the pandemic ceases to rule our
arrived in Western Massachusetts in early March of 2020.
If the pandemic has taught us anything over the past 24 months,
it is that we shouldn’t take anything for granted and should never think that anything is ‘over,’ because ‘over,’ when it comes to COVID, is a relative term.
But, and this is a big but, we are starting to see some very wel- come and very refreshing signs of normal. Let’s start with the Holy- oke St. Patrick’s Day Parade and road race. After a long, painful two- year hiatus, these traditions are returning, and Holyoke — and the region — are poised for a huge party (see related story, page 6).
Also returning after two years on the sidelines is Bay Path Uni- versity’s annual Women’s Leadership Conference, an event that brings more than 2,000 attendees to the MassMutual Center in Springfield each spring. And then, there’s BusinessWest’s Difference Makers event, another early spring tradition.
It will be back at the main ballroom at the Log Cabin on March 24. The event has been staged over the past two years, but not in its traditional fashion. In 2021, it was a virtual event, and in 2020, it became a fall happening, staged at the Upper Vista at the Log Cabin with 25 people in attendance — because that was the limit for event venues at that moment in time.
We all remember those days, and would probably like to forget them.
Opinion
lives and is something we just have to live with. How soon, no one knows, but by most accounts, we’re moving much closer.
Those who spoke with BusinessWest about the Holyoke parade and its long-anticipated return, everyone from the mayor to the parade chairman to bar owners in the city, spoke about its impor- tance from an economic perspective. Indeed, dozens of businesses benefit directly from the parade and the road race, and some gen- erate perhaps half a normal year’s income during that one week.
But they also spoke of its importance from a civic pride perspec- tive and how people came back to Holyoke year after year because it was the place to be St. Patrick’s Day — or the whole week. And they talked about the importance of getting back to something approaching normal.
That’s because it’s been missing from our lives for most of the past two years.
What we’ve learned since March of 2020 is that ‘normal’ is important, ‘normal’ is good for everyone.
And that point will be driven home again when the parade kicks off in Holyoke, when the speakers take to the stage at the Women’s Leadership Conference, and when the Difference Makers hear the applause they’ve earned at the Log Cabin.
Yes, we can all use a little ‘normal’ right about now. v
Putting MassSave Changes in Perspective
By Robert Rio
Massachusetts recently updated its flagship Mass Save energy effi- ciency program. The changes will
affect businesses in areas served by an investor-owned electric or gas utility — companies such as Eversource, National Grid and UNITIL.
The changes took effect on Jan. 1. Mas- sachusetts reviews its energy efficiency pro- grams every three years.
What will the changes mean to your company? Many commercial and industrial (C&I) programs will continue, some with modifications.
Greenhouse-gas reductions are now counted in the calculations to determine energy savings
A 2021 Massachusetts law mandated economy-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions beginning 2030. As a result, the new energy efficiency programs include the social value of carbon in the cost- effectiveness analysis calculations for most measures.
The result is that previously marginally cost-effective programs may now be eligible for programs when the benefits of green- house-gas reductions are included. The new three-year plan is expected to reduce the equivalent of 845,000 metric tons of green- house-gas by 2030, equal to the emissions from about 180,000 cars.
New emphasis on heat-pump technology
Reducing greenhouse gases will even- tually require a switch from fossil fuels
to electric options for building heating, water heating and some industrial pro- cesses. The new plan will emphasize elec- tric heat-pump technology for commercial and industrial customers, particularly for smaller businesses where residential-sized options may work.
Larger companies may have a tougher time electrifying, but electrification may still make sense in areas of your facility, par- ticularly if you are served by delivered fossil fuels such as oil and propane.
Most lighting rebates are eliminated
Since its inception, Mass Save has offered rebates for energy efficient light- ing. Now that such lighting is often required by code and ubiquitous, rebates are not allowed, except when new lighting is paired with controllable technologies.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is no longer eligible for rebates
Combined Heat and Power systems pro- duce electricity and recover the exhaust heat to produce heating, cooling, and pro- cess steam for manufacturing and other uses.
Many businesses have installed com- bined heat and power to manage their
energy costs and ensure reliability. AIM
has long supported this effort. The new greenhouse-gas law makes natural gas and other fossil fuels ineligible for rebates. AIM has long supported CHP and disagrees with the elimination of incentives for Combined Heat and Power.
Electricity and natural-gas costs will rise
The Mass Save program is primarily funded by a surcharge on a customer’s elec- tric and gas bills.
In the previous three-year plan (2019- 2021), the total costs (gas and electric)
were about $1.1 billion for commercial and industrial customers, representing about 40% of the total program costs. Rebates are generally sector specific, so money collected from commercial and industrial customers is mostly returned to those customers.
The new program will see commercial and industrial sector costs rise to about $1.56 billion dollars over three years. The impact on company energy bills will vary, but the increase will have a measurable impact on overall energy costs. More infor- mation will be available as programs are rolled out. v
Robert Rio is senior vice president and counsel of Government Affairs for Associated Industries of Massachusetts; [email protected]
12 MARCH 7, 2022
OPINION
BusinessWest