Renewable Energy Worcester (RENEW)
Renewable Energy Worcester is a Community Energy Cooperative run by Co-op Power members in Worcester County, MA to organize and advance the goals of energy justice and community resilience.
RENEW formed in 2016 following a successful community energy forum that brought residents from three different language communities into conversation about where energy comes from and why it matters, and introduced participants to local initiatives for a clean energy system. RENEW chose to become a Community Energy Co-operative of Co-op Power, taking over the previous Blackstone Valley Local Organizing Council of Co-op Power that was, at the time, inactive.
Blackstone CEC 2014-2015 Annual Report
As a CEC, RENEW centers energy democracy in our outreach and community engagement. Our core group is made up of committed social justice and energy justice organizers with deep connections in the community. We strive to develop projects that will bring energy independence to our community while providing living-wage jobs to community residents.
Our first solar projects focused on nonprofit and low income residents in collaboration with Resonant Energy and Co-op Power's common office with support from a DOE SunShot "Solar in Your Community" Technical Assistance Award. We have prioritized faith-based organizations in this work..
Contact RENEWWorcester@gmail.com to get involved or for more info.
The following organizations have affiliated with this CEC’s efforts:
- The Social Venture Collaborative
- Worcester Interfaith
- Worcester Roots
- Worcester Community Labor Coalition
- Worcester SAGE Alliance
- Stone Soup Collective and Community Resource Center
- Worcester Clean Tech Incubator
- Christian Community Church
- St. John's Church
- Mustard Seed, a Catholic Worker's House
- Community Clean Energy Project (E4theFuture)
