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Peabody, Marblehead Electric Extend Peak Energy Alert
Both municipal electric companies are asking residents to conserve electricity between 4 and 7 p.m. to cut down on need for capacity power.
PEABODY, MA — For the second straight day, amid an extreme heatwave, Peabody and Marblehead municipal light utilities are asking residents to conserve energy to cut down on any need to purchase costly surge capacity power.
The Peabody Municipal Light Plant and Marblehead Municipal Light Department both issued the requests for Wednesday as temperatures soared into the mid- to upper-90s for the third straight day.
"Just a reminder that there is another Peak Event being called today between 4-7 p.m.," the Marblehead utility posted on its social media. "Please conserve as much energy as you can during that time, hold off on running the dishwasher, or using the washing machine or dryer until after 7.
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"Every little bit helps! Thank you for your cooperation!!"
Peabody issued a similar request:
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We continue to be under a Heat Advisory from the National Weather Service, and demand for electricity is again expected to be high today, surpassing yesterday's needs. We again ask people to shed power wherever possible 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Remember: Peak days can impact future rates. pic.twitter.com/8aMPlXAzfk
— Peabody Light (@PeabodyLight) June 30, 2021
The request of residents comes at the same time the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company — which includes Peabody and Marblehead — are proposing a long-planned gas and oil plant at the Waters Street substation in Peabody that would help meet capacity needs without having to draw more expensive peak energy from the greater grid.
The utility said the proposed peaker plant would run about 239 hours per year — likely including instances like this week's heatwave where demand is at its highest.
But opponents of the plant have fought back in recent months, saying that any type of fossil fuel-powered plant contributes toward climate change, pollution and should not be an option as the state moves toward becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
The project is currently in the eighth week of a minimum "30-day pause" called for amid challenges to Project 2015A from some residents, public officials and climate advocacy groups.
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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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