Background

Co-op Power members in Hampshire County and Franklin County have worked with other community leaders across New England and New York to build an innovative capitalization structure for community ownership and to establish Co-op Power's core products and services since 2005.  They established criteria for identifying the new businesses and new products and services to bring to Co-op Power members and their communities. Leadership for these efforts came from David Biddle (Hatfield), Scott Kuhn (Northampton), Lynn Di Tullio (Whately), Sally Wright (Greenfield), Erik Hoffner (Ashfield), Tim Rice (Greenfield), Tom Leue(Ashfield) and many others.

Co-op Power Member Benefits

Co-op Power members in Hampshire and Franklin Counties formed the Co-op Power Products and Services Work Group that had developed and monitored products and services to be offered to Co-op Power's members.  This group created Co-op Power's Member to Member Solar Hot Water Installation program that saves members 40-50% on an installation.  Scott Reed (Sunderland) and Nat Fortune (Whately) have provided valuable leadership for their work.

Co-op Power members have been involved in the Heating Oil Buying Group with some serving on the Advisory Group for those purchases; others have been involved in the Wood Pellet Buying Group with some serving on the Advisory Group for those purchases; and many, many others have participated in the Member to Member Solar Hot Water Installation program, serving as team leaders for an installation every week for months at a time (many, many thanks to Scott Reed (Sunderland), Nat Fortune (Whately), John Howard (Northampton) and many more!).

Building Co-op Power Up as a Decentralized Network of Local Organizing Councils - including Co-op Power Hampshire County

Co-op Power members adopted new by-laws establishing Co-op Power as a decentralized network of local organizing councils.  Co-op Power members are now each part of a local organizing council.  Co-op Power members who live in Hampshire County are now part of Co-op Power Hampshire County.  It will take a few months to sort out how members would like to see this get started, but here's what we know so far from the decision that Co-op Power members made together as they put the regional structure together.

David Biddle, Scott Kuhn, and Erik Hoffner are your representatives for Co-op Power Hampshire County to the Co-op Power board.  When their terms expire, Co-op Power Franklin County members will participate in the election to reappoint one of them for another term or to appoint a new representative.

Co-op Power Hampshire County will determine how new member equity collected will be invested in the region.  It will support the development of sustainable energy businesses and sustainable energy products and services in the region.  It will support ongoing education and outreach efforts.  The Central Office for Co-op Power that serves all of the local organizing councils in the region is located in Greenfield, so lots of support is readily available.

At some point in the near future, Co-op Power Hampshire County will likely appoint people to help convene, plan and facilitate meetings and oversee any programs members decide to support.