Energy Use
Energy and Climate
We use many sources of energy to power different parts of our community. Wherever we use fossil fuels like gas or oil, directly or indirectly, we are generating greenhouse gases (GHGs), the primary type of pollution that causes climate change. Understanding how these different fuels are tied to emissions allows us to see where we need to take action.
From this graph, we can see that to eliminate GHG emissions we need to electrify our homes, cars, and businesses and transition the energy sources that supply our electricity to renewables.
GHG Emissions by Fuel Source
Source: KLA, Danvers Community GHG Inventory, 2022.
Energy Use
Buildings and Transportation
People in Danvers uses 4.8 million MMBtu worth of energy each year. Half of that energy is used to heat and cool buildings, as well as run appliances and lighting. The other half is used for on-road transportation trip to, from, and within Danvers.
MMBtu: Million British Thermal Units is a measure of energy that all fuel types (gallons of oil, therms of natural gas, kWhs of electricity) can be converted to for an apples-to-apples comparison.
Source: KLA, Danvers Community GHG Inventory, 2022.
Renewable Energy
Untapped Power Potential
Only 3% of the solar potential in town is currently being utilized, meaning we have an opportunity to produce more energy within our community and lower energy bills. The average solar installation on a rooftop of a home in Danvers would generate nearly half of that home's electricity needs each year (Project Sunroof). If all homes that could install solar did so, we could supply more than half of our current electricity use with local power. To compliment the clean energy produced from homes and businesses, the Town can also invest in renewable energy projects.
The Town is moving forward to install a 3+ megawatt (MW) solar array at the closed Danvers Landfill. The proposed array could generate 3.4M to 3.8M kWh per year, which is enough electricity to power about 550 homes.
Energy Grid Transition
Purchasing Renewables
Since Danvers has a municipal utility, our community purchases its own energy, rather than relying on a private utility like other towns and cities. That means we can drive significant new development of renewable energy projects in the region by choosing to buy carbon-free energy. We can also voluntarily align with the goals of the State Clean Energy Standard (CES) that aims for 80% of our energy to come from carbon-free sources, such as sun and wind, by 2050.
In 2021, our electricity was generated from the following sources:
- Nuclear power (46%)
- Natural gas (21%)
- Hydro (9%)
- Wind (5%)
- Solar (1%)
Aligning with CES means we can increase the electricity produced from clean sources and phase out electricity made with fossil fuels.
Source: Town of Danvers, Danvers Electric Power Resource Map, 2021.
Be Part of the Solution
Take Energy Action Today!
Save money on energy costs and make your home more comfortable - all while helping our community reduce emissions.
