Westfield State Hosts Clean Energy Incentives For All Forum

Recognizing Climate Preparedness Week, which occurs during the last week of September, Westfield State University recently hosted the Clean Energy Incentives For All Forum. The program’s aim was to illustrate how climate change impacts our environment and how state and federal programs can assist individuals, businesses, and government shift to clean energy sources and away from fossil fuels.  

Panelists and guest speakers included non-profit and business leaders, policy makers and elected officials including Beth Spong, CEO of Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee; Anthony Gulluni, Hampden County’s District Attorney; Larry Chretien, CEO of Green Energy Consumer Alliance and Jonathan Schrag, Massachusetts Deputy Climate Chief.

The event was sponsored by The Pioneer Valley Library Collaborative, Voices for Climate, and Westfield State’s Geography, Planning, Sustainability Department.

“Massachusetts has always been at the forefront of innovation,” Gulluni said in his opening remarks. "It's renowned for its rich history, but also we are pioneers for the future. This is about supporting our communities. Let us be moved by the spirit of unity and shared purpose. Together, we will prevail. Thank you for being here, for your dedication to a greener future, and for your commitment to our community.”

Spong emphasized the importance of supporting indigenous communities and their land, where deforestation has impacted their climate the most. “Hundreds of thousands of coffee plants are planted in the eleven countries we buy coffee from in order to bring biodiversity back, which is critical to their ecosystem's health,” she said. 

Chreitan urged individuals to enact change on a daily basis by making the switch to clean energy, whether it’s by electrifying their cars, cell phones, or houses. “The opportunities are right in front of us. All of the fossil fuels we've used have been used by choice. The good news is that technology is getting better, but we have to make these decisions,” he said. 

Schrag, Massachusetts Deputy Climate Chief, acting as spokesperson for the teams behind the implementation of clean energy infrastructure in the Commonwealth said, “We are acting to integrate all of the necessary pieces for change and focus of federal funding.” He assured his team is working diligently and change is coming. 

A Q&A session followed the speakers’ addresses, where area constituents asked questions on  how they can be more active proponents for alternative energy choices.