NORTHAMPTON — In celebration of Sun Day, the Northampton Climate Emergency Coalition will be hosting “Get Energy Smart!” an energy fair to celebrate the rise of clean energy and the movement to become free of fossil fuels and their emissions.
On Sunday, Sept. 21 from 1-4 p.m., Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School will be the site for celebrations for Sun Day, a global day of action that marks the beginning of Climate Action Week.
The Climate Emergency Coalition is made up of several organizations looking to promote proactive action against climate change.
This event is co-sponsored by the cities of Northampton and Easthampton and will take place rain or shine.
“It’s a celebration of solar and wind power and our move toward a fossil free future,” explained Denise Lello, a Northampton Climate Emergency Coalition member and member of Mothers Out Front, a coalition aimed to protect children from the climate crisis. “It seemed a little strange given the current hostility towards wind and solar at the federal level and the pullback on a lot of initiatives that were really powerful supports for moving toward a fossil fuel free future, but in spite of that, I think the idea is to let people know we’re moving forward and there’s a lot you can do. There’s a lot to celebrate.”
Get Energy Smart! will showcase the ways that Northampton, Easthampton and communities across the Connecticut River Valley are using solar and wind energy sources to power lives sustainably.
The public is invited to come and meet local climate and sustainability officers while learning about the Northampton-Easthampton Electrification Campaign, Hampton Saves Energy, Valley Green Energy, Neighborhood Electrification and other programs that can lower energy costs for households and businesses.
“A lot of people don’t know about electricity Northampton-Easthampton, or that we have a community advocate that can help us,” added Lello. “People have busy lives and don’t have time to be informed about every little program that we have, but there’s a lot of benefit for them to gain so we’re excited to have this fair and let people come and see what’s available.”
In the Smith Vocational library there will be a series of short presentations with speakers including state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton), state Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton), Director of Northampton’s CAPA department Ben Weil, Northampton Director of Planning and Sustainability Carolyn Misch, Easthampton Sustainability Coordinator Sophie Protano, and Community Action Pioneer Valley Energy Director Peter Wingate.
“There’s been a recognition among leaders that we really need to work together,” said Lello. “Both Jo Comerford and Lindsay Sabadosa have been big supporters of climate action at the state level and the truth is that local municipalities don’t have a lot of authority, but we need this enabling legislature at the state level. We’ve had a number of climate bills over the last five years moving forward and requiring utilities to move into this future, so their understanding of how those bills have been put together, and the successes and sometimes setbacks that we’ve had at the legislative level, I think is really good insight for people to have and to know that they need to make their voices heard so we know there’s political support for this because there are always voices supported by the fossil fuel industry who really want to push back on these efforts.”
In the school’s cafetorium, the public can learn about ways to benefit from the clean energy revolution. They will also be able to ask questions at tables staffed by representatives from Hampton Saves Energy, the Northampton-Easthampton Electrification Campaign and Valley Green Energy, plus energy coaches, heat pump and solar installers, local climate activists and more.
Outdoors at the event there will be EVs and e-bikes on display, with local dealers on hand to answer questions. Spanish language and ASL interpreters will be on hand to facilitate conversations. The site is wheelchair accessible.
The event is family-friendly as it will feature games, art projects, and vendors selling pizza and ice cream.
Lello added she hopes for a good turnout to the Sun Day event and for the public to take advantage of the event as a way to become more educated in what local municipalities are doing to fight climate change.
“All these groups [making up the climate emergency coalition] have recognized that when we unite, we have more people power than each group individually,” said Lello. “Each organization has sort of a different focus, but what we all have in common that we’re trying to move us into a sustainable future.
