The Middleborough Gas & Electric Department recently held a heat pump forum with the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant. MGED and TMLP are Massachusetts public power utilities.
The event was attended by more than 200 area residents and business owners and aimed to educate residents, businesses, contractors, and municipal leaders about the benefits and applications of heat pump technology, the importance of weatherization, available rebates and incentives, and financing for these projects.
The forum featured opening remarks by Massachusetts State Sen. Marc Pacheco and presentations by the Beneficial Electrification League’s Alex Hofmann, Abode Energy Management’s Justin Bates, and MGED’s Kyle Holmberg.
The speakers covered topics such as the principles of heat pump operation, energy efficiency advantages and cost savings, the role of heat pumps in achieving sustainability goals, the importance of weatherization, trends and opportunities in electrification, heat pumps in cold climates, federal tax credits and incentives, and available municipal rebates and eligibility requirements.
In addition to the educational sessions, the forum hosted a number of local organizations for information and networking, including local heat pump installers and vendors, participating lenders in municipal energy efficiency loan programs, local community assistance agencies, energy efficiency advisor organizations, and local sustainability groups.
Attendees had the opportunity to interact with these experts, ask questions, and learn about the latest heat pump products and incentives available.
MGED said it plans to continue its efforts in promoting energy efficiency and sustainable practices through similar educational initiatives in the future.
A recording of the event is available on MGED’s website at www.mged.com/heatpumpforum.
