EFG Interview: People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE)
By Ayla Kanber, Earth Forward Group
Published September 1, 2022
People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE) Logo
Earth Forward Group had the opportunity to interview Bernard Pelletier and Mark Scully from People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE) in Connecticut to learn more about how the organization aids in the state’s transition to clean energy through education and advocacy.
What does Connecticut’s People’s Action for Clean Energy (PACE) do?
Since 1973, PACE has been working throughout Connecticut to promote the development of clean energy and efficiency. We operate with a focus on the town level, and we view our mission as making things happen at the local level. (We take the Action part of our name very seriously!) We have a growing suite of programs that serve that mission:
The 100PercentCT program develops quantitative energy plans for Connecticut’s 169 towns and cities. These plans bring together current energy consumption statistics with practical actions to reduce consumption and to make energy more renewable.
The Solar Canopies initiative quantified the renewable energy potential of 8,400 parking areas in Connecticut and outlined a program to increase local adoption of renewable energy.
PACE’s HeatSmart Connecticut program is an education and outreach program that works with community members to increase adoption of energy efficiency measures and to provide education on heat pump technology.
PACE works with the Connecticut Energy Network to bring energy advocates together and to highlight energy issues.
The PACE 100PercentCT Project
What challenges do you face at PACE and how do you overcome them?
PACE’s goal to bring Connecticut’s utilities, buildings, and vehicles to a clean energy future is ambitious. PACE is a small organization with limited resources. We think of ourself as “David” fighting “Goliath” and utilize several strategies to combat this issue:
We constantly and consistently build upon our past efforts; PACE is known throughout Connecticut and we seek to expand by reaching out to local communities. An example of this outreach is our collaboration with Eastern Connecticut Green Action to publish the Green Energy News.
We work with other environmental groups to amplify our work and to support theirs. PACE takes pride in our quantitative approach to environmental issues by providing valuable analyses to other organizations. For example, our energy model has helped several towns work on the Sierra Club’s “Ready for 100” campaign.
Finally, we have developed outreach and graphic (creation) abilities that allow us to engage towns in HeatSmart Connecticut and other campaigns. There is truth in the adage that a picture (or video) is worth a thousand words.
The Path to 100%: A Practical Handbook for Transitioning Connecticut Communities to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy — PACE Report
How does PACE work toward socioeconomic development and equity?
PACE’s energy model looks at the cost of today’s energy systems (utilities, vehicles, building operations) and calculates the reduction in cost and volatility to expect in a renewable energy economy. This model provides towns with a plan to move forward. The model is anchored in detailed data and can serve as a way to assess equity disparities and impacts; for example, the model can estimate how many homes are in Environmental Justice Communities and how to reach those zones with renewable energy programs.
However, our organization and projects are working towards further advancement of our equity and diversity goals.
How are PACE initiatives (100PercentCT, HeatSmart, Solar Canopies, etc.) beneficial for Connecticut residents?
The PACE initiatives are all designed to find pragmatic pathways for individuals and communities to go forward. It is our intent that this benefits Connecticut residents by:
Engaging towns and residents to make economically beneficial changes;
Using quantitative modeling to illustrate the pragmatic path forward and to focus on action;
Connecting people to knowledge and resources on energy efficiency; and
Using modeling to demonstrate the possibilities of energy efficient programs.
Are there any ongoing or upcoming programs that you want to highlight?
PACE has operated town by town and learned from every engagement. We are very excited to highlight the PACE Environmental Dashboard project — a program that will bring PACE modeling and information to every town in Connecticut. This dashboard will reflect the results of PACE modeling, while allowing towns to reflect on their own ideas, progress, and approaches. The dashboard will help us to reach more residents while providing a platform for towns to network and learn from one another.
Meet the Interviewees
Mark W. Scully, President of PACE
Mark has long been interested in clean energy, energy efficiency and recycling. He has served as President of PACE since 2016. A native of Simsbury, Mark is active in his local Clean Energy Task Force. He retired in 2017 from a thirty-five-year career as an actuary and is currently leading the restoration of a local historic mansion into a mixed-use commercial property using modern, energy efficient technology and practices. Mark received his B.A. in Mathematics and German from Washington and Lee University, and his M.A. in International Economics and Foreign Policy at the Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Johns Hopkins University. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Certified Passive House Consultant. Mark lives in West Simsbury, CT, dabbles with music, and is active in the First Church of Christ Simsbury.
Bernard Pelletier, Vice President of PACE
Bernie is Vice President of PACE and manager of the 100PercentCT Project. Bernie retired from the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford Connecticut. His last assignment was Chief Actuary for the International Division. Bernie received his B.S. in Mathematics and Peace Studies from Manhattan College, and a Master’s in Public Policy from Trinity College in Hartford. He is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and has carried this quantitative approach into the 100PercentCT Project. He lives with his wife in West Hartford and serves on the towns’ Clean Energy Commission.