By Joe Curtatone

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette

This past winter was one of the coldest Massachusetts has seen in a decade. It followed one of the hottest summers on record, and together, they delivered punishing energy bills to households across the commonwealth. As another summer looms with projections of a 30% spike in electricity demand, Massachusetts families have every right to ask: "Why are my bills so high? And what can we do about it?"

Here’s the truth: The most significant reason our energy bills remain so volatile is our continued reliance on fossil fuels, an energy source that is dirty, expensive, unpredictable and exposed to global market shocks. When a cold snap hits New England or a heat wave strains the grid, we fall back on imported gas and oil. That drives up prices and deepens the cycle of pollution and vulnerability.

That’s why clean energy, including solar, wind and battery storage, isn’t just an environmental imperative. It’s an economic one. And despite the fears being stoked in Oakham and other towns, battery energy storage systems are a safe, tested and essential part of breaking free from fossil-fuel dependence and reducing energy costs for the average consumer.

Massachusetts law requires us to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To do this, we must reduce emissions and maintain a stable, reliable power grid. Storage is a key technology that allows us to do both. Battery systems take clean, locally produced energy from offshore wind and solar farms and store it for later use, particularly during high-demand hours. This reduces our dependence on “peaker plants” that burn fossil fuels and cost more to operate, and it buffers the grid against blackouts and price surges.

But instead of celebrating this progress, a familiar pattern is playing out: opposition campaigns rooted in fear and misinformation, amplified by social media and well-funded fossil fuel interests.

Let’s be honest: Every form of energy infrastructure carries some risk. Modern battery systems adhere to National Fire Protection Association standards and are built with advanced safety features like remote monitoring, thermal controls and strict setback requirements. The technology has improved dramatically from early-generation systems, and of the handful of highly publicized incidents we’ve seen in the past, most were tied to older or improperly maintained equipment.

Developers must comply with water safety standards regarding the proposed Oakham project, but blind opposition ignores the scientific advances that make hazard containment and mitigation achievable.

It’s important to acknowledge local concerns; they’re real. But there’s also a financial reality at play. Residents heating their homes with gas are already being saddled with the cost of fixing a $40 billion leaking pipeline network and a volatile energy market. That money is coming out of allour utility bills. The longer we delay this transition, the more we pay for the status quo that fossil fuel interests are so desperate to maintain.

So what’s the path forward?

Battery storage must be part of it, and community engagement must be done right. That means developers and state agencies must listen, communicate clearly and address concerns honestly. It also means our public discourse has to move beyond fear-mongering headlines and toward solutions rooted in facts, safety and shared responsibility. We cannot allow misinformation to dictate policy. The stakes are too high.

Clean energy paired with storage is the affordable choice. It’s the safer choice. And it’s the only path to an energy system that works for residents, businesses and families.

Joe Curtatone is president of the Alliance for Climate Transition.