Martha's Vineyard Commission
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Sakiko Isomichi
Climate Resilience Planner
(508) 693-3453 ext. 119
Direct: (508) 338-7388
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Energy
Martha's Vineyard has long relied on imported energy, including electricity, gasoline, and propane. Fossil fuels are imported by private barge and the Steamship Authority, while the Cape Light Compact has been the default electrical supplier since 1998 when the state’s electrical supply began operating as a competitive market.
Eversource, an investor-owned power company, provides most infrastructure to transmit and distribute electricity from a Falmouth bulk substation through submarine cables. Eversource added one cable and replaced another in 2025-2026 (for a total of five) in response to projected demand. Renewables make up a quarter of the Island's energy demand as of 2025.
All six Island towns set goals in 2020 and 2021 to eliminate fossil fuel use and become 100% renewable in building heating, transportation, and electricity generation by 2040. Local production of solar and wind energy can also increase resilience in tandem with the use of battery storage or microgrids.
Planning Resources
- DRI Energy Policy (2023)
- Climate Action Plan (2022): See “Energy Transformation,” pages 67-78.
- Wind Energy Plan for Dukes County (2012)
- Island Wind District DCPC (2009)
- Wind Energy Zone map (2012)
- Island Plan (2009): See “Energy & Waste,” page 7-11.
Useful Links
Region
- Getting to 100% Renewable (2024)
- Ferries Now – electric ferries discussion (2023)
- Event Video on YouTube
- Slides: Aero Energy Lab (Denmark), Elliott Bay & Steamship Authority’s Propulsion Study, Eversource MV Electric Supply Overview, Maine Casco Bay, Steamship Authority, Washington State Ferries
- MVC Climate Crisis Resolution (2019)
State
- Massachusetts State Profile and Energy Estimates (EIA 2024)
- MA Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2050 (2022)
- MA Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2025 and 2030 (2022)
- MA 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap (2020)
Key Organizations
- Vineyard Power: Fosters local, renewable electricity production through technical and financial assistance to advance energy resiliency for the Island’s residents, businesses, and municipalities.
- Vineyard Sustainability Energy Committee: Has convened monthly since 2017 with all town energy committees and Vineyard Power to share updates and collaborate on projects to further energy transformation.
- Cape Light Compact: Purchases power on behalf of municipalities in Barnstable and Dukes counties and implements energy efficiency programs.
- Cape & Vineyard Electric Cooperative: A public cooperative that explores appropriate options to ensure electricity supply, renewable energy development, consumer protection, and energy efficiency.
- Town Energy Committees: Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, West Tisbury
- Department of Energy Resources (DOER)
- Department of Public Utilities (DPU)
- Mass Clean Energy Center (Mass CEC)
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Additional Resources
Energy Working Papers
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