b'JOY IS OUR FAVORITE CLOSING GIFTIn September, more than 50 residents gathered at the Maplewood Memorial Library for an Electrify SOMA information session.HAPPIEST HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US!to sell, but as trusted neighbors whoto be wasteful. And once I started, it have walked the same path and whowas like, Why stop?Allison Ziefert, Sarah "Ginge" Calhoun, Kelly Oates and Stacie Levycanhelpothersdoitmoreeasily.When Gonzalez received his first Our goal is to make sure they knowfull month of energy credits through whatspossibleandwhotheycanPSE&Gs off-peak charging program,Allison Ziefert Real Estate Group call, Grant says. he couldnt believe it. Before enroll-OneofthoseneighborsisJoeing, he was paying about $60 a monthLicensed Real Estate SalespersonsGonzalez, a Maplewood resident andto charge his EV. The credit on his bill1200 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3005Short Hills, NJ 07078 Electrify SOMA volunteer. A self-de- hovered around $30, effectively cut-scribed tinkerer and car enthusiast,ting his charging costs in half.M: 917-751-0448 | O: 973-310-6816 @NJFROMATOZ NJFROMATOZ.COMGonzalezdoesntconsiderhimselfI was getting paid to drive, he an environmental activist. But he issays.Ishowedmyneighborsmy someonewholearnsbydoingandbill, and they thought it was fake. A helps the next person. neighbor sharing a utility statement ForGonzalez,theturningpointis an example of Electrify SOMAs cameunexpectedly.ItwasGretamethods. Were not talking about Thunberg, he says. She was 16 whencarbonorclimate,Gonzalezsays. she addressed the United Nations Cli- Were talking about real bills, real mate Action Summit, delivering hersavings and real comfort.how dare you speech in which sheIn September, more than 50 resi-told world leaders they werent doingdentsgatheredattheMaplewood enough to confront the climate crisis.MemorialLibraryforanElectrifyYour Local Source For I realized I didnt have an excuse. SOMAinformationsession.The inWithin two days, Gonzalez tradedeventincludedpresentations,butHOLIDAY +his gas car for an electric vehicle.therealconnectionshappenedaf-My wife thought I was crazy, he saysterward when attendees broke into with a laugh. It was the biggest im- small groups and had the opportu- TEACHER GIFTSpulse buy of my life. But it felt right. nity to put a plan in place.Thatfirststepledtoothers.Electrify SOMA volunteers asked Duringthenextsev-eralyears,Gonzalez installedsolarpan- BUSY? SHOP 24/7 els, switched to a heat pump and electric wa- wordsbookstore.comter heater, weatherized his home and replaced hisgasstovewithin- 179 Maplewood Avenue|Maplewood, NJ 07040 |973.763.9500 duction. I didnt start with a master plan, heJoe Gonzalez purchased an EV in 2022. His son shows says. I just didnt wantoff the car\'s custom plates. feature story /17'