Government/ Non-Profit

As part of the Patrick Administration’s support of the clean energy industry, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Mark Sylvia today announced that 551 residents and businesses signed contracts to install solar electricity systems as part of the first round of the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts program (Solarize Mass®), which concluded October 31.

The systems contracted through this round of Solarize Mass constitute 3.8 megawatts of clean, renewable energy capacity that will generate enough electricity to power 570 average Massachusetts homes annually. The program lowers costs by offering consumers a five-tiered pricing structure, where the savings increase as more people sign contacts.

“For the third year in a row, we’ve seen tremendous response to the Solarize Mass model, with this year being the best yet,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. “This program truly shows what can happen when you bring together government, industry and dedicated volunteers, united to tackle a challenging goal.”

Since it started as a pilot program in 2011, Solarize Mass has been responsible for more than 1,250 solar systems across the state with 9.4MW of electricity capacity. The communities participating in this round – Bourne, Brookline, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Lee, Medford, Medway, Newton, Northampton and Williamstown – averaged 383kw each, the highest average for any round of the program. Nine of the 10 communities reached Tier 5, which represents the greatest savings in the program.

“We’re positively beaming at the results of this year’s Solarize Mass program,” said Barton. “It once again shows that when residents and business owners learn about the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy, they can’t wait to sign up.”

“These results show that Solarize Mass is an effective model for bringing clean, cost-saving energy to residents and businesses in these communities,” said Commissioner Sylvia. “We look forward to continuing our support for all communities in the Commonwealth as they pursue renewable energy.”

Preliminary results for contracts signed and capacity for participating communities was:

Bourne:                                               21 systems                  137 kilowatts

Brookline:                                            63 systems                  346 kilowatts

Chelmsford-Carlisle:                           96 systems                  612 kilowatts

Lee:                                                     36 systems                  294 kilowatts

Medford:                                             48 systems                  388 kilowatts

Medway:                                             39 systems                  489 kilowatts

Newton:                                               64 systems                  309 kilowatts

Northampton:                                      108 systems                706 kilowatts

Williamstown:                                      76 systems                  559 kilowatts

Among the projects contracted as part of Solarize Mass this year is a 99 kilowatt solar electricity system on the roof of seven-story Dowling Hall, which houses a parking garage and a variety of student and administrative services at Tufts University in Medford.

"As a university, we have a special role  in helping address important global issues such as climate change and resource depletion and a responsibility to use our campus as a learning laboratory,” Tufts President Anthony P. Monaco. We are proud to work with the City of Medford, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Department of Energy Resources in support of sustainability."

"Medford started the Solarize program with 50 solar systems already installed; to practically double that number far exceeded our expectations,” said Medford Mayor Michael J. McGlynn “We are thrilled that Tufts is installing roof-top solar through this program. Medford and Tufts have a long, mutually beneficial relationship and we are excited to take this next step to a clean energy future together."

“SunBug Solar is ecstatic to be able to work with Tufts University as part of the Solarize Mass program in Medford,” said Lisa Raffin, the solar installation company’s vice president for corporate business. “This is the true definition of community solar when we see a prominent university and 47 Medford residents linked together to share the benefits of solar electricity.”

Other installers participating in this round of the program were Cotuit Solar, E2 Solar, Real Goods Solar, Second Generation Energy and SolarFlair

MassCEC and DOER are currently reviewing community applications for the second round of the 2013 Solarize Mass program.

Over the past five years, the Patrick Administration has created a suite of programs – like Solarize Mass, Commonwealth Solar rebates, and Massachusetts’ nation-leading solar carve-out, a market-based incentive program – to drive solar development and cultivate a robust solar marketplace. As a result of these efforts, Massachusetts met Governor Patrick’s ambitious goal of installing 250 megawatts of solar electricity capacity by 2017 four years early. Governor Patrick set a new goal of 1,600 megawatts of solar capacity by 2020, which is enough electricity to power 240,000 average Massachusetts homes.

In addition to the success of Solarize Mass, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) this week announced $1.5 million in SunShot Rooftop Solar Challenge II funding for a regional effort to lower solar costs and increase regional collaboration for solar electricity across New England. As the program seeks to reduce barriers to solar development, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire will collectively work together to develop solutions to permitting, interconnection, financing, planning and zoning challenges. The national nonprofit organization Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) will coordinate the initiatives. Led by DOER in partnership with MassCEC, the Massachusetts-based program will feature the participation of the cities of Boston and Cambridge and the town of Winchester.

More than 8,400 Massachusetts workers spend at least half of their time on solar activities in the Commonwealth, according to the 2013 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report.

The report found that the clean energy industry as a whole grew by 11.8 percent between 2012 and 2013, and there are now more than 5,550 clean energy firms and 80,000 clean energy workers in the Commonwealth.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today announced the second round of the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts (Solarize Mass®) program is now accepting applications from cities and towns interested in participating.

“This bulk purchasing program has saved residents and businesses money, while aiding in the Patrick Administration’s goal of creating local jobs and expanding our use of home-grown energy sources,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan. “We’re excited to find the next round of Solarize Mass communities.”

The program – designed to increase the adoption of solar energy and further reduce the overall cost of solar power – offers residents and businesses discounted pricing for solar. The more people who sign up, the greater the savings are for everyone.

“The momentum around this program has been building since it was launched in 2011,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “Community-by-community, we’re working with local leaders and volunteers to spread the word on the economic and environmental benefits of solar power.”

The program is open to all Massachusetts communities, including those designated by DOER as Green Communities, a designation made by DOER to cities and towns that meet five clean energy requirements, including a commitment to reduce their energy use by 20 percent.

“Solarize Mass continues to fulfill the desire of so many individuals, businesses and communities to be part of Massachusetts’ clean energy revolution,” said DOER Commissioner Mark Sylvia. “This program provides the pathway to do that in a smart, engaging way that benefits them and future generations at the same time.”

The program is open to all Massachusetts communities, including those designated by DOER as Green Communities, a designation made by DOER to cities and towns that meet five clean energy requirements. By statute, those requirements include adoption by the municipality of "as-of-right" siting and expedited permitting for renewable energy projects."

The first round of the 2013 Solarize Mass program is underway now in 10 communities: Bourne, Brookline, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Lee, Medford, Medway, Newton, Northampton and Williamstown.

Individual cities, towns and groups of contiguous municipalities can apply for the second round by downloading a request for proposals and applying by Oct. 22.

MassCEC and DOER expect to select at least eight communities or groups of communities to participate in this round of the program.

In the first two years of the Solarize Mass program, 21 cities and towns participated in the program, contracting more than 900 solar electricity systems with more than 5.5 megawatts of solar energy capacity.

Through programs like Solarize Mass, Massachusetts reached Governor Patrick’s ambitious goal of installing 250 megawatts of solar electricity capacity four years earlier than the 2017 deadline.

At an April event commemorating the achievement, Gov. Patrick announced a new goal of installing 1,600 megawatts of solar capacity by 2020. Once the goal is reached, solar electricity systems across the Commonwealth will generate enough electricity to power 240,000 average Massachusetts homes.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan joined Congressman Joe Kennedy and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton today to announce more than $457,000 in grants to fund clean five energy science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs across the state.

The grants, funded as part of MassCEC’s Workforce Capacity Building Program, will aid projects that help build STEM skills in students and boost the number of high school graduates pursuing STEM majors in college.

“The rapid expansion of Massachusetts’ clean energy industry is bringing fresh opportunities for job growth and economic activity across our Commonwealth,” said Congressman Joe Kennedy, who chairs the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council. “In order to maximize that potential it is critical we have a workforce prepared to seize these jobs. The grants announced today will support innovative partnerships between clean energy professionals, educators and students all geared at making sure we have the human capital to support this promising new industry. On the South Coast specifically, this grant money will allow Bristol Community College to help prepare workers across the region for the opportunities that wind, solar and other green technologies are already bringing to the area.”

“To continue expanding Massachusetts’ clean energy sector, we need to prepare educators and students for the clean energy jobs of tomorrow,” said Secretary Sullivan, who serves as the chairman of MassCEC’s board of directors. “Bringing clean energy professionals together with educators and students will train the next generation of clean energy workers.”

The Workforce Capacity Program provides funding for programs that develop and integrate clean energy- and STEM-related curricula, create practical problem-solving projects to address student skill development; and/or, provide clean energy and STEM-focused career exposure and/or work experience opportunities for both educators and students.

“Massachusetts clean energy companies are looking for qualified employees and this program provides students with the skills they need to compete in this rapidly growing sector of the global economy,” said Barton.

Programs receiving funding under the program are:

• Boston Private Industrial Council $20,000 – The Boston Private Industrial Council will reach out to more than 600 youths through several events, including a Green Career Exploration Conference in the winter of 2014, a Youth Leadership Summit in July 2014 and monthly green jobs seminars with clean energy professionals. 
• Bristol Community College $100,000 – Bristol Community College’s (BCC) Green Center will partner with local high schools, area clean energy companies and government agencies to provide training for STEM educators and guidance counselors to ultimately increase students’ exposure to clean energy career paths through revised curricula and dual enrollment programs, in which high school students are able to take college courses.
• Cape Cod Community College $144,000 – Cape Cod Community College will build a Bridge to College program to serve eligible low income high school seniors enrolled at Barnstable and Dennis Yarmouth high schools who are interested in pursuing advanced studies and careers in the solar energy field. The program will focus on math and renewable energy coursework, hands-on learning activities, lectures on clean energy topics and mentoring and other support services.
• Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board $50,072 – The Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board (MVWIB) will expose students at Lawrence, Haverill and the Greater Lawrence Technical high schools to clean energy job opportunities through workshops, internship opportunities and visits with area clean energy companies. The program will also expose area teachers in clean energy concepts.
• Northeastern University $143,000 – Northeastern University will build a Dual Enrollment program to serve eligible low-income high school seniors enrolled in the Boston Public Schools. The program will allow 30 students to participate in a Northeastern University credit bearing clean energy course as well as assist students with passing Advanced Placement (AP) high school mathematics courses. The program is designed to increase student interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and to increase student confidence to succeed in College.

Programs also engage clean energy industry in the classroom by providing dual enrollment programs that allow high school students to take college courses, offering high school internships for low-income youths and developing activities and practical laboratories for applied science in the clean energy field.

Clean energy jobs are on the rise in Massachusetts. From 2011 to 2012, clean energy jobs rose by 11.2 percent. There are 5,000 clean energy companies in Massachusetts that employ 72,000 workers. 

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard Sullivan today announced an inter-agency initiative for state energy and environmental agencies to provide support and guidance to municipalities, developers and stakeholders for land-based wind projects.

“Wind energy is growing fast in the Commonwealth and this inter-agency initiative will enhance our capacity to provide the best technical and policy support to the many communities across the Commonwealth hosting, reviewing, or considering wind energy projects,” said Secretary Sullivan. “As a former mayor, I understand the municipal concerns of siting wind energy projects. Our goal is to use all the tools at our disposal at the state level to help communities appropriately site wind energy.”

The Community Wind Outreach Initiative will include a coordinated community wind working group, with representatives from EEA, the Department of Energy Resource (DOER), the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB). MassDEP will also convene a technical advisory group of experts to solicit input on wind turbine sound policy.

In order to promote science-based information related to wind turbine siting decisions, the major components of the initiative include:

• Municipal Support: enhanced state-level support led by DOER’s Green Communities Division to communities that have operating wind energy projects or that are reviewing new wind development proposals.
• Acoustic Policy: a technical advisory group to consider changes to MassDEP regulations and noise policy as it applies to wind energy turbines.
• Comprehensive Siting Guidance: the state’s EFSB will research wind siting practices around the country and internationally and establish wind energy turbine siting best practices for Massachusetts.
• Monitoring: the MassCEC will continue to support assessment and reporting on the impacts of operating wind projects through its Commonwealth Wind funding program.

The acoustic advisory group process will be informed by the 2012 Wind Turbine Health Impacts Study, the ongoing MassCEC Research Study on Wind Turbine Acoustics, and other relevant data identified by MassDEP and technical advisory group members. Topics to be discussed will include potential MassDEP permitting requirements for wind projects, and technical issues related to the unique characteristics of wind turbine sound, including predicting, measuring and analyzing acoustic impacts. MassDEP anticipates that the advisory group process will identify recommended changes to MassDEP noise regulations and policy as they apply to wind turbine noise. 

DOER’s Green Community’s division will expand its already extensive outreach and ongoing engagement with communities hosting wind energy projects, and MassCEC will increase monitoring of wind projects in order to provide more valuable technical guidance on enhanced wind energy siting. The EFSB has begun collecting and reviewing siting standards and guidance from across the nation and beyond, and plans on releasing enhanced comprehensive siting guidance later this year.

In 2009, Governor Patrick announced a wind energy goal of 2,000 megawatts (MW) by 2020, assuming that land-based wind would account for approximately 25 percent of this goal. Installing wind capacity of 2,000 MW would provide enough electricity for 800,000 homes and meet an estimated 10 percent of the state’s current electric load with clean, renewable wind power. By displacing electricity generated by fossil fuels, use of wind turbines on this scale would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.1 million tons, or roughly 12 percent of emissions from power plants today and reduce millions of gallons of water currently used to cool fossil fuel plants.

Massachusetts has experienced one of the fastest wind energy growth rates in the nation, going from just 3 MW and three turbines installed in 2007 to more than 100 MW and dozens of turbines installed now throughout the Commonwealth. This EEA Community Wind Outreach Initiative builds upon the Patrick Administration’s focus on responsibly sited wind energy projects.

Governor Deval Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today joined federal, state and local officials to break ground on the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, the first terminal in the United States built to support offshore wind turbine deployment.

“Investing in infrastructure will create jobs now and build a stronger Commonwealth for the next generation,” said Governor Patrick.  “This is how Massachusetts claims its place as a hub for a new American industry.”

“With over 350 years of maritime history, New Bedford remains one of the most important commercial ports along the East Coast,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “By breaking ground on this major project, this multi-purpose terminal will not only provide the harbor with new shipping and cargo capacity but also support clean energy initiatives significant to not only this region, but our Commonwealth and country.”

The terminal project builds upon the Administration's continued commitment to investing in infrastructure and opportunity, to create jobs now and strengthen the Commonwealth for the next generation.

“By developing a home-grown source of clean energy we are not only protecting the environment but we’re creating local jobs,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan, who serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).

Following the completion of a competitive bidding process, MassCEC selected general contractor New Bedford-based Cashman-Weeks NB to construct the terminal.  Work on the project began on April 22 and Cashman-Weeks has opened offices in New Bedford.  The contractor has signed on to use supplies and services from 10 New Bedford businesses. The contractor is a joint venture made up of Cashman Dredging and Marine Contracting of Quincy, Mass. and Weeks Marine of New Jersey. 

This multi-purpose facility will also be able to handle high-volume bulk and container shipping, as well as large specialty marine and industrial cargo.  The first-of-its kind in North America, the terminal will be engineered to sustain mobile crane and storage loads that rival the highest capacity ports in the world. As part of construction, the project includes the dredging and removal of approximately 250,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment.

Offshore wind represents the largest potential new energy source for Massachusetts and for much of the East Coast. By some estimates, Massachusetts’ offshore wind resources could power close to half of the households in Massachusetts. The development of the offshore wind industry in Massachusetts can create a significant new industry in the Commonwealth to anchor the sector. The U.S. Department of Energy projects 43,000 clean energy jobs will be created in the offshore wind industry nationally by 2020.

“Today we’re celebrating the birth of the offshore wind industry in the United States,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. "With Massachusetts’ world-class research centers, skilled workforce and access to capital, the Bay State makes an ideal hub for this emerging clean energy industry."

The terminal, which will be located inside New Bedford Harbor and protected by the hurricane barrier, will be in close proximity to Cape Wind and the offshore wind planning areas along the East Coast that are under consideration for development. The federal government is leading an offshore wind permitting and leasing process in nine states, including Massachusetts, along the Atlantic Coast. That process is expected to lead to the construction of multiple projects, many of which could make use of the terminal, which has an estimated cost of $100 million.

“Fostering New Bedford’s emerging role as a leader in new maritime related industries such as wind and renewable energy and cargo transportation is vital to New Bedford’s economic revival and the creation of new jobs for area residents,” said Senator Mark Montigny. “The South Terminal project makes New Bedford the preeminent port on the East Coast for wind turbine deployment and short sea cargo transportation and will ensure that the New Bedford area becomes a leader in both industries thus providing long term economic benefits for the future.”

“This transformative development project will create hundreds of jobs in New Bedford, and position our community to take advantage of the growing green energy sector,” said Representative Antonio Cabral. “I look forward to working with the Patrick-Murray Administration to make this economic investment a reality.”

"I'm glad to see this kind of progress made on what I feel is the single greatest government investment in the City of New Bedford in the last century,” said Representative Chris Markey. "This is a credit to all of the federal, state and local partners who have contributed so much in the past two and a half years, chief among them Governor Deval Patrick."

“The Patrick Administration has the vision to see the unique advantages that give New Bedford a leg-up on the competition in the race to develop offshore wind energy projects,” said New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. “The combination of the Governor’s leadership, and our commitment as a community, has made our city a strong favorite to become the birthplace of this exciting new industry in North America.”

“This represents a smart investment for our Nation,” said New Bedford City Council President Bruce Duarte, Jr. “This project gives the City of New Bedford an opportunity for many well-paying jobs for our residents as well as a new industry for our nation that will make us less reliant on foreign energy sources. I personally want to thank the Governor and his team for his vision on this well thought out project.”

“This project has the potential for the kind of economic impact our city hasn't seen since the era of textile manufacturing. Careers in welding, electro-mechanical drafting, and all the associated service positions to go along with it,” said New Bedford City Councilor Henry Bousquet. "The fact that it’s good for our environment is just the tip of the iceberg."

“Today's announcement is an investment in the future of New Bedford, the South Coast, and the State of Massachusetts,” said New Bedford City Councilor Joseph Lopes. “The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal will provide this region with continued economic development opportunities.”

The Patrick-Murray Administration set the ambitious but achievable goal of reaching 2,000 megawatts of wind energy in Massachusetts by 2020, with most of that coming from offshore wind. This goal is part of Governor Patrick’s nation-leading support for clean energy policies aimed at reducing reliance on foreign sources of energy, cutting energy costs and use, and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.