Government/ Non-Profit

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today announced grants totaling more than $700,000 to support seven wind energy projects under the Commonwealth Wind Community Scale Wind Initiative.
“With two dozen wind turbines already in place across the state, Massachusetts communities and businesses clearly recognize the important role wind power has to play in the clean energy future Governor Patrick envisions for the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard Sullivan, who serves as chairman of MassCEC’s board of directors. “I am pleased to announce the latest round of Community Scale Wind grants to help more responsibly sited wind projects get off the ground.”
The awards announced today include one design and construction grant totaling more than 3.2 megawatts (MW) in capacity, and six feasibility studies for wind energy that would total between 5.4 MW and 8.3 MW in capacity if built. The seven grants go to private and public projects, including cities and towns. The Commonwealth Wind Community Scale Wind initiative is a program of MassCEC’s Renewable Energy Generation division, which is funded by the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund. 
“The Community Scale Wind program is helping cities and towns across the Commonwealth incorporate responsibly sited wind projects into plans to develop diverse sources of clean renewable energy,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney. “I’m proud to see these communities engaged in a process to make wind power part of their sustainable energy future.”
The wind project receiving a design and construction grant is in Dartmouth. The six projects receiving feasibility awards will support efforts in the towns of Becket, Blandford, Harwich, Hopkinton, Heath and Holden.
Following Commonwealth Solar – the first MassCEC program defined by technology type – Commonwealth Wind is MassCEC’s grant program that supports responsibly sited wind energy projects. Commonwealth Wind’s Community Scale program supports wind projects of at least 100 kilowatts in size; its Micro Wind program provides rebates for the installation of wind projects less than 100 kilowatts, typically for residential, small commercial or agricultural sites.
The goal of the Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program is to assist responsibly-sited wind energy projects of all scales in achieving successful and timely installation in support of Governor Patrick’s goal of having 2,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed in the Commonwealth by 2020.  
Details of the grants can be found below.
Design & Construction Awards

Dartmouth, Town of

The Town of Dartmouth plans to install two 1.6 MW wind turbines at the Town Water Division’s Well Site and Water Treatment Facility located on Chase Road. Dartmouth will work with its consultants, STV, Inc. and COWI, to obtain all final permits, update the existing acoustic study, conduct a final evaluation of financing options, complete final design and procure and install two IEC Class III turbines. Dartmouth expects to complete the installation by September 2012.

Project Type

Public

Location

Waste Water Treatment Plant  in Dartmouth, MA

Technology

Two 1.6 MW Wind Turbines

D&C Grant

$400,000

Feasibility Study Awards

Becket, Town of

The Town of Becket will explore the feasibility of a net metered 900kW community wind project on private land off of Tower Road in Becket. The town will work with its consultant Sustainable Energy Developments Inc. to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate the potential for installing a turbine at this site to serve municipal loads and offset electrical utility expenses on town-owned property. The study will include an in-depth analysis of siting, turbine performance, economics, buildability, interconnection, permitting, capital costs, financing and ownership options.

The town has partnered with the site owner, The School at Jacob’s Pillow, and Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA. These partners will share in potential energy savings and assist in the financial requirements of this project. Such an arrangement will allow the town and its partners to share the most substantial benefits of a wind energy project while balancing the costs of evaluating and identifying the most attractive development scenario(s). 

Project Type

Public

Location

Becket, MA

Technology

900 kW Wind Turbine

FS Grant

$59,940

Blandford Ski Area

BNE Energy is partnering with the Springfield Ski Club to explore the feasibility of a wind energy project at the Blandford Ski Area. The proposed project would consist of a single wind turbine of between 750 kW and 1.6 MW. Some of the power generated would be used on-site (primarily to support winter operations at the ski facility) and the remainder would be sold to the electrical grid either as wholesale or net-metered generation. The feasibility study will thoroughly investigate the potential for the project and will include a wind resource assessment, an environmental analysis, an economic analysis, an electrical engineering assessment, and acoustic and shadow flicker studies.

Project Type

Non-Profit

Location

Blandford, MA

Technology

750 - 1600 kW Wind Turbine

FS Grant

$40,000

Cape Cod Regional Technical High School

The Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, along with its consultant Sustainable Energy Developments Inc., will conduct an in-depth feasibility study to explore the possibility of installing a 900 kW wind turbine on the school’s campus. The study will include the investigation of a third party ownership structure in which the third party will sell 50 percent or more of the generated electricity to Cape Cod Tech. As the end user, Cape Cod Tech will offset electrical utility expenses at the public educational facility located at 351 Pleasant Lake Ave. in Harwich, as well as reduce natural gas consumption in its tri-generation unit, which currently provides 35 to 50 percent of Cape Cod Tech’s electricity requirements. .

Project Type

Public

Location

Harwich, MA

Technology

900 kW Wind Turbine

FS Grant

$61,750

EMC Corporation

EMC Corporation will conduct a feasibility study to explore options for wind development at the Waste Water Treatment Facility at its Hopkinton Campus. EMC is proposing to install two utility-scale wind turbines. As part of the Feasibility Study, EMC and its consultant, Beals and Thomas, plan to obtain wind data via the installation of a 50-meter temporary meteorological test tower (MET Tower). The feasibility study will include an analysis of the onsite wind monitoring data, an assessment of environmental, electrical, and economic aspects of the proposed project, as well as a detailed acoustic study.

Project Type

Private

Location

Hopkinton, MA

Technology

900 kW – 2,000 kW Wind Turbine

FS Grant

$44,000

Harvey Energy LLC

Harvey Energy LLC, in partnership with the owner of property located at 84 Hosmer Road in Heath, will study the feasibility of installing at least one land-based wind turbine in the 1.5 MW to 2.0 MW range. The feasibility study will evaluate the technical and economic viability of installing a wind turbine generator as a net-metered renewable energy facility under the Green Communities Act. Harvey Energy LLC and its consultants will confirm the overall validity of the project through an interconnection analysis, a detailed acoustic study, public outreach efforts, and the collection of onsite wind data with a meteorological tower.

Project Type

Private

Location

Heath, MA

Technology

1.5 MW – 2.0 MW Wind Turbine

FS Grant

$55,000

Massachusetts Broken Stone Company

The Massachusetts Broken Stone Company (MBS) will perform an in-depth feasibility study to investigate the possibility of installing a 450 kW to 900 kW wind turbine project at its Holden Trap Rock facility/quarry located at 2077 Main Street in Holden. MBS will explore project scenarios including the installation of a 100 percent behind the meter turbine and the installation of a larger turbine that would be partially behind the meter power and partially net metered. MBS will work with its consultant, Sustainable Energy Developments Inc., to analyze wind resources, environmental considerations, and electrical interconnection and economics.

Project Type

Private

Location

Holden, MA

Technology

450 kW – 900 kW Wind Turbine

FS Grant

$40,000

In April, 2007 Massachusetts’ Governor Deval Patrick laid out a 10-year goal for the commonwealth to adopt 250 megawatts worth of solar power installations by 2017. With just under 6 years remaining until the deadline, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) has announced it is deploying a business model they call Solarize Massachusetts.  The model’s aim is to encourage residents and business owners to adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) technology and it will begin with four pilot communities that include Harvard, Hatfield, Scituate and Winchester.

According to MassCEC, its plan is to educate the communities about solar power systems in hopes that it will drive interest in adopting the technology. The organization plans to do this by providing free solar education  and technical support organized within the  four pilot communities. Ultimately, MassCEC would like to see  implementation of community-wide solar programs for both residential and small-scale commercial projects.

MassCEC says it has issued formal requests for bulk purchasing proposals from solar integrators whereby installation costs would be based on a tiered structure that provides both lower prices and increased solar energy capacity. MassCEC intends to partner with these integrators to provide the aforementioned education as well as free solar assessments, financing options and installation services for each of the pilot areas.

Solar adoption in Massachusetts was a little slow to pick up initially. However, in 2008  the commonwealth launched solar rebate programs to augment funds that came available via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. That kicked solar interest up a few notches and solar installations increased 20-fold between 2007 and 2010. Presently, there are almost 45 megawatts  of solar energy installed in Massachusetts, and an additional 40 megawatts contracted for installation.

Those numbers are up from the 3.5 megawatt statistic that greeted Governor Patrick when he took office in January 2007. Apparently those rebate programs helped boost the Massachusetts solar industry. According to a MassCEC survey of clean energy companies, employment in solar manufacturing, installation, and services has more than doubled since the governor first took office, and solar manufacturing jobs alone have close to tripled from 2007 to 2010.

Governor Deval Patrick today joined state and federal officials and wind industry leaders in Charlestown to celebrate the opening of the first facility in the United States capable of testing large-scale wind turbine blades up to 90 meters in length.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Wind Technology Testing Center (WTTC) will serve as a critical component in the wind energy industry, speeding deployment of the next generation of wind blades into the marketplace, attracting companies to design, manufacture and test their blades in the United States and catalyzing growth in the American wind turbine supply chain.
"To win the clean energy future, our nation and state must enthusiastically embrace the use of large-scale wind turbines in onshore and offshore wind farms," said Governor Patrick. "The Wind Technology Testing Center will help achieve that goal, by doing business with companies from around the world, and advancing the next generation of blade technology." 
Approximately 300 construction and engineering jobs were created in transforming an empty parking lot into the world-class wind blade testing facility. The WTTC is already attracting global wind blade manufacturing to Massachusetts. Last fall, global wind blade manufacturer TPI Composites opened a wind blade R&D, and prototype manufacturing facility in Fall River, and is currently working on building its first prototype wind blades. TPI will be a customer of the WTTC, and has cited it as a key driver in its decision to set up shop in Massachusetts.
“New England winds have tested the wills of sailors and citizens for centuries. Now we will be taking the lead in testing and developing the wind turbines that will help power our nation in the 21st Century. This new clean energy facility will help ensure that the Bay State has a front row seat for the clean energy revolution,” said Congressman Ed Markey.
“I am pleased to be here today celebrating the opening of the Wind Technology Testing Center, which created hundreds of jobs during a difficult economy. With the work done at this facility developing the next generation of wind turbines, Massachusetts is leading the way in advancing clean energy initiatives,” said Congressman Michael Capuano.
“The Wind Technology Testing Center will not only strengthen the status of Boston and the Commonwealth as a world leader in wind development, but as a leader in clean tech innovation,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino.  “I commend Governor Patrick and the Obama Administration for their collaborative efforts to nurture the clean tech economy. If we continue working together, I have no doubt that we can lead the way on economic and environmental gains that will make a difference at home and around the world.”
“Massachusetts has made huge strides in wind power since the Patrick-Murray administration took office – moving from an installed capacity of 3.1 megawatts to an expected 90 megawatts installed or in construction and design by the end of this year,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., who chairs the MassCEC board. “Today, we hit another significant milestone – providing the U.S. with the first facility capable of testing the next-generation utility-scale turbines."
“The Wind Technology Testing Center is more proof that Massachusetts is leading the clean energy innovation revolution,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney. “Our clean energy future will require large-scale wind turbines to support wind projects both on land and offshore, and the WTTC will be at the forefront of developing those turbines.”
In June 2007, Massachusetts won a competitive $2 million federal NREL grant, plus in-kind technical and operating assistance, to help outfit and run a new wind blade testing center. In May 2009, the WTTC was awarded $24.7 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to accelerate development of the WTTC. MassCEC provided $13.2 million in grants and loans for design and initial development expenses for the project, which will be the first commercial large blade test facility in the nation, testing commercial-sized wind turbine blades to help reduce cost, improving technical advancements and expediting the deployment of the next generation of wind turbine blades into the marketplace.
MassCEC, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) National Wind Technology Center (NWTC,) broke ground on the WTTC in Charlestown in October 2009. The WTTC is uniquely positioned on an existing deep water port and near interstate highways, close to numerous world-class clean energy research and academic centers in the Boston area. The blades will be shipped to the facility primarily by water, with shorter blades shipped by road, if required.
The WTTC will provide three test stands (providing ability to test three blades simultaneously), 100 tons of overhead bridge crane capacity and a full suite of certification tests for turbine blades up to 90 meters in length, including static and fatigue testing, blade material testing, dual axis static or fatigue testing, and quality testing. In addition as part of its effort to help the wind industry deploy the next generation of onshore and offshore wind turbine technologies, the WTTC will offer the latest wind turbine blade testing and prototype development methodologies, research and development partnerships, blade repair capabilities and hands-on workforce training. The facility will be able to test three blades at a time.
As part of an effort to be a first adopter of clean energy technologies produced by Massachusetts clean energy companies, MassCEC selected an intelligent lighting system from Boston-based Digital Lumens to light the WTTC. The system was chosen based on several factors including using 66 percent less energy than traditional lighting alternatives, the ability to provide required light levels from the 80-foot ceiling heights of the facility, an integrated networking and intelligence system that will help maximize energy savings, and the elimination of maintenance and re-lamping associated with other lighting sources.
“Clipper Windpower is delighted to be the first company to utilize the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s new WTTC. In the past, the wind energy industry has relied upon European blade test laboratories to qualify new blade designs. As a U.S. company, the ability to conduct ultimate strength and fatigue durability tests on the world’s largest, next-generation size rotor blades right here in America will accelerate our ability to finalize designs and get our products to market,” said Clipper Wind Senior Vice President of Engineering Craig Christenson. “With a state-of-the-art, world-class blade test center, America has strengthened its capability to compete in the global wind energy sector. Investments like the WTTC support our nation’s green energy future and bring us closer to having what it takes to compete as a world leader in the global energy sector, a market forecast to exceed $96 billion and deliver 1.92% of the world’s electricity in 2011.”
“This project created thousands of hours of work for Local 7 Ironworker members during difficult economic times,” said Local 7 Ironworker Business Agent Paul Lynch. “All phases of this project were a unique opportunity for our team, and I’m proud to see this outstanding facility come to fruition. My hat goes off to all the Ironworkers who worked on this project, as well as the Patrick-Murray Administration, Mayor Menino, Turner Construction Company, and Local 7 Ironworker contractors Francis Harvey & Sons, Daniel Marr & Sons and Ipswich Bay Glass Co. Inc.”    
Earlier this month, Governor Patrick traveled to the Berkshires to cut the ribbon on the new ten-turbine Berkshire Wind Project, the state’s first utility scale onshore wind farm, with the capacity to generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 6,000 homes in the region. This Spring, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar traveled to Massachusetts to green light the construction plan for Cape Wind, which will be the nation's first offshore wind farm. 10 developers have recently expressed interest in additional offshore wind developments in the federal waters south of Martha’s Vineyard.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today announced four grants totaling $734,000 green job training programs that will help train unemployed and underemployed people for jobs in the clean energy community.
“MassCEC’s Pathways Out of Poverty grants program has a proven track record – with many of those trained through our initial 2009 grant round either placed in full time employment, continuing their training at community colleges, or starting their own “green” businesses,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., who chairs the MassCEC board of directors.  “The program is a true win-win for the Commonwealth’s economic and clean energy future, and we are pleased to be awarding this new round of grants.” 
“The Pathways Out of Poverty grants will help further the Commonwealth’s dedicated workforce, which is a key asset in our clean energy community,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney. “By ensuring that people throughout the Commonwealth have access to clean energy job training and real-world learning we are strengthening our leadership in clean energy and our economy.”  
Authorized by the Act Relative to Clean Energy signed into law by Governor Patrick in November 2009, MassCEC’s Pathways out of Poverty Program is designed to jumpstart training in clean energy careers for low- and moderate-income residents.  In February 2011, MassCEC solicited proposals from organizations to develop projects that include on-the-job-training (OJT) models that serve the target population and provide targeted services and activities that address employer workforce needs and optimize opportunities for participant learning, career development and economic advancement within the clean energy industry. 
Funding for the Pathways Out of Poverty program includes $600,000 from MassCEC, and $134,000 from the Commonwealth’s State Energy Sector Partnership grant, awarded to the Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Funds provided through the State Energy Sector Partnership are provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 
“This investment expands on the ongoing work of the State Energy Sector Partnership, a $5.973 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration that is supporting programs to prepare Massachusetts residents for jobs in the clean energy sector,” said Commonwealth Corporation President and CEO Nancy Snyder. “Leveraging these funds with funds from the Clean Energy Center will help us to serve more residents who need significant assistance in building their skills if they are to benefit from clean energy job opportunities.”
"The clean energy sector is one of the strongest and fastest growing in Massachusetts. These grants will help ensure that every resident can enjoy the opportunities that are created as we transition to a clean energy economy," said Senator Benjamin B. Downing.  
“We are proud to partner with the Clean Energy Center to create the Metro Boston Green On-the-Job Training Collaborative,” said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.  “This innovative initiative will bring together Boston’s most dynamic employers with the untapped talent of our underemployed workforce, creating pathways out of poverty and into our growing clean tech economy.”
MassCEC awarded funds to the following projects: 
Co-op Power
Franklin County, Pioneer Valley and Boston
$175,000
Co-op Power is a consumer-owned cooperative with chapters in Boston and Western Massachusetts. Co-op provides residential and small commercial energy efficiency and renewable energy services. In addition to professional services, Co-op offers neighbor-to-neighbor weatherization and solar installation programs in which people help each other make energy improvements under the supervision and guidance of trained energy auditors, efficiency contractors, and renewable energy system installers. Through its Good Green Jobs Project, Co-op and its partners will target unemployed and underemployed young adults, high school drop-outs, long term unemployed and dislocated workers in Dorchester, Roxbury, Holyoke, Springfield, Orange, Franklin County and Pittsfield. Co-ops program funded by this grant will provide on-the-job training at companies such as Energia and Spirit Solar. Trainees will learn skills in energy efficiency, solar hot water installations and green energy marketing.
Economic Development and Industrial Corporation
Greater Boston
$200,000
The Economic Development and Industrial Corporation will lead the Metro Boston Green On-the-Job Training (GOJT) Collaborative, a partnership of clean energy employers, municipalities, workforce boards, career centers and training providers that will train and place underemployed and unemployed residents from the 64 communities in the Metro-Boston region in on-the-job training experiences leading to full-time permanent employment. Partners include Next Step Living, FastCAP Systems, SatCon, Maloney Properties, Lime Energy Co. and Sagewell.  The GOJT Collaborative will target five specific sectors: facilities maintenance, HVAC/R, renewable energy component manufacturing, clean energy company customer support, and weatherization.
Massachusetts Manufacturing Advancement Center 
Central Mass.
$194,000
The Manufacturing Advancement Center (MAC) is a non-profit organization founded to create a conduit between today’s evolving workforce, entry level and advanced skills training, and job opportunities. The MAC collaborates with employers and educational institutions to develop and maintain a well-trained, flexible workforce. The MAC will work closely with the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership to  implement its Mobile Outreach Skills Training Program and provide on-the-job training for low income individuals, dislocated workers, youth that are out of work or school, and veterans in entry level manufacturing at contract manufacturers in the clean energy supply chain.  
South Middlesex Opportunity Council
MetroWest
$165,000
South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc. (SMOC) is a private, nonprofit corporation committed to mobilizing and utilizing private resources to advocate for and to improve the quality of life for low-income people. SMOC’s Energy Conservation Services (ECS) has 32 years of experience in the weatherization industry. Through their work with contractors, ECS has identified a significant gap in the availability of qualified weatherization workers in the regional labor force.  In 2009 SMOC established a Green Jobs Academy (GJA) to offer career ladder training in the weatherization industry for low-income, under/unemployed, and incumbent workers and to utilize the expertise of ECS. Through its grant, SMOC will work more as many as 25 weatherization and energy efficiency contractors to provide on-the-job training for low-income participants as weatherization installers and will also provide career ladder opportunities for new crew chief and home auditors. 
In 2009, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, in collaboration with MassCEC, issued the nation’s first state-funded Pathways Out of Poverty program. Based on the requirements of the 2008 Green Jobs Act, $1 million was awarded to five grantees in Lowell, Brockton, Worcester, Springfield/Holyoke and Pittsfield to expand the clean energy workforce by boosting skills of low-income workers. The five projects trained 196 individuals in clean energy skill programs. Of those trained, 108 were either placed in full time employment, began their own businesses or decided to continue with school by matriculating into for-credit community college programs. Results equate to an average placement rate of approximately 60 percent across the training programs.  The program also resulted in more than 340 industry-recognized certificates and credentials being awarded to trainees, which will assist trainees in building a career pathway and make them more competitive candidates for jobs.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today announced that it is partnering with Alteris Renewables, Munro Distributing and New England Breeze to provide services in for the Solarize Massachusetts pilot the towns of Hatfield, Harvard, Scituate and Winchester. 
In late April, MassCEC issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for bulk purchasing business models from solar integrators in which installation costs are based on a tiered structure that provide lower costs with increased capacity of solar installed within the community. MassCEC will partner with the four integrators to provide education, free solar assessments, different ownership (or financing) models, and installation services in the Solarize Massachusetts pilot communities. Alteris Renewables will provide services for Solarize Massachusetts in the towns of Winchester and Hatfield. Munro Distributing will provide services in Scituate and New England Breeze will provide services in Harvard. 
Solarize Massachusetts is a new business model that MassCEC announced in April to encourage residents and business owners to adopt solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. MassCEC, in partnership with the Green Communities Division of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) selected the communities of Harvard, Hatfield, Scituate, and Winchester to participate in the model, which leverages education, grassroots marketing, and group purchasing to accelerate the adoption of solar PV. 
 “We are well on our way to reaching Governor Patrick’s goal to install 250 megawatts of solar power in Massachusetts by 2017 – in the process building a new clean energy economy,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., who chairs the MassCEC board of directors. “Shifting to a clean energy economy hinges, ultimately, on energy choices made by individuals, families, and businesses across the state. Solarize Massachusetts embodies that grassroots approach and has the potential to take the Patrick-Murray Administration’s efforts to a new level, catalyzing wider adoption of solar energy and greater energy independence through the power of community connections.”
“The innovative business models offered by these three companies will make installing solar photovoltaic easier and more affordable than ever before,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney. “By deploying these models and educating communities on solar, Solarize Massachusetts will put us one step closer to reaching Governor Patrick’s solar energy goals, and one step closer to making clean energy a marquee industry in Massachusetts, like life sciences, IT and financial services.” 
Through Solarize Massachusetts, MassCEC provides education and marketing support to help the four communities implement a community-wide solar PV program for residential and small-scale commercial projects, and deploy a business model to reduce costs. MassCEC will provide technical support and host free educational meetings in the pilot communities to educate people about the benefits of installing solar and to drive interest in implementing the technology.
“The Commonwealth has led the nation in empowering cities and towns to create a greener energy future through the creation of the Green Communities Division and the Green Communities Designation and Grant program. With Solarize Mass, we are now empowering residents and businesses to also lead-by-example and participate in the clean energy economy,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia. 
"I'm pleased Harvard has been selected to be a part of the promising new Solarize Massachusetts program, which I hope will lead to the increased use of solar technology in our community - and, ultimately, a successful business model for expanding solar throughout the Commonwealth," said Senator Jamie Eldridge. 
“Solarize Massachusetts is a promising initiative that will have many environmental and economic benefits both for Scituate and for the Commonwealth. I look forward to seeing this pilot program get underway in the coming months,” said Senator Robert L. Hedlund.
"This represents yet another step toward a cleaner, more efficient, more sustainable future," said Senator Stan Rosenberg said. "The people involved with this project are demonstrating a remarkable ability to examine old problems with new eyes."
"Recently designated a Green Community, Harvard is continuing their commitment to clean energy by participating in the Solarize Massachusetts Program,” said Representative Jennifer Benson. I congratulate them on being chosen as part of the pilot program and know the community will benefit greatly from this partnership."
"I am pleased that the residents of the town of Scituate will be able to take part in this great program," said Representative Garrett Bradley.  "By allowing residents to group buy solar panels for their home it will allow more residents to have access to this technology."  "It is critical that we invest in green energy in the Commonwealth and the Solarize Massachusetts program will be a big step in that direction."
"Scituate has long been a leader in investigating clean energy sources, and I think this pilot program will be a great opportunity for folks to get more information to determine if solar power is a potential solution for their energy needs," said Representative Jim Cantwell.
"Winchester is excited to be a pilot community in the Solarize Mass program and looks forward to working with Alteris Renewables to assist residents and business owners with installing solar PV panels to reduce energy use and save money," said Representative Jason Lewis.
MassCEC and DOER solicited applications for the pilot program from designated Green Communities and selected at random one community from each region to participate. MassCEC issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for bulk purchasing business models from solar integrators in which installation costs are based on a tiered structure that provide lower costs with increased capacity of solar installed within the community. 
As a result of the Commonwealth Solar rebate programs launched in 2008 and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for solar on water treatment facilities and other public buildings, Massachusetts is in the midst of a 30-fold increase in solar PV installations since 2007. Currently, there are nearly 45 MW of solar energy installed in Massachusetts, and an additional 40 MW under contract for installation by the end of this year - up from 3.5 MW when Governor Patrick took office. 
Commonwealth Solar rebate programs also helped spur a vibrant solar industry in Massachusetts. According to a MassCEC survey of clean energy companies, employment in solar manufacturing, installation, and services has more than doubled since Governor Patrick first took office, and solar manufacturing jobs alone have more than doubled from 2007 to 2010.

State officials are trying to drive down the cost of solar power for homeowners and small businesses by bringing potential buyers together with sellers in a more cost-efficient manner.
Right now, solar installers have to make their pitch house by house. The state’s new program, called Solarize Massa­chu­setts, aims to round up a bunch of potential customers in a town and let a solar installer make a presentation to all of them at once. It’s a little like the website Groupon, where merchants offer a price discount to attract a large volume of customers.
Patrick Cloney, the executive director of the Massa­chu­setts Clean Energy Center, says part of the idea behind the pilot program was born from his experience in the construction business, where he would perform work on one house in a neighborhood, and then neighbors would come to him asking for work to be done on their homes.
“I always thought that was an interesting phenomenon. It gave residents a level of comfort that, if we were doing a good job on one house, we’d do a good job on all the rest,” says Cloney in a phone interview.
The Clean Energy Center is testing the concept this summer in Scituate, Winchester, Hatfield, and Harvard, four of the state’s 53 green communities, a state designation for cities and towns that have met a set of regulatory and energy use criteria.
Cloney says the “solar integrators,” or companies that will install the solar photovoltaic systems, agreed to a tiered pricing model where the cost of the system to homeowners will depend on how many people sign up. He says participants can expect to see a base savings of 8 to 10 percent off the current cost of a solar photovoltaic system, which is about $6 per watt, or $30,000 for a five-kilowatt system.  If more people participate, savings could rise to between 18 and 33 percent, he says.
A homeowner’s energy savings will depend on a number of factors, including whether he purchases the system outright or leases it from the company doing the installation. With existing tax credits and other incentives available for installing solar, Cloney says a system typically will pay for itself within six to seven years. Assuming the industry-standard 20-year warranty on a solar photovoltaic system, Cloney says a homeowner could pay off the system and end up generating electricity at no cost for about 14 years. The payoff will be faster with the savings from the Solarize Massachusetts effort, he says.
Alteris Renewables, a Connecticut-based company whose website boasts the tagline “The sun will never announce a rate hike,” was chosen as the solar integrator for Win­chester and Hatfield. Hudson-based New England Breeze will be the integrator for the town of Harvard and New Bedford-based Munro Distributing will provide the services for Scituate.
The Solarize program is part of an ambitious effort by the Patrick administration to install 250 megawatts of solar energy by 2017. Massachusetts is expecting to have 85 megawatts installed by the end of this year.
To promote interest in the pilot, the Clean Energy Center provided the selected towns with small grants for marketing and promotion of meetings where residents can learn more about the program.
“Solar 101” community meetings were held in late May, with the purpose of educating residents about solar energy. Louellyn Lambros, a volunteer for Solarize Massa­chusetts in Scituate and member of an initiative called Sustainable Scituate, helped spread the word about the program in Scituate through flyers, newspaper announcements, and social media.
Lambros says interest is strong, with 143 people attending the May 23 “Solar 101” meeting in her town. “I have to say I was just so surprised that, practically without exception, there was just so much enthusiasm for solar energy, that the idea of it had become so mainstream,” says Lambros.
In Winchester, Dave Judelson, who serves as a liaison between Solarize Massachusetts and town nonprofit groups, says that there were about 120 people interested in getting the solar assessment done for their homes.
Kate Plourd, a spokeswoman for the Clean Energy Center, says residents were invited to “Solar 201” meetings in mid-June where they would hear from the chosen solar integrator in their area on costs and potential savings. At the Solar 201 meetings, residents would also be able to sign up for a site assessment to ensure that installing solar panels on their property is viable. Participants will be able to sign contracts for installation through Sept­em­ber, after which the pilot program ends.
Both Cloney and Plourd emphasized that the pilot’s focus on solar energy education is a way to build interest in harnessing the sun’s energy. “By teaching people and encouraging them to spread the word, we think that more people will learn and really understand how easy it is,” Plourd says.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), in partnership with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), announced today that it is awarding contracts to the New England Aquarium and the College of Staten Island to collect migratory and habitat usage data on marine wildlife to help the Commonwealth and federal agencies evaluate sites for future wind energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Massachusetts.
“This research advances our parallel goals of developing Massachusetts’ tremendous offshore clean energy potential while protecting our environmental resources,” said EEA Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., who chairs the MassCEC Board of Directors.  
“These studies will assure the Commonwealth and the federal government that offshore wind sites that move forward in these waters are in the best locations and configurations with respect to marine wildlife species,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney.   
MassCEC issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct the field survey work for a full year. Data will be collected for birds, North Atlantic right whales and other large whales, and sea turtles in federal waters off the coasts of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.  MassCEC has awarded $570,000 to The New England Aquarium Corporation for field survey of large whales and sea turtles, and $330,000 to the College of Staten Island for field survey of birds. 
“The Aquarium’s research staff is excited to do marine wildlife surveys of the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket for large whales and sea turtles,” said New England Aquarium President and CEO Bud Ris. “This will be an important step in providing systematic scientific data that can be used to minimize conflicts between marine life and offshore energy development.” 
“As a senior college of The City University of New York, the College of Staten Island is deeply committed to supporting the advancement of faculty research with partner organizations dedicated to our mutual goals of preserving and protecting the environment while advancing the pursuit of renewable energy,” said College of Staten Island President Dr. Tomás D. Morales.  “Dr. Richard Veit is uniquely qualified to conduct these surveys based upon his proven track record of developing detailed and temporally intensive datasets on marine bird abundance, and his long-term experience in the area.”
This RFP follows the recent announcement of a federal leasing process for development of offshore wind energy in federal waters off the Massachusetts coast.  In December 2010 the US Department of Interior’s Bureau of Offshore Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) issued a Request for Interest (RFI) to measure the offshore wind industry’s interest in developing projects within a 3,000 (2,224 nautical) square mile expanse of federal waters off the Massachusetts coast, beginning approximately 13.8 (12 nautical) miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force – an interagency group of federal, state, tribal, and local elected officials – partnered with BOEMRE to draw the boundaries of the RFI area, which has excellent wind resources and water depths able to accommodate current and near-term wind power technologies.  Based upon consultations with commercial fishermen, fisheries scientists, and other maritime users and interests, the Patrick-Murray Administration recommended removing the eastern portion of the RFI because of its importance to the Commonwealth’s fishing industry and to marine fauna.  BOEMRE subsequently accepted the state’s recommendation.  MassCEC and EEA will continue to collaborate with the Task Force, as well as federal and state fisheries and wildlife agencies, as the field survey work is developed and conducted.

Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray joined the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the New England Clean Energy Council (Council) today to recognize participants in the first year of MassCEC’s Clean Energy Internship Program.
“Governor Patrick and I continue to invest in job creation across all industries and regions in the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.  “With this economic development agenda, we need to also think about generational responsibility, providing students today with the right tools and resources to succeed in the future.  The Massachusetts Clean Energy Internship Program is an effective educational and workforce training program that is helping students gain hands-on learning experience for future jobs in Massachusetts’ growing, clean energy sector.”
“The 117 students and recent graduates who participated in MassCEC’s internship placement program this summer represent the Commonwealth’s future.  By investing in their education and training, we are furthering the Patrick-Murray Administration’s clean energy agenda by ensuring a state-of-the-art workforce for this burgeoning sector of our economy,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., who chairs the MassCEC board of directors.  
This summer, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Internship Program placed 117 students and recent graduates in paid summer internships at 70 clean energy companies across the state. This program continues MassCEC’s commitment to supporting education and training opportunities that align with the Commonwealth’s clean energy goals and industry growth, while furthering the career goals of those considering career opportunities in clean energy. The program provides stipends of up to $15 per hour or $6,000 for up to ten weeks for summer interns, and also created a database for students interested in clean energy to upload their resumes for potential employers.
Participants obtained meaningful employment, networking opportunities, mentoring from their host employers as well as firsthand experience in the clean energy industry. Participating interns represented college majors ranging from engineering and science to business, economics and management. A total of 47 percent of the participating interns spent their summer working on research and development projects that have helped advance or launch a clean energy product or initiative, while 32 percent aided in the development of new clean energy technologies or new ways to implement existing services. 
“These 117 students and recent grads are part of the Commonwealth’s most vital asset; a highly-skilled, values-driven workforce,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney. “This program has helped companies take advantage of that asset and enhance their talent pipleline, while training the next generation to be part of our clean energy future.” 
"The students aren't the only ones benefitting from these internships," said Peter Rothstein, president of NECEC. "The clean energy sector gains tremendously from the development of a new generation of entrepreneurs and future business leaders who can ensure that Massachusetts continues to lead in this area."
“I applaud the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and their summer internship program,” said Senator Karen Spilka, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies.  “Programs like these are not only a valuable investment in the education and training of our students, they are also a great way to expand our presence in clean energy initiatives which helps us maintain the reputation as a leader in cutting-edge industries and keeps our economy moving forward.”
State Representative John Keenan, House Chair of the Joint Committee Telecommunications Utilities and Energy said, "Massachusetts has become a leader in the nation in energy policy with its support for renewable energy, a green economy and green jobs. Just as important as meeting the Commonwealth's laudable renewable energy goals is making certain that workforce development training is taking place to fill the jobs created in this new and growing industry. I applaud the Patrick-Murray administration and the Mass Clean Energy Center for their investment in Massachusetts future." 
"With a continued focus on our strengths in the Commonwealth's high growth industries such as clean energy, initiatives such as the Clean Energy Internship program are important building blocks of the overall job creation and economic development agenda of the Commonwealth," said Representative Joseph F. Wagner, House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development & Emerging Technologies.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC) have launched the fourth solicitation for the MassCEC Catalyst Program, which is aimed at commercializing the game-changing clean energy technologies coming out of Massachusetts’ world-class research institutions.
“Massachusetts’ outstanding academic and research institutions – and the innovations they produce - are integral to the growth of our clean energy sector. MassCEC’s Catalyst Program provides a leg up toward commercialization of these technologies and I look forward to seeing the next round of funded projects,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., who chairs the MassCEC board of directors.
“MassCEC’s Catalyst program showcases the Commonwealth’s vibrant community of passionate technologists who are working to propel clean energy technologies from the research lab to the global marketplace,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney.
The MassCEC Catalyst Program, which is funded by MassCEC and managed by MTTC, awards early-stage researchers grant awards up to $40,000 to help demonstrate the commercial viability of their clean energy technology. In September, MassCEC’s Board of Directors approved funding for two rounds of the MassCEC Catalyst Program for fiscal year 2012.
“The proof of concept funds offered through MassCEC’s Catalyst program really help researchers at Massachusetts universities and research institutes move their technologies from the lab bench towards commercial products.  We are pleased that the MassCEC board recently awarded additional funding so that we can continue this important program.” said MTTC Director Abi Barrow.
Recipients must use funding for projects that move their technologies towards commercialization. This includes gathering initial data to demonstrate proof of concept, how the technology compares to existing technologies and competitive advantages of the technology, or to develop a prototype for the technology. The goal of the MassCEC Catalyst Program is to help technologies progress along the development curve to a point where additional commercialization funding can be obtained.
“For a small research institution like Boston College, external proof of concept funds are important in helping faculty advanced projects.  Many innovations made with basic research support are immature when disclosed to my office and need to be developed into a comprehensive asset to attract significant capital investment,” said Boston College Director, Office for Technology Transfer and Licensing Catherine L. Ives. “The Mass CEC Catalyst program provides this critical funding and has been a key component of developing our new battery technology.” 
“The MassCEC Catalyst award has been extremely helpful in providing the resources necessary to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of our novel technology,” said Catalyst grantee and Western New England University Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Bart Lipkens. “We have built and tested a prototype separation system at a larger scale and shown that our technology is scalable.  Through the MTTC’s Platform meeting we were provided an opportunity to pitch our new company to a group of entrepreneurs and venture capital investors.” 
To be eligible for an award a researcher must be a principal investigator, the technology must be disclosed to a researcher’s host institution and the host institution must be in Massachusetts.
The first deadline for applicants is October 19, 2011. Application directions are available at: http://www.mattcenter.org/events/grants-home.html
For more information, contact Michele Bernier at the MTTC at
mbernier@umassp.edu';
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Kicking off the Fifth Annual Massachusetts Clean Energy Week, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today highlighted the Commonwealth’s vibrant clean energy industry and state clean energy leadership. 
Massachusetts’ expanding clean energy community, which has recently seen significant growth and recognition as a national leader due in large part to Patrick-Murray Administration policies and programs, will be highlighted in a series of events this week, starting with today’s Seventh Annual Conference on Clean energy at the Westin Waterfront in Boston. 
“Thanks to our investments in this growing industry, Massachusetts is now a national leader in clean energy,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Clean Energy Week showcases the Commonwealth’s vibrant clean energy sector that will fuel our economy and protect our environment well into the future.”
Governor Patrick is scheduled to deliver remarks at the conference, which provides attendees with an action-packed day covering the latest investment opportunities, business insights, career options, and fundraising strategies in clean energy. Other events throughout the week include Strategic Partner Day, Boston Cleantech Venture Day, the Clean Energy Connections Conference in Springfield, the New England Clean Energy Council’s Green Tie Gala, theU.S.-Canada Energy Trade and Technology Conference, and the New England Marine Renewable Energy Center 3rd Annual Technical Conference.
Additionally, MassCEC is hosting 11 international companies from Mexico, France, Norway, Italy, Venezuela and Israel in the Commonwealth’s first-ever Global Clean Energy Week, designed to give international clean energy companies an opportunity to explore the unique opportunities that Massachusetts offers as a strategic entry point to the US clean energy market.
“In the past two weeks, Massachusetts has been recognized on the national stage for leadership in energy efficiency and deployment of solar energy, and we have released new job numbers illustrating the growing importance of our clean energy sector to the state’s overall economy,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. “Here in Massachusetts, we are pulling out all the stops on our way to Governor Patrick's vision of a clean energy future.”  
“Clean Energy Week is a great display of the innovations taking place all around us and the vibrant community of talented people, world-class academic and research institutions, and supportive government leaders together make the Commonwealth a smart place to start or grow a clean energy business,” said MassCEC Chief Executive Officer Patrick Cloney.  “Thanks to Governor Patrick’s leadership, we are making clean energy a marquee industry in Massachusetts.”
Growing the clean energy sector is a hallmark of the Patrick-Murray Administration. Last week, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) announced that Massachusetts has been named number one in ACEEE's annual state-by-state energy efficiency scorecard, thanks to the Patrick-Murray Administration’s clean energy agenda, which includes the Green Communities Act of 2008 and other innovative programs and policies to save energy and create jobs. 
MassCEC’s recently released 2011 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report finds significant growth in the Massachusetts clean energy economy, which now employs more than 64,000 people. The report identified 4,909 clean energy companies across the state, which saw a 6.7 percent increase in jobs between July 2010 to July 2011, and expect employment growth rate of 15.2 percent from July 2011 to July 2012.
On the generation side, Massachusetts has more than 100 megawatts (MW) of solar energy either installed or under contract throughout the Commonwealth, a nearly 30-fold increase over the 3.5 MW installed when Governor Patrick took office. During the same timeframe, wind power has increased from 3.1 MW in 2007 to over 40 MW now installed and another 100 MW in design or construction.
Additionally, this May, Governor Patrick and U.S. Department of Energy officials opened the Wind Technology Testing Center (WTTC) in Charlestown, which is currently open for business and testing wind blades from leading wind energy companies, speeding deployment of the next generation of wind blades into the marketplace, attracting companies to design, manufacture and test their blades in the United States and catalyzing growth in the American wind turbine supply chain.
For additional information about the conference and other events visit the following website: http://greenovationconference.com/conference-info/cew.html