Government/ Non-Profit

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today announced that 932 residents and businesses signed contracts to install solar electricity systems as part of the latest round of Solarize Massachusetts (Solarize Mass®), which concluded June 30.

The systems contracted through this round of Solarize Mass constitute 6.1 megawatts of homegrown, clean, renewable energy capacity that will generate enough electricity to power more than 900 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 in a community or partnership of communities.

“Since its inception, the Solarize Mass model has been a huge hit with residents and business owners across the state, with this round being the best yet,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “This program is a testament to what can happen when government, industry and dedicated volunteers work together.”

Started as a pilot program in 2011, Solarize Mass has been responsible for adding nearly than 2,450 solar systems across the state with 16 MW of electricity capacity, which represents enough greenhouse gas emission reductions to offset pollution from more than 1,500 cars.

The 15 communities participating in this round – Adams, Amherst, Andover, Bedford, Chesterfield, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lexington, Needham, Salem, Swampscott, Watertown, Wellfleet, Whately, Williamsburg – averaged 401 kW each, the highest average for any round of the program. Thirteen of the 15 communities reached Tier 5, which represents the greatest savings in the program.

“The sun is truly shining on these Solarize communities,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “This program proves time and time again that sharing the environmental and economic benefits of solar electricity will truly drive adoption.”

“The success of Solarize Mass is further evidence that homeowners and businesses across Massachusetts are eager to embrace solar electricity. We will continue to work with individuals, cities, towns and businesses to make local, clean power accessible,” said DOER Acting Commissioner Meg Lusardi.

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

Adams:                                                18 systems                  100 kilowatts

Amherst                                              174 systems                1,195 kilowatts

Andover                                              78 systems                  654 kilowatts

Great Barrington-Egremont:               84 systems                  546 kilowatts

Lexington-Bedford:                             162 systems                1,136 kilowatts

Needham:                                           99 systems                  729 kilowatts

Salem-Swampscott:                           71 systems                  401 kilowatts

Watertown:                                          28 systems                  136 kilowatts

Wellfleet:                                             133 systems                656 kilowatts

Williamsburg/Whately/Chesterfield:    85 systems                  589 kilowatts

Installers participating in this round of the program were RGS Energy, Northeast Solar Design Associates, Astrum Solar, Next Step Living, Cotuit Solar, E2 Solar and Blue Selenium Solar.

Amherst’s 174 systems and 1.2 MW of contracted capacity are both Solarize Mass records for an individual community.

“This is beyond our wildest expectations,” said Amherst Solar Coach Jeanette Tokarz, who organized outreach efforts among the town’s volunteers. “The Amherst residents have a very deep commitment to and enthusiasm toward green energy.”

“I am pleased, but frankly, not surprised that Amherst is among the leaders in our ongoing effort to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and imported energy,” State Senator Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst) said. “All the communities participating in this outstanding program are blessed with what I like to call the gift of the environmentalist. That gift is a hopeful vision for a cleaner, more sustainable future for our children.”

“I’m not surprised that Amherst is at the top of the list in this effort. I am proud of the efforts of Amherst and the entire Solarize Mass program for these achievements,” said State Rep. Ellen Story, (D-Amherst). “I will continue to support bold expansions of renewable energy in the future.”

Gov. Patrick (center) and (from left to right) Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Innovation and Industry Support Senior Director Jeremy McDiarmid, SolarOne’s Founder and CEO Moneer Azzam, Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Alicia Barton, and visit a SolarOne solar-powered streetlight installation on a road in Masdar City.

Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton and Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Commissioner Mark Sylvia yesterday visited the installation of a Massachusetts company’s solar-powered streetlights on a road in Masdar City to promote the Commonwealth’s growing clean energy sector as part of a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) led by Governor Patrick.

“Massachusetts companies are seeing their products succeed in the global marketplace, while creating jobs and economic opportunity here at home,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton. “It’s exciting to see the signs of Massachusetts innovation halfway around the world.”

In 2009, SolarOne provided 306 solar-powered streetlights for parking lot and roadway lighting at Masdar City following a field test with competitors from all over the world.  SolarOne’s streetlights were able to withstand a severe sandstorm and multiple cloudy days, setting them apart from the competition.

“We’re proud that the Massachusetts clean energy marketplace is vibrant and serves as a test bed for innovators who are bringing their technologies abroad,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Mark Sylvia.

In May, SolarOne was awarded an $89,000 grant, with a $58,000 match, under MassCEC’s InnovateMass program, for a partnership with the City of Somerville and CIMCON Software to demonstrate the company’s networked, off-the-grid solar-powered lighting for pedestrian and bicycle paths in Somerville.

“Massachusetts and the UAE are leading hubs of sustainable technology innovation,” said Moneer Azzam, founder and CEO of SolarOne. “This experience and idea exchange will deliver payback with new economic engines, regional job growth and exciting new tools to address the planet’s energy and climate-change challenges. SolarOne is proud to exemplify this and thrilled to participate in this cooperation.” 

The visit came as the group traveled to Masdar City, an urban development, 35 minutes southeast of Abu Dhabi that is heralded as a blueprint for the future of sustainable communities. In 2008, Masdar City broke ground and embarked on a journey to develop the world’s most sustainable eco-city, focusing on use of clean energy, electric vehicles and energy efficiency to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. The city is hub of innovation, and includes the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level established with the ongoing support and cooperation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Massachusetts – UAE Innovation Partnership Mission is a mission to strengthen the state’s partnership with the UAE and expand business opportunities between the two countries in the clean-tech innovation, life sciences and academic sectors.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Board of Directors today approved up to $1.8 million in relief funds for the Town of Falmouth to help the municipality mitigate the financial impacts associated with the reduced operations of its town-owned wind turbine project located at the Town of Falmouth Wastewater Treatment Plant.

With this funding, MassCEC seeks to help the town recover costs associated with project curtailment. To date the town has incurred unexpected costs resulting from community concerns, voluntary reductions in operation due to unanticipated sound levels and related litigation.

“The state wants to be a resource to communities to seek to balance their clean energy goals with the specific needs of their communities. We are hopeful that this settlement will help this community move forward,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan, who chairs the MassCEC Board of Directors.

“We hope this funding will help the town recover some of the unexpected financial costs associated with the reductions in operation of their wind project,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton.

MassCEC will make a $500,000 contribution to the town’s wind turbine reserve account. MassCEC’s contribution is contingent on the town making a $300,000 contribution to the fund, which is designed to provide a cushion for future project costs.

MassCEC will award the town up to an additional $85,000 annually for the renewable energy produced by the project.

The agreement amends the original agreement between the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the town signed in 2009. Under that agreement MassCEC agreed to prepay the town $1 million for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) generated by the project.

Each year, utilities are required to obtain an increasing percentage of their energy from renewable sources. For 2014, the requirement is nine percent. For 2015, the requirement is 10 percent.  Utilities may purchase RECs to fulfill those commitments.  Each REC represents one thousand kilowatt-hours of renewable energy generated and delivered.

“We are grateful for this continued collaboration and for the state’s steadfast support of the Town of Falmouth’s businesslike operation of our important wind facilities,” said Brent Putnam, chair of the Falmouth Board of Selectmen. “While this does not fully address all of the financial pressures on wind energy in Falmouth, it makes an extraordinary step in stabilizing our wind energy operations.” 

“The action of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to grant the Town of Falmouth financial assistance is a recognition of the ongoing strong partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the development of wind energy and other renewable energy facilities in Falmouth,” said Falmouth Town Manager Julian M. Suso.

An independent analysis released today has found no statistically-significant evidence that proximity to a wind turbine affects home values.

The report, written by researchers from the University of Connecticut and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, examined 122,000 Massachusetts real estate transactions between 1998 and 2012. It compared transactions within a half-mile of constructed wind turbines to similar transactions between one half-mile and five miles away.

“Properly-sited renewable energy projects like wind turbines can deliver clean energy for our citizens and boost our local economy,” said Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) CEO Alicia Barton.  “This report is designed to provide fact-based research to inform decision-makers on potential impacts wind turbines could have on nearby property.”

The study, commissioned by MassCEC, was co-authored by Carol Atkinson-Palombo, assistant professor of geography at the University of Connecticut, and Ben Hoen, staff research associate of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and was peer-reviewed by a number of leading economists and appraisers before release.

It compares the relationship between wind turbines and residential home values to those of factors previously shown to affect home prices, like high-voltage transmission lines, landfills, highways, protected open space and proximity to beaches.

Of the impacts studied, landfills and transmission lines have the greatest negative impact (or disamenity) on home prices while beachfront and proximity to beaches were found to have the greatest positive impact (or amenity) on home prices.  The study found that operating turbines have a +0.5 percent amenity which falls within the study’s margin of error.

Massachusetts has expanded the number of wind energy projects in the state 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 study builds upon the Patrick Administration’s focus on providing municipalities and developers with the research they need to make informed decisions on these types of projects.

To download the report, please visit www.masscec.com/content/relationship-between-wind-turbines-and-residential-property-values-massachusetts.

A webinar with the study’s authors will be held at 12:30 p.m. on January 22. For more information, or to register, visit https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/162511015.  

Contact: Heather Johnson, Bonnie McGilpin, Juli Hanscom – 617-725-4025

Governor Deval Patrick today joined representatives from Japan's Toyo Engineering Corporation and Massachusetts-based Desalitech in Tokyo to announce a global partnership that will introduce environmentally responsible and highly economical water and wastewater treatment solutions to Japanese, East Asian and international markets, and keep Massachusetts at the forefront of the global water innovation economy. The announcement was part of Governor Patrick's Massachusetts - Asia Innovation Partnership Mission, aimed at strengthening the Commonwealth's relationships with Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore in order to create growth and opportunity throughout Massachusetts.

"We are in Japan because we know that if we want to sharpen our edge in the innovation economy, we must strengthen our existing relationships and build new ones," said Governor Patrick. "The new venture between Desalitech and Toyo Engineering is a testament that our strategy is working and that Massachusetts is competing on the global playing field."

Desalitech, previously based in Israel, relocated to Massachusetts earlier this year, following Governor Patrick's trade mission to Israel in 2011. The company focuses on reverse osmosis processes for effluent treatment and greatly reduces negative ecological impacts while improving the productive and responsible use of natural resources. Desalitech was named in the 2013 Global Cleantech 100 as a top company in clean technology.

Massachusetts is home to nearly 300 water industry companies, organizations and institutions from a variety of sectors, including research and education; innovation and entrepreneurship; and engineering.

"This agreement is great news for Desalitech and for Massachusetts," said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rick Sullivan. "By bringing innovations that address our global water challenges as well as other energy saving technologies to the marketplace, we are growing the Massachusetts water industry."

"As the demand for clean water grows, Massachusetts is positioned to lead the way," said Alicia Barton, CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. "This agreement will advance our economic goals at home while helping to solve complex water challenges around the world."

"Global water challenges increasingly impact our health, economy and quality of life. Desalitech's CCD-RO solution provides the highest water recovery available, the flexibility to treat challenging water sources, the highest energy efficiency and low disposal costs," said Nadav Efraty, CEO of Desalitech. "With our respected and capable partner, Toyo Engineering, we are working to make water safe, abundant and affordable for all."

"As a global Engineering Procurement and Construction leader, Toyo offers comprehensive solutions to meet its customer business and sustainability objectives," said Katsumoto Ishibashi, Toyo Engineering CEO. "With water and energy resources under tremendous strain all over the globe, Toyo is committed to providing best-in-class high efficiency water and wastewater treatment."

"Our goal is to reduce our customer's water and energy footprint while increasing process reliability and flexibility," said Toyo Senior Executive Officer Kumar Akhilesh, Infrastructure Business Unit Director. "This combination of better performance and greater environmentally responsibility is important for Japanese and global markets."

The signing occurred following a discussion on clean energy innovation sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce of Japan.

The Patrick Administration has spent the last several months working with water industry leaders to organize a new Water Innovation Network that, when launched, will build upon the successes the Commonwealth and companies have had in creating more efficient and cost-effective water supply and wastewater treatment solutions to drive demand for Massachusetts-made products.

Earlier on Tuesday, Governor Patrick joined representatives from  Massachusetts' EnerNOC, Inc. and Japan's Marubeni Corporation to announce that the companies are forming a joint venture, named EnerNOC Japan, KK, to provide demand response in Japan. This international partnership will bring Massachusetts innovation across the globe to address worldwide energy challenges.

From December 7-17, 2013, Governor Deval Patrick is leading a coalition of the Commonwealth's government and industry leaders on the Massachusetts - Asia Innovation Partnership Mission to strengthen the state's partnerships with Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, and expand opportunities between the Commonwealth and region for economic development and job creation in the innovation, life sciences, financial services, clean tech and transportation sectors.

Contact: Heather Johnson, Bonnie McGilpin, Juli Hanscom – 617-725-4025 

Governor Deval Patrick today joined representatives from  Massachusetts’ EnerNOC, Inc. and Japan’s Marubeni Corporation to announce that the companies are forming a joint venture, named EnerNOC Japan, KK, to provide demand response in Japan.

"We are in Japan because we know that if we want to sharpen our edge in the innovation economy, we must strengthen our existing relationships and build new ones," said Governor Patrick. "EnerNOC Japan, KK is a testament that our strategy is working and that Massachusetts is competing on the global playing field."

Governor Patrick attended the signing ceremony at a clean energy event at the Tokyo American Club, as part of the Massachusetts – Asia Innovation Partnership Mission, which aims to strengthen the Commonwealth's relationships with Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore in order to create growth and opportunity throughout Massachusetts.

Boston-based EnerNOC is the world’s largest provider of commercial and industrial demand response. This joint venture will build upon successful past collaborations between the firms in Japan. The two companies today also announced their award of a government-sponsored demand response program with Japan’s largest utility, the Tokyo Electric Power Company.

“Massachusetts is home to a robust clean energy industry thanks to companies like EnerNOC,” said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rick Sullivan. “We are thrilled that EnerNOC is expanding Massachusetts’ presence in the Japanese market and we believe today’s agreement will help grow our economy at home as well.”

“Seeing home-grown Massachusetts firms like EnerNoc spread their technology and innovation to new markets like Japan reinforces Massachusetts' leadership on the global cleantech stage,” said Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Alicia Barton.

“Both EnerNOC and Marubeni believe that the Japanese market is ripe for demand response. There is growing national attention in Japan on intelligent buildings and smart grids, and an increased focus by utilities and policymakers on the importance of demand-side management,” said David Brewster, President of EnerNOC, from Tokyo while on the mission to Japan with Governor Patrick. “We are thrilled to announce this partnership with one of the world’s leading energy firms.”

From December 7-17, 2013, Governor Deval Patrick is leading a coalition of the Commonwealth’s government and industry leaders on the Massachusetts – Asia Innovation Partnership Mission to strengthen the state’s partnerships with Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, and expand opportunities between the Commonwealth and region for economic development and job creation in the innovation, life sciences, financial services, clean tech and transportation sectors.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan today announced the 15 communities that will participate in the second round of the 2013 Solarize Massachusetts program (Solarize Mass®), a grassroots solar energy marketing, education and group-buying program.

The program – run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) – is designed to increase the adoption of solar energy across the state, while reducing the overall cost of solar power and offering residents and businesses discounted pricing for solar systems. The program lowers energy costs by offering residents a five-tiered pricing structure, where the savings increase as more people sign contracts.

“The popularity of Solarize Mass highlights the growing interest in renewable energy across the state,” said Secretary Sullivan. “Programs like Solarize Mass allow people across Massachusetts to join the clean energy revolution right at their own homes and businesses, while creating local jobs here in the Commonwealth.”

Participating in the second round of the 2013 Solarize Mass program are Adams, Amherst, Andover, Bedford, Chesterfield, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lexington, Needham, Salem, Swampscott, Watertown, Wellfleet, Whately and Williamsburg. Great Barrington will be partnering with Egremont; Salem will be partnering with Swampscott; Lexington will be partnering with Bedford; and Williamsburg, Whately and Chesterfield will be working as a group during the program.

“Solarize Mass has been a rallying point for all the 31 communities that have participated so far, and I’m excited to see what these 15 new communities can do,” said MassCEC CEO Alicia Barton.

“Solarize Mass results have proven that the program is an effective model for bringing clean, cost-saving energy to residents and businesses in participating communities,” said Commissioner Sylvia. “I congratulate these 15 communities and look forward to continuing our support for all communities in the Commonwealth as they pursue renewable energy.”

MassCEC and DOER will work with community volunteers and municipal representatives from each community to select a designated solar installer through a competitive bidding process.

Ten of the communities participating in this round (Amherst, Andover, Bedford, Chesterfield, Great Barrington, Lexington, Salem, Swampscott, Watertown and Whatley) are Green Communities, a designation made by DOER to cities and towns that meet five clean energy requirements, including a commitment to reduce energy use by 20 percent within five years as well as a streamlined process of responsible siting of renewable energy such as solar photovoltaics.

Residents and businesses in the 10 communities that participated in the first round of the 2013 Solarize Mass program combined to sign 551 contracts to install solar electricity systems, constituting 3.8 megawatts of clean, renewable energy capacity – enough to power 570 homes annually. Since the program’s inception in 2011, Solarize Mass has been responsible for more than 1,250 solar installations across the state – a total of 9.4MW of electricity capacity.

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 based on solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) – 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 installed solar capacity by 2020, which is enough electricity to power 240,000 average Massachusetts homes.

The solar industry in Massachusetts is a large part of the state’s clean energy economy. According to the 2013 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report, nearly 60 percent of clean energy workers support solar technologies – more than 8,400 workers spend at least 50 percent of their time on the solar portion of their business.