Bristol Community College receives grant to promote clean and renewable energy

Monday, October 27, 2014 – Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Maeve Bartlett today awarded $2.95 million in Pathways to Zero Grant Program Grants to assist 25 projects in various stages of development seeking to achieve advanced zero net energy usage, continuing the Patrick Administration’s national leadership in energy efficiency. The Pathways to Zero is a new initiative launched by the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to support the emerging zero net energy building (ZNEB) market in Massachusetts, primarily through residential and commercial demonstration projects that are on the pathway to achieve or exceed a ZNEB goal.

“Massachusetts is working to decrease energy demand by leading with advanced energy efficiency in every way we can,” said EEA Secretary Bartlett. “These Pathways to Zero grants are stimulating our clean energy economy, as well as the development of expertise and technology, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Secretary Bartlett made the announcement at Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity home in Easthampton, which will receive $24,000 in funding from the Program for the construction of two affordable homes with little to no annual utility expense for its residents.

ZNEB’s are optimally efficient, and over the course of a year, generate energy onsite, using clean renewable resources, in a quantity equal to or greater than the total amount of energy consumed onsite. In addition to saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, zero net energy buildings can provide significant cost savings for residents and businesses, as well as stimulate clean energy technology development and job growth in the Commonwealth.

”Supporting advanced energy efficiency in buildings in this significant way is another example of the Patrick Administration refusing to rest on its laurels in leading the clean energy revolution,” said DOER Acting Commissioner Meg Lusardi. “The benefits include reduced operating expenses, healthier and more comfortable buildings, energy independence, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.”

“For more than 131 years, Square One has been on the move – to help transport needy families and children to a better life. Some 1,100 children are in our care every day and they come to us via our vans without which children would have no way to reach us, including the homeless children we serve,” said Joan Kagan, President and CEO, Square One. “We’re not only transporting children, we’re transporting hope, we’re transporting health and guidance and a way out of poverty. Thankfully, we are doing that much more efficiently because of the support of so many of our state agencies who recognize the importance of our work. The office of Energy & Environmental Affairs, the Department of Energy Resources, and XL Hybrid, Square One is truly thankful for their valuable commitment to support our conversion to Hybrid, and in turn, the work of transporting our community’s most vulnerable children.”

The Commonwealth has been ranked number one in energy efficiency for four consecutive years by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, which credits implementation of the Patrick Administration’s nation-leading 2008 Green Communities Act. The Act required utilities to invest in all cost-effective energy efficiency — making energy efficiency Massachusetts’ “first fuel” for meeting energy demand. The 2013-2015 Statewide Three-Year Energy Efficiency Plans are expected to deliver energy benefits of nearly $9 billion to residents, businesses, and state and local governments based on an investment of $2.8 billion.

Further reducing the use of fossil fuels and securing the Commonwealth’s energy future, the Patrick Administration has made investments in renewable energy. In 2007, Massachusetts had just over 3 megawatts each of solar and wind capacity installed. Today there are 664 megawatts of solar installed, with a goal of 1,600 megawatts by 2020. The Commonwealth has installed 106 megawatts of land-based wind and is poised to be home to the nation’s first offshore wind farm.

In September 2014, Governor Patrick announced the 2014 Massachusetts Clean Energy Industry Report, showing that clean energy sector now includes more than 88,000 employees and nearly 6,000 businesses. The clean energy sector in Massachusetts grew by 10.5 percent, the fourth year of double digit growth. Energy efficiency is now the job of more than 65,000 workers in Massachusetts.

The following projects will be receiving funds through the Zero Grant Program:

Location Project Award
Amherst Hitchcock Center for the Environment $ 330,000
Beverly Endicott College Zero Net Energy Residence Hall $ 24,500
Brockton Payette, Massasoit Community College Health & Science Building $ 30,000
Concord Mass. DCR, Walden Pond Visitors Center $ 130,850
Dorchester Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, Church Lots Project $ 30,000
Easthampton Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity East Street Initiative $ 24,000
Fall River Bristol Community College Technology & Learning Center $ 408,394
Harvard Transformations, Inc., Pine Hill Village $ 160,000
Holyoke Mass. DCAMM, Holyoke Community College 1970s Concrete Building $ 30,000
Lenox Transformations, Inc., Sawmill Brook $ 50,000
Lexington Transformations, Inc., LexHAB Lowell Street $ 52,000
Lexington Transformations, Inc., LexHAB Fairview Avenue $ 30,000
Mission Hill Sebastian Mariscal Studio , Boston Energy Positive (E+) Terrace Street Project $ 388,000
Newburyport Hall and Moscow Corp., Hillside Center for Sustainable Living $ 426,000
Newton City of Newton, Zervas Elementary School $ 50,000
Northampton Transformations, Inc., Northampton EcoVillage Duplex Homes $ 136,000
Northampton Transformations, Inc., Laurel Street $ 20,000
Roxbury Transformations, Inc., Boston Energy Positive (E+) Highland Street $ 40,000
Salem Payette, Salem State Meier Hall Science Lab $ 30,000
Sudbury Transformations, Inc., Sudbury Housing Trust $ 30,000
Townsend Transformations, Inc., Coppersmith Way Development $ 94,000
Vineyard Haven Stephen Holland, Martha’s Vineyard Passive House $ 12,000
West Barnstable Payette, Cape Cod Community College Science Innovation Center $ 30,000
Worcester Clark University Main Street Development $ 350,000
Worcester City of Worcester, Nelson Place Elementary $ 50,000
Total $ 2,955,744

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