North Adams Renewable Energy Action Plan Lorem ipsum dolor sit - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

North Adams Renewable Energy Action Plan Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris massa erat, semper ut suscipit id, bibendum sed mi. Vestibulum venenatis enim id urna rhoncus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris massa erat, semper ut suscipit id, bibendum sed mi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris massa erat, semper ut suscipit id, bibendum sed mi. Vestibulum venenatis enim id urna rhoncus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris massa erat, semper ut suscipit id, bibendum sed mi. Vestibulum venenatis enim id urna rhoncus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. By Conor Dunham, Jane Tekin, and Chris Washington Eric Buddington, City councilman

Presentation Outline ● Background: state rankings & policies, Green Communities ● Research Findings: Energy Data ● Recommendations: 1. Solar Electricity Generation 2. Energy Efficiency Initiatives

Why an Action Plan? ● Accessibility & communication in both local politics and the energy development field ● Federal government and environmental issues are not on the same team right now … go local!

Interviews ● Nancy Nylen, Center for EcoTechnology ● Lauren Gaherty, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission ● Chris Kilfoyle, Berkshire Photovoltaics ● Mike Canales, city administrator ● Laryssa Bernstein, city planner ● Sal Perry, Greylock Works ● Malcolm Smith, DR2 Solutions ● Joanne DeRose, National Grid

Background

State Solar Profile ● Ranked #6 nationwide for the greatest cumulative amount of solar electric capacity installed in 2016 (#8 in 2015) ● Ranked #1 nationwide for energy efficiency for 2017 by ACEEE ● Net metering/net metering caps ● SREC II (Solar Renewable Energy credits) ● New SMART (Solar MA Renewable Target) program

Mass Green Community Designation and Grant Program

North Adams’ Energy Reduction Plan (2016) ● Green Community requirement ● Energy audits performed by Guardian Energy Management Solutions ● Detailed plan to reduce the energy demand of nine municipal buildings by making weatherization and lighting renovations ● Will reduce energy use by ~7,000 MBTUs, which is a 16% savings. In order to meet a 20% reduction, will need to reduce by ~8,700 MBTUs. ● Projected energy savings: $225,000/yr

Research Findings

North Adams’ Energy Mix: Municipal (FY 2016) ● So, total municipal energy used in the full year of 2016: 43,380 MMBtus = approximately 12,713,000 kWh. ● Mass Energy Insight (MEI) - publicly inaccessible

North Adams’ Energy Mix: Commercial & Residential (2015) ● So, the residential and low-income electricity use for the full year of 2015 = 30,521 MWh = 30,521,000 kWh ● And the commercial and industrial electricity use for the year of 2015 = 42,000 MWh = 42,000,000 kWh ● MassSAVE

Existing Non-Residential Solar Projects in North Adams Array/ Solar developer Size (# of panels, Capacity Cost Financial Incentives location of array amount of land it Used, if any takes up) East Street Landfill* Borrego Solar 6,000 panels 3.5 MW $ 9,096,322.00 Power Purchase (makes municipal “100% Agreement with renewable”) Syncarpha Capital MASS MoCA Building 5 Tecta America New 51.6 kW $ 1,705,960.00 Power Purchase Gallery England LLC Agreement with Tecta Solar Witts Ledge Clean Energy 25 acres 1.32 MW Collective Walmart Green Skies Renewable 197.64 kW Energy LLC Drury High School Sirois Electric, Inc 198 roof panels 39.5 kW $ 257,996.00 South State Street Hollander Co, Inc 642 kW 700 West Shaft Rd. Borrego Solar 4.5 acres 650 kW MCLA’s Feinberg Center for Science and Innovation North Adams Library

Recommendations: Solar Electricity Generation

Lots of Potential Solar! ● 7,000 MWh of combined roof and parking lot annually

Walmart Electricity Estimations ● Electricity use: 2200 MWh annually ● Roof production: 200 MWh annually ● Lot production: 1600 MWh annually ● Roof only meets 10% of demand ● With parking lot would be closer to 80% Results ● Manager didn’t know any solar information-- put through to home office, no response

Excelsior Printing Electricity Estimation ● Roof Production: 130MWh Results ● Excelsior Printing has moved locations. However Dave Moresi would be open to solar

Stop & Shop Electricity Estimation ● Electricity use: 800 mWh ● Lot production: 510 mWh ● Roof production: 560 mWh Results ● Contacted store manager, put through to absentee landlord-- no response

Big Y Electricity Estimation ● Electricity use: 1300 MWh annually ● Roof production: 900 MWh annually ● Lot production: 500 MWh annually ● Could meet electricity demand! Result ● Put through to landlord-- pending

Real Goods Solar Company (RGS Energy) ● Largest and most experienced solar installer in the Northeast; 60+MW installed capacity solar systems; more than 11,000 installations. ● Installed Solar Power systems to 32 Stop&Shop locations in NE ● Installed the the Big Y in Lee, MA. 343 kW solar energy system, funded by a PPA through Smart Energy Capital, owned and operated by Hudson Energy Solar, and installed by RGS August 2012

Recommendations:

Benchmarking Vermont: Community Energy Dashboard

Benchmarking

Municipal Microgrid System ● Local grid that has the capacity to be disconnected from the larger grid, and operate autonomously. ● Community Microgrids Program awards funding for feasibility assessments and attract third party investment to these opportunities. ● Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)

Financing: Agriculture ● The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Ag- Energy Grant Program ● USDA-Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): Greylock Works applying for this

Financing: Municipal and Non-Profit ● Mass Clean Energy Center: ○ Wind energy, hydropower, solar electricity & solar thermal ○ Clean Transportation ● NBCTC building

Next Steps ● Keep pushing for state to increase in net metering caps ● Focus on local action ○ Reach out local businesses ○ Make sure residents are aware of financial incentives ● Benchmarking and tracking of energy info to the public and within local governments, improve access to energy data and educational resources

Thank you!