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North Adams Renewable Energy
Action Plan
By Jane Tekin, Chris Washington,and Conor Dunham
ENVI 411: Environmental Planning Prof. Sarah Gardner
Fall 2017Table of Contents
I. Introduction
a. Project Background…………………………………………………………………...3
b. How energy systems work…………………………………………………………….4
c. Important legal context………………………………………………………………..5
d. North Adams community profile……………………………………………………...6
II. North Adams’ Energy Mix
a. Municipal ………………………………………………………………......................8
b. Residential & Commercial …………………………………………………………....9
III. State & Local Renewable Energy Accomplishments
a. Green Community Designation and Grant Program…………………………………..11
b. North Adams’ Energy Reduction plan………………………………………………...12
c. Existing Solar Projects ………………………………………………………………..15
IV. Recommendations
a. Commercial solar………………………………………………….…………………..21
b. Solar Electricity Generation Sites……………………………………………………..22
c. Additional Recommendations………………………………………………..…….….26
V. Conclusion………………………………………………………………..............................32
VI. References
a. Interviewees…………………………………………………………………………....34
b. Useful Online Grant Resources………………………………………………………..34
c. Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………....36
I. Introduction
Project Background
The 2017 National Climate Assessment reaffirmed the alarming extent of climate change
and explicitly cited human activity as the dominant cause of the changes1. The findings of this
report seem to be directly at odds with the actions and statements of current national
administration. In an environment where little federal support is likely to be given to renewable
energy initiatives, state and local renewable energy legislation and programs become even more
crucial in the fight to reduce our fossil fuel consumption. Massachusetts has shown that it is a
leader in environmental action ranking first in energy efficiency policy in 2017 and sixth in solar
PV electricity generation in 20162,3. Recently a bill was introduced that, if passed, would commit
Massachusetts to meeting 100% of its electricity needs with renewable sources by 2035.4 Our
client, Eric Buddington, shares this vision and hopes to start by working locally to boost North
Adam’s renewable energy production. We were originally tasked with finding the capacity of
local grid infrastructure in hopes of determining how much additional solar development the
current grid could accommodate. Additionally, Mr. Buddington requested that we obtain
electricity demand curves for North Adams and potential for residential, commercial and
municipal solar development. Due to lack of available information, we were unable to obtain
sufficient grid capacity data. We were however, able to obtain rough estimates of North Adams’
electricity usage for the municipal, residential and commercial sectors. We also gathered
1 Friedman, Lisa, and Glenn Thrush. “U.S. Report Says Humans Cause Climate Change, Contradicting Top Trump Officials.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 3 Nov. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/climate/us-climate-report.html.2 “The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.” ACEEE, 29 Sept. 2017, aceee.org/state-policy/scorecard.3 “U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.”Massachusetts - State Energy Profile Analysis - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=MA#91.4 LeMoult, Craig. “Bill Would Commit Massachusetts To 100 Percent Renewable Energy.”WGBH News, 19 Sept. 2017, news.wgbh.org/2017/09/19/local-news/bill-would-commit-massachusetts-100-percent-renewable-energy.
information on North Adams’s current renewable energy production. Our work culminates with
a list of specific sites we believe could be used for solar development as well as
recommendations for steps North Adams administrators could take to approach the goal of 100%
renewable energy.
How The Electric Grid Works
The U.S. power grid is broken up into four major components: generating stations,
transmission lines, distribution networks, and consumers5. Generating stations across the U.S. are
based on different technologies. Common generation technologies include coal burning power
plants, natural gas burning power plants, hydroelectric dams, nuclear plants, wind turbines, and
solar panels. Transmission lines carry high voltage electricity closer to consumers: city-owned
municipal buildings, homes, and commercially-owned private properties. Once in the vicinity of
consumers, the voltage is decreased and the power is distributed locally through a network of
power lines in the distribution network. The grid is managed by individual utilities, regional
transmissions operations (RTOs) or some combination of the two. ISO New England is the RTO
that serves New England and National Grid is the specific utility that is in charge of the local
distribution network in North Adams. Electricity can flow in both directions on the electrical
grid, meaning that if a solar array on a home or business if producing more electricity than that
building needs, the excess will be added to the grid network.
5 “How the Electricity Grid Works.” Union of Concerned Scientists, 18 Feb. 2015, <www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/how-electricity-grid-works#.Whrb0mQ-euU>.
Financial Context
Two of the major incentives for solar development in Massachusetts are net metering and
solar renewable energy credits (SRECs). Under a net metering program, the owner of a solar
installment only pays for their net electricity usage when they receive their monthly electricity
bill. This means that as the percentage of electricity provided by the solar array increases, the
amount of the bill decreases. In the case that the solar array actually produces more electricity
than is needed, this electricity will flow into the grid and the owner will receive a credit on their
next electric bill. The state of Massachusetts sets caps on how much solar power can be enrolled
in net metering programs. The caps are designated for each individual utility and there are
different caps for the private and public sector6. Each cap is set to a certain percentage of that
utilities highest historical peak load. For National Grid, the current public cap is 410 MW while
6 “Net Metering Guide.” Mass.gov, 2017, www.mass.gov/guides/net-metering-guide.
Figure 1: The three parts of the grid: transmission, generation, and
distribution
the current private cap is 359 MW6. These caps have been reached although many expect the
caps to be increased within the next year7.
The second major incentive offered in Massachusetts is the SREC II program. An SREC
is a credit earned by producing 1000 kWh (1 MWh) of solar energy. This credit is completely
separate from the electricity itself so the producer can use all the electricity on their own property
and still generate a credit8. Solar energy producers can then sell these credits to utilities who
under state law have to ‘produce’ a certain amount of clean energy. Although the utilities are not
actually producing the renewable electricity, in paying for the SRECs they can take credit for the
renewable electricity produced and meet the requirements 8. Massachusetts is soon moving to a
new solar incentive program called the SMART program. Access to this plan can be found on
the Mass.gov website9.
North Adams Community Profile
North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The 2010 census reported a
population of 13,708, making it one of the least populated municipalities in the state. North
Adams’ socio-economic status is below the national and state average, with a poverty rate of
18.5% and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. It is one of the lowest-income communities in
Massachusetts, and it has the highest crime rate.
North Adams is known for a few major features that comprise the identity of the
community: the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), the Massachusetts Museum of
7 Prediction is based off of an interview with Chris Kilfoyle of BPVS8 Tarbi, Luke. “2017 Net Metering Credits and SRECs Explained | EnergySage.” EnergySage Solar News Feed, EnergySage, 19 May 2017. <news.energysage.com/net-metering-and-srecs-explained/>.9 “Development of the SMART program.” Mass DOER, 2017. <https://www.mass.gov/service-details/development-of-the-solar-massachusetts-renewable-target-smart-program>.
Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), the Harriman-West Airport behind the Stop&Shop grocery
store, and its proximity to Williams College. The beauty of the natural landscape of the
Berkshire mountains is a trademark of the town, with stunning 360 degree views from almost
anywhere.
II. North Adams’ Energy Mix
a. Municipal
The following data was procured using Mass Energy Insight (MEI): a free tool provided
to MA communities by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (MassDOER) as part
of the Green Communities Program. This tool provides energy information only of municipal
buildings, broken down by each individual building, showing which buildings use the most
energy while also displaying which ones are the most energy-intensive per square foot.
It should be noted that this tool can only be of use to city officials with the appropriate
login information; it is not a source of information that is easily accessible to the public.
So, total municipal energy use for the full year of
2016 = 43,378 MMBtus = approximately
12,713,364.6 kWh.
b. Residential & Commercial
Table 1: North Adams Municipal energy consumption for 2016
Figure 2: MMBtu conversion
chart
● So, the residential and low-income energy use for the full year of 2015 = 30,521 MWh =
30,521,000 kWh.
● Commercial and industrial energy use for the year of 2015 = 42,068 MWh = 42,068,000
kWh.
● This data was procured using Mass Save, an online tool available to all MA
municipalities, and is accessible to the public. This data is less detailed than the data
provided by MEI, and is older (2015). It offers energy data by county and by town.10
● This table provides thermal energy data as well as electric energy data. Thermal is boxed
in red and electric is boxed in blue.
10 N.B. this information may not be complete or precisely accurate, since North Adams uses a Community Choice Aggregation Program, meaning the utility (National Grid) is required to for complete data on electricity use.
Figure 3: Residential and Commercial/Industrial electricity use
for 2015
III. State & Local Renewable Energy Accomplishments
Green Community Designation and Grant Program
Established in July of 2010, Massachusetts’ Green Community Designation and Grant
Program “provides a road map along with financial and technical support to municipalities that
1) pledge to cut municipal energy use by an ambitious and achievable goal of 20 percent over 5
years and 2) meet four other criteria established in the Green Communities Act.”11
The other four criteria are:
● Development of an energy reduction plan
● Adoption of a fuel-efficient vehicle policy
● Adoption of the green building stretch code
11 “Becoming a Designated Green Community” Mass Gov, n.d., <https://www.mass.gov/guides/becoming-a-designated-green-community>
● Adoption of as-of-right siting and expedited permitting for alternative energy production
More than $65 million in grants has been allocated since the program was launched, aiding more
than half of the cities and towns of Massachusetts in their sustainability initiatives.
North Adams’ Energy Reduction Plan
In April 2017, North Adams completed its application to become a Green Community
and was granted $194,580 to carry out the lighting and weatherization improvements to
municipal buildings, which they outlined in their energy reduction plan. The plan will cut energy
consumption by approximately 6,800 MBTUs, “equivalent to taking 110 cars off the road and an
Figure 4: New and previously designated Green Communities in Massachusetts
estimated energy savings of $225,000 per year,” according to Judith Judson, Commissioner of
the Department of Energy Resources (DOER).
In order to create the plan, Guardian Energy Management Solutions partnered with North
Adams to conduct energy audits for several city-owned buildings. Guardian Energy specializes
in working with municipalities that are positioned to identify and implement energy efficiency
solutions, and has worked with dozens of cities and towns in Massachusetts to help drive down
energy usage while reducing operational costs. Guardian will continue to support North Adams
by “assessing energy efficiency opportunities that may arise over the course of time, and will
ensure the town is able to take full advantage of the utility incentive program available from
National Grid for its electric accounts and Berkshire Gas for any gas related accounts...and will
assist North Adams in defining projects, developing financials on projects, submitting utility
incentive applications and implementing projects that are chosen by the town,” which is helpful
to know as the city moves forward in its energy efficiency measures, especially considering the
technical complexity involved in implementing energy solutions.
Goals Outlined in the Report for First Three Years:
● Retrofit all interior and exterior lighting with consistent, energy efficient fixtures
and bulbs in facilities identified through the lighting audits.
● Install lighting controls across all municipal buildings to prevent unnecessary
energy use.
● Install idling / power management system technology (e.g. IdleRight) in five
police cruisers as a test pilot. If successful, expand the use of this technology to
other vehicles in the fleet that have high idling hours.
● Retrofit streetlights with LED technology.
● Set programmed thermostats to go into energy conservation / lower temperature
modes 30-60 minutes before people leave their buildings, as heated space will
often remain warm for at least an hour or more after the last time the furnace
worked. This reduces heating work spaces beyond the time that they are occupied.
● Install programmable thermostats and boiler controllers at the City Hall, Drury
High School, DPW Maintenance Garage, DPW Office and Storage Garage,
Public Safety Building, Waste Water Treatment Plant, and Library.
● Install or expand existing Energy Management Systems (EMS) for Drury High
School, Greylock Elementary School, Johnson Elementary School and Brayton
School.
● Replace boiler burner control at City Hall.
● Conduct weatherization upgrades to facility doors, and windows at the City Hall,
the public library, and schools.
● Implement PLC (power line communication) controls upgrade at City Hall,
Schools and the Water Filtration Plant.
● Conduct an inventory and audit of electronic equipment and appliances used
throughout city and school district buildings and develop a Power Management
Plan (PPA) to reduce electricity use.
● Pursue vehicle maintenance operating procedures that include adopting a city-
wide “No Idling” policy for all municipal vehicles, maintaining appropriate air
pressure in tires, using synthetic oil where proper.
● Make Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) upgrades to pump motors, water pumps,
fan motors and air-handling units at the Water Filtration Plant. Review pumps
replacement at the library.12
Existing Solar Projects
The largest solar array of its kind in North Adams, and in Western Massachusetts, is the
East St. landfill, a former landfill turned in 3.5 MW solar array consisting of 6,000 solar panels.
The project claimed to have made the City 100% solar powered when combined with power
being purchased from two other solar sites built in nearby towns. The landfill system
commenced operations in July 2015 and was completed in September 2015. The array was built
and developed by Borrego Solar Systems Inc., a leading developer, designer, installer and
provider of grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems. The financing of this project was provided by
SPME Solar III, LLC, an affiliate of Syncarpha Capital, a rapidly growing developer, owner and
operator of solar facilities. This was done through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), a
financial agreement where a developer arranges for the design, permitting, financing, and
installation of a solar energy system on a customer’s property at a low cost. The developer owns,
operates and manages the facility and sells the electricity back to the host customer at a fixed
rate.13 North Adams and Syncarpha utilized a 20-year power purchase agreement whereby the
City pays Syncarpha for the electricity generated by the solar facility at a cost below their current
12 Courtesy of North Adams 2016 Energy Efficiency Plan13 “Solar Power Purchase Agreements.” Seia, <https://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-power-purchase-agreements>
utility rates. The Borrego Solar and Syncarpha have described North Adams to be 100%
renewable to advertise their work, so further research is required to determine how much energy
the grid actually provides.14
A second solar array in North Adams is located at Mass MoCA. Approximately 25% of
MASS MoCA’s energy is produced on-site through solar panels on several of the roofs. This
51.6 kilowatt solar array was installed in 2007 on the roof of the museum’s Building 5 gallery.
Part of ongoing efforts toward sustainable energy, most of the panels were installed under a PPA
with a solar developer, Tecta Solar. MASS MoCA’s first grid of solar panels was installed by
Berkshire Photovoltaic Services and arranged by artist Michael Oatman. Tecta America, the
national leader in commercial roofing, originally owned its Tecta Solar division, but then sold it
to Onyx Renewable Partners LP, a renewable energy company established by Blackstone Energy
14 “City of North Adams.” Borrego Solar, <https://www.borregosolar.com/commercial-solar-systems/2760>.
Figure 5: Aerial view of 3.5 MW solar facility on the rehabilitated
Partners. Tecta Solar provides financial analysis, system design, utility interfaces, financing
alternatives, system installation, and maintenance of solar facilities.15
15“Facts.” MASS MoCA, <http://massmoca.org/about/facts/>
Figure 6: A 51.6 kWh solar array on MASS MoCA roof
A third array can be found under Whitt’s Ledge, near Reservoir Road, by the Clean
Energy Collective, a Colorado Based Company. This is a 1.32-megawatt solar array on 25 acres
above Coca-Cola Ledge. It has received numerous complaints by NA residents concerning its
visual impact: “has drawn scores of complaints because of its high visibility from numerous
points on the city's east side.”16 The project was originally scheduled to have two parts, but the
second part was halted due to these aesthetic concerns.
16“North Adams Solar Developer Hopes to Solve Unsightliness.” 10 Jan. 2017, iBerkshires, <http://www.iberkshires.com/story/53694/North-Adams-Solar-Developer-Hopes-to-Solve-Unsightliness.html>.
Figure 7: 1.32 MW solar facility installed on Whitt’s ledge
North Adams has several other solar arrays. Walmart has a 197.64 kw solar array
supplied by Green Skies Renewable Energy LLC based in Connecticut. Drury High School has
198 roof-mounted panels with the capacity of 39.5kW.17 On South State St. is a 642 kW array by
developed by Hollander Co Inc.18 There is a 650 kW panel at 700 West Shaft Road developed by
Borrego Solar takes up 4.5 acres.19 Smaller solar arrays can also be found at MCLA’s Feinberg
Center for Science and Innovation and the North Adams Public Library.20
Table 2:
Array/location of array
Solar developer Capacity Cost Financial Incentives Used, if any
East Street Landfill*(makes municipal “100% renewable”)
Borrego Solar 3.5 MW $ 9,096,322.00 Purchase Power Agreement with Syncarpha Capital
MASS MoCA Tecta America 51.6 kW $ 1,705,960.00 Power Purchase
17 http://www.iberkshires.com/story/34016/State-Energy-Grants-Includes-300K-for-Drury-Solar-Array.html18 http://www.iberkshires.com/story/48974/North-Adams-Planners-OK-Motocross-Track-Solar-Arrays.html19 http://www.iberkshires.com/story/51403/North-Adams-Planners-OK-B-B-Solar-Array-Dog-Facility.html20
Building 5 Gallery New England LLC
Agreement with Tecta Solar
Whitts Ledge Clean Energy Collective
1.32 MW
Walmart Green Skies Renewable Energy LLC
197.64 kW
Drury High School Sirois Electric, Inc
39.5 kW $ 257,996.00
South State Street Hollander Co, Inc 642 kW
700 West Shaft Rd. Borrego Solar 650 kW
MCLA’s Feinberg Center for Science and Innovation
North Adams Library
IV. Recommendations
Commercial-Scale Solar Projects
Commercial solar projects are a valuable tool for boosting the amount of renewable
energy produced by North Adams and have multiple advantages over municipal and residential
development. City planners are hesitant to allow any further large-scale municipal
development.21 This is the case because most of the independent companies that propose large-
scale solar development projects focus on large swaths of hillside. Many of the southward facing
hillsides are ideal for solar development, however these sites are highly visible and would
require clearing forested land. This is politically unfavorable and North Adams passed a zoning
21 Information gathered in interview with North Adams administrator Mike Canales and North Adams city planner Larysa Bernstein.
law prohibiting this type of development. Residential solar development has the advantage of
often being exempt from net metering caps since many of these installments are smaller than the
10kW cutoff. However, since less than a third of residences can generally accommodate solar
installments, residential solar development is greatly limited.22 Because of the limitations on
municipal and residential solar development in North Adams, commercial solar development is
one of the most feasible ways North Adams can generate more renewable energy. Businesses
stand to benefit from federal tax cuts, net metering, modified accelerated cost recovery systems
(MACRS), and other state incentive programs.23 Commercial solar installments also have the
possibility of being designed as community solar projects, in which residences buy in to the
development process and receive a predetermined percentage of solar credits generated by the
array.
Site Research
Despite hillside zoning regulations, North Adams still has a large capacity for solar
development. Figure 9 highlights large parking lots and roof spaces in North Adams that could
potentially have solar installed. Solar installments in parking lots are installed like a canopy, so
cars still have the ability to park underneath them. There are a variety of different designs
available.24 The Stop and Shop parking lot and roof, Walmart parking lot, old Excelsior Printing
roof and Ocean State Job Lot parking lot were considered in this analysis but are not shown in
figure 9. In total, the chosen sites could generate roughly 7,300 MWh annually.
22 Information gathered in interview with Nancy Nylen, an associate director for the Center for Ecotechnology 23 “Commercial Incentives.” Sunlight Solar, sunlightsolar.com/solar-incentives/commercial-2/commercial-incentives-ma/.24 “Solar Carports.” Blue Oak Energy, <www.blueoakenergy.com/solar-carports>.
We did not conduct feasibility studies on all the sites shown. It is likely that some of the
highlighted sites are not feasible, but there may be additional feasible sites not highlighted as
well. Despite uncertainty, it still appears that there are many opportunities for North Adams to
increase solar development. Estimates of annual energy production were made using the
following conversion factors:
● Large fixed tilt solar panels require about 3 acres to produce 1,000 MWh annually25
(used for parking lot solar estimate)
● About 10 square meters (110 ft2) of roof space are needed for each kW installed26
● Every kW of solar panels will produce 1,100 kWh annually in northwestern
Massachusetts27
Measurements of roof square footage and parking lot acreage were made using Google Maps. An
example calculation for roof and parking lot solar production is shown below:
Example calculations:
Stop∧Shop Roof Annual Electric i ty Production=square ft × 1110 f t 2 ×annual MA kWh
¿56200 f t 2× 1110 f t 2 ×1100 kWhannually=562000 kWh annual production=562 MWh
Stop∧Shop Parking Lot Annu a l Electricity Production=acres of parkinglot × 1000 kWh3 acres
¿1.53 acres× 1000 MWh3 acres
× 1000 kWhMWh
=510000 kWhannually=510 MWh
25 Proctor, Cathy. “ How Many Acres of Solar Power Panels Do 1,000 Homes Need?”Bizjournals.com, 31 July 2013, <www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2013/07/how-many-acres-of-solar-power-panels.html>.26 5 Things to Consider before You Plan for a Rooftop PV Plant, 13 Apr. 2012, <www.sustainabilityoutlook.in/content/5-things-consider-you-plan-rooftop-pv-plant>.27 Estimate provided by Chris Kilfoyle of BPVS
We focused more closely on four specific sites: Walmart, Excelsior Printing, Stop and
Shop, and Big Y.
Walmart
Walmart has an existing 197 kW solar array on its roof. Unfortunately, the local manager
was not able provide information on the array’s electricity production or buildings electricity
usage. However, knowing what solar arrays typically produce annually in Massachusetts and
how much electricity a retail store typically uses (14.3 kWh per square foot annually28) we
calculated that it produces roughly 200 MWh of its 2200 MWh annual demand. This means
Walmart is only meeting just under 10% of its electricity demand with renewable sources. With a
parking lot solar array that could produce 1,600 MWh annually, Walmart would approach
generating 80% of its electricity demand with renewables. Walmart does have a history of a
commitment to solar and it is possible that with encouragement from North Adams, the store
would commit to expanding its solar development in North Adams.
Excelsior Printing Building
The Excelsior Printing office has actually moved locations and the building is currently
located at 60 Roberts Drive. The building is currently owned by Moresi and Associates, who rent
it out to businesses. Our contact at BPVS led us to an estimate that the large southward facing
roof could hold an 115 kW solar array which would produce upwards to 126,500 kWh of
electricity annually. We contacted a representative of Moresi and Associates who was initially
under the impression that a plan was in place to install a solar array on the roof. It turns out that
this plan is no longer in place but Moresi and Associates remains open to solar rooftop
development at this site.
28 “Managing Energy Costs in Retail Buildings.” E Source Customer Direct, 2010, bea.touchstoneenergy.com/sites/beabea/files/PDF/Sector/Retail.pdf.
Stop and Shop
As a pivotal commercial center in the Berkshires, Stop and Shop would be an ideal site
for a solar power system installment. Using the same calculations used for Walmart, we
estimated that its electricity use was about 800 mWh. With a lot area that would produce 510
mWh, and a roof area that could produce 560 mWh in solar panels, Stop and Shop has the
potential to be easily over 100% renewable with a solar power system. We contacted Real Goods
Solar Company (RGS), the largest and most experienced solar installer in the Northeast with
60+MW installed capacity solar systems and more than 11,000 installations. They are relevant to
Stop and Shop because they have installed Solar Power systems to 32 Stop and Shop locations in
New England. Our contact, Harley Shade, said RGS would be on board and could send us a
commercial assessment form for the commercial site’s owners, saying that they would need to
know the kWh used in the past 12 months, what material the roof is made from, how old that
material is, and the current electric provider. In order to begin this process, RGS would need the
initiative of the North Adam’s Stop and Shop store’s landlord, who has yet to respond.
Big Y
With its large parking lot and roof, along with its central location in North Adams, Big Y
is also an ideal site for a commercial solar power system. Using the same calculations as before,
Big Y’s Electricity use comes out to be an estimated 1300 MWh annually. The roof and lot
production is estimated to be 900 mWh and 500 mWh respectively. Big Y also has the potential
to meet this electricity demand 100% using a solar power system with 100 mWh to spare. Big Y
also has a relationship with RGS because they installed a solar power system in the Big Y in Lee,
MA. This 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. RGS does not
actually finance any of these projects, so financing this project through a PPA with a company
like Smart Energy Capital would be ideal. The North Adam’s Big Y differs from Stop and Shop
because the owners of Big Y actually own the building.
Since these sites are owned by businesses, the decision of whether or not to install solar is
ultimately up to them. However, local encouragement from city administrators and citizens may
be enough to push a business towards making the decision to install.
Additional Recommendations
This November, the Acadia Center came out with a state-specific Energy Action guide
for northeastern states that want to take clean energy into their own hands. It details several
community-level actions and the state policies currently in place that might prevent their success,
if implemented. Here, we have zoomed in this state-specific guide to the local level and found
actions most suitable for implementation in North Adams.
● Benchmarking
Require benchmarking and reporting of energy usage, so that similar facilities can see
how they compare. Reporting requirements should include public disclosure and simple,
aesthetically-pleasing display of data. Both Cambridge and Boston have adopted building energy
use and disclosure ordinances, requiring owners of large buildings to track and report annual
energy use data for public use.
Cambridge adopted the ordinance as part of their effort to get closer to their goal of net
zero emissions by “requiring owners of larger buildings to track and report annual energy use to
the City and publicly disclose the data. Disclosure places the information in the marketplace,
where various users such as potential property buyers, tenants, realtors, energy service providers,
and others can use the data and to help create value for higher energy performing properties…
[and] in planning for higher energy performance in our building stock.”29
Vermont set a goal to be 90% energy-dependent on renewables by 2050. Part of the effort
to achieve this goal led them to install a Community Energy Dashboard30, a free, easy-to-use,
public display of energy data. Communities can see how they’re doing in comparison to others,
add in current energy efficiency projects, make projections, view past projects, and share updates
on ongoing campaigns.
29 “Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance.” Cambridge CDD @ 344, <http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/zoninganddevelopment/sustainablebldgs/buildingenergydisclosureordinance.aspx>.30 Explore the dashboard here: http://www.vtenergydashboard.org/
● Develop a municipal microgrid
A microgrid is a local grid that has the capacity to be disconnected from the larger grid,
and operate autonomously31. It contains elements of electricity generation and storage. It can be
tailor made to the community in which it is installed and can therefore be designed to run off
renewable energy sources. In most cases, running the microgrid off of renewables like solar or
wind is the only economically feasible way to operate a microgrid32. Microgrids have the added
benefit of providing energy security if the main grid were to shut down. For example, if a large
weather event causes a power outage on the larger grid, a microgrid powered by local solar could
keep hospitals and/or shelter facilities running. Although security is the major reason cities are
looking into microgrids, they will likely be a valuable tool in incorporating increased local
renewable energy generation into the future energy mix. As of 2014, Massachusetts had
allocated up to 18.4 millions dollars in grant money to cities like Boston and Cambridge to
develop microgrids.33 State or utility grants can be used for qualified distributed energy
resources. Microgrid research grants are offered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
● Develop and Follow a Green Fleet Policy
Follow state selection guidelines and criteria for municipal passenger and utility vehicle
purchases so that vehicles meet minimum efficiency standard or emit less than a certain amount
31 Lantero, Allison. “How Microgrids Work.” Energy.gov, <energy.gov/articles/how-microgrids-work.>32 “The Advantages of Microgrids.” Brighthub Engineering, 19 May 2011, <www.brighthubengineering.com/power-generation-distribution/90436-a-system-of-systems-microgrids-poised-to-soar-in-popularity/>.33 Wood, Elisa. “Massachusetts Awards $18.4M for Microgrids and Other Energy Resiliency Projects.” Microgrid Knowledge, 29 Dec. 2014, <microgridknowledge.com/massachusetts-awards-18-4m-microgrids-energy-resiliency-projects/>.
of CO2 per mile. Municipalities participating in the Green Communities Program must purchase
only fuel-efficient vehicles for municipal use. In an effort to make a more sustainable municipal
fleet, Cambridge MA replaced older fuel inefficient vehicles with newer models, hybrid, and
electric vehicles. They also installed GPS systems in their vehicles in an effort to reduce idling
and cut down on unnecessary travel34.
● Establish Public EV Charging Stations
Installing publicly accessible EV charging stations is a great way to be on the front end of
renewable energy development. Although electric vehicles are not widespread in North Adams,
being prepared for and encouraging their use helps move the city towards its sustainability goals.
Multiple cities across Massachusetts have taken advantage of funding for electrical vehicles and
charging stations through the MassEVIP program35.
● Utilize TIF districts for clean energy improvements
Tax increment financing (TIF) is an economic development tool that uses taxes created
by new construction, expansion, or renovation within a specific district, known as a TIF district,
to subsidize those public improvements. Although MA's TIF statute has not been applied to clean
energy projects as of yet, this tool is being used elsewhere in the country to support clean energy
projects, including infrastructure investments, efficiency upgrades, and transit-oriented
development. TIF agreements need to be created with care to ensure that clean energy projects
specifically benefit.
● Enable PACE financing for commercial projects
34 Cambridge, City of. “Green Fleet.” Green Fleet - CDD - City of Cambridge, Massachusetts, <www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/climateandenergy/municipalsustainability/greenfleet>.35 “MassEVIP: Workplace Charging.” Mass.gov, 2017, <www.mass.gov/how-to/massevip-workplace-charging>.
Opt into Commercial PACE (property assessed clean energy) programs that provide
loans for qualifying energy efficiency and clean energy improvements through a lien on the
property. A lien allows the company seeking the loan to legally claim ownership on the property
of another person in order to secure the repayment of the loan. PACE financing can be offered at
lower interest rates and for longer terms than would be possible with an unsecured loan. State
law has established a commercial PACE structure in Massachusetts36, and specific programs are
under development.
V. Conclusion
Boosting North Adams renewable electricity production to a level that meets its demand
is an ambitious task. It involves navigating a tangled web of local and state policies, as well as an
understanding of the limitations posed by grid infrastructure. One of the more surprising things
we realized in researching this project was the lack of publicly disclosed information including:
energy data, by-laws, past solar projects, current and planned projects. None of this was easy to
procure, and much of it was also difficult to understand. We wish to emphasize the importance of
making this data easier to find and easier to understand, so that more North Adams citizens and
administrators can be informed about the current and future potential for conserving money,
energy, and the natural landscape that is so highly prized in Berkshire county. Vermont’s
Community Energy Dashboard is an excellent example of benchmarking and tracking of energy
data on a public platform—not only does it make obscure data simple and easy to find, it allows
communities to edit the data displayed. This involves community members in the process of
36 M.G.L. ch. 23M
reaching their state-set goal, putting more accountability in the hands of local officials and
citizens.
North Adams should continue its leadership in municipal renewable energy use.
Although municipal electricity needs are met by the East Street landfill site, we encourage the
city to continue looking for opportunities to develop solar on municipal land and to explore
creative ownership programs in which community members could directly buy in to and benefit
from this renewable energy generation.
While the City’s Green Community Energy Efficiency Plan has only been released this
year, city officials should ensure the proper steps are being taken to implement these changes in
a timely and orderly manner. While North Adams did receive one of the largest Green
Community grants in comparison to similar towns, the costs of the lighting and weatherization
efforts could exceed the allotted $194,580. In that case, grants and other sources of funding
should be investigated soon, as grant-writing is time consuming and has uncertain results.
North Adams is doing well in its efforts to become more sustainable. In addition to the
work already done, there are several projects in the works: rooftop PVs on Greylock Bowl,
increasing the existing solar project at MASS MoCA, and rooftop PVs on Greylock Works.
However, we cannot rely solely on word of mouth and intensive research-investigation to know
what’s going on in the neighborhood. Communication and clarity is key to inclusivity for all
individuals, regardless of education or economic status. Tangible change no longer comes solely
from votes—it comes from invitations to all the constituents of every community.
VI. References
Interviewees
Throughout this project, we have had the special privilege of meeting and speaking with local
experts in the renewable energy field. Every single one of these people were instrumental in
narrowing the scope of our project, clarifying tricky technological details, and providing
documents and leads that contributed to this final report. Thank you!
● 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
● Ross Vivori, city assessor & Green Communities representative
Useful Resources and Documents
Online Grant Resources:
● Mass Clean Energy Center
● MassDOER—green communities division, mostly for municipalities.
● USDA—renewable energy development for small independent landowners, particularly
agricultural land. Can be combined with state grants/other state incentivization programs.
● SolarRise Mass--provides residential incentives and technical support.
Documents:
● North Adams Energy Efficiency Plan37 – not publicly accessible
● Acadia Center’s Clean Energy Action Guide for Massachusetts38
Works Cited
“Becoming a Designated Green Community.” Mass Gov, n.d.,
<https://www.mass.gov/guides/becoming-a-designated-green-community>.
“Cleanup, Remediation Part of Greylock Works New Development.” iBerkshires, 6 Nov. 2017,
<http://northadams.com/story/56000/Cleanup-Remediation-Part-of-Greylock-Works-
Redevelopment.html?cat_id=46>.
“Community Energy Dashboard--Brattleboro.” Brighter Vermont, n.d.,
<http://www.vtenergydashboard.org/my-community/brattleboro/progress>.
“Facts.” Mass MoCA, N.d, <http://massmoca.org/about/facts/>.
“How Local Energy Aggregation Works.” Lean Energy U.S., n.d.,
<http://www.leanenergyus.org/what-is-cca/>.
“How the Electricity Grid Works.” Union of Concerned Scientists, 18 Feb. 2015,
<www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/how-electricity-grid-works#.Whrb0mQ-euU>.
37 This was procured through Lauren Gaherty at BRPC. Thank you, Lauren!38 This guide can be found at the following URL: https://issuu.com/ene-org/docs/acadia_20center_community_20energyv_55bc53483574e4Special thanks to Nancy Nylen for bringing this helpful resource to our attention!
“Incentives and Programs.” Mass CEC, 1 Dec. 2017, <www.masscec.com/solar-incentives-and-
programs>.
“Mass Save Data.” Mass Save, 2016, <http://masssavedata.com/Public/GeographicSavings?
view=M>.
“Massachusetts Awards $18.4M for Microgrids and Other Energy Resiliency Projects.”
Microgrid Knowledge, 16 Dec. 2014, <https://microgridknowledge.com/massachusetts-
awards-18-4m-microgrids-energy-resiliency-projects/>.
“MCLA'S Feigenbaum Center For Science & Innovation Achieves LEED Gold
Certification.” MCLA, 13 Sept 2016,
<http://www.mcla.edu/About_MCLA/news_events/pressrelease/2016September/mclas-
feigenbaum-center-for-science-&-innovation-achieves-leed-gold-certification>
“Municipal Solar and Microgrids: A PV Market Outlook.” Renewable Energy World, 18 May
2016,<http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2016/05/municipal-solar-and-
microgrids-a-pv-market-outlook.html>.
“Museums Powered by Solar.” SolarMeHome, 3 Dec. 2015,
<https://www.solarmehome.com/solar-museums/>.
“North Adams, MA - Proposed Bike Path.” N.p., n.d.,
<https://northadamsmabikepath.wordpress.com/>
“Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Final Program Design.” MassDOER,
31 Jan 2017, <http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/rps-aps/final-program-design-1-31-
17.pdf>.