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>.