Commonwealth Conversations: Energy Smarts

Patriots of the clean energy revolution cutting greenhouse gasses

Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr.

Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

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With new science emerging on the health impacts of fossil fuel consumption and increases in extreme weather and storm events relating to climate change, it’s clear that we need to do all that we can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s important because we are a coastal state, we have a vibrant agricultural industry and because we rely on imported energy for our electricity needs. Under the leadership of Governor Patrick, the Commonwealth has risen to the challenge of creating bold long-term goals to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

As a result of the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), signed by Governor Patrick in August 2008, Massachusetts has greenhouse gas emissions limits of an 80 percent reduction of 1990 levels by 2050. In December 2010, our office released a the 2020 Clean Energy and Climate Plan plan that set the ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

We’ve already made great progress on greenhouse gas reductions over a short period of time. We recognize the plan has to be dynamic but the investments we’ve made in solar, wind, electric vehicles and energy efficiency are already at work reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

New solar array in Westford, MA.

With the implementation of the Green Communities Act, also signed in 2008, we now have 42 percent of Massachusetts residents (or 2.7 million people) living in Green Communities. All 86 Green Communities  have committed to reducing their municipal energy consumption by 20 percent.  This commitment by these patriots of our Massachusetts clean energy revolution equates to the annual energy consumption of more than 13,000 Massachusetts homes and the greenhouse gases emissions from more than 16,800 cars. 

We have the most aggressive goals in the country and we know that means we have a lot of hard work ahead of us. This Administration has an absolute commitment to obtain those goals. I’ve assigned Undersecretary of Energy Barbara Kates-Garnick and Environment Undersecretary Phil Griffiths to oversee this ambitious plan with focus on transportation, buildings, energy generation, non-energy emissions and climate adaptation.  We’ve got our team in place and a plan to engage with stakeholders. We are also unveiling an online tool to track our progress in May.

It will take all of us to meet these revolutionary clean energy goals. I hope you will join us.

Video of the Week

Maia Fitzstevens

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

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We continue today with our brand new Video of the week series, which each week highlights a video or two about clean energy in the Commonwealth. Today we bring you “Investing in Solar for your Home.”

This video features Massachusetts residents who have installed solar photovoltaic panels on the roofs of their homes. They share their stories about how investing in solar has made an impact on their lives. Not only do these homeowners spend less on their monthly bills (one resident’s bill dropped from $130 per month to $40 per month), they are doing their part to help meet our statewide clean energy goals.

In Massachusetts we spend $18 billion of the $22 billion spent annually on foreign sources of energy from Canada, Latin America and the Middle East. Instead of spending that money elsewhere we’d like to keep those dollars here in Massachusetts by investing in solar projects that put local installers to work while stabilizing long-term energy costs for residents and businesses and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The residents in the video explain how they can sell excess energy back to their utilities and how upfront costs in investing in solar technology are not as expensive as many might think. With the help of state support from solar energy certificates, rebates, tax credits, and sales tax exemptions, residents can help defray their initial investment. One resident even said that she wished she had installed solar 10 years ago, if she knew it would pay off so quickly!

Learn more about home solar energy projects by watching the video.

If you find a video you’d like to see in this blog, share it in the comments section below!

Saving money at state-owned rinks

Mark Sylvia

Commissioner, Department of Energy Resources (DOER)

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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is continuing to have a positive impact for communities across the Commonwealth. Recently, I joined Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, Secretary Rick Sullivan and many others to celebrate the installation of new, stimulus-funded energy efficient ceilings that have been placed in five state-owned rinks. These new ceilings will cut energy costs by up to 40%, reduce the rink's carbon footprint, improve ice conditions, and create a more enjoyable space for skaters to enjoy. Check out video from the event below.

 

This project was managed collaboratively by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, which is responsible for the rinks, and the Department of Energy Resources (DOER). DOER's State Energy Program has managed hundreds of stimulus-funded clean energy projects. You can learn more about this program by visiting our Energy Recovery Dollars at Work web page. You can also see photos from the event and other clean energy projects on our Flickr page.

Video of the Week

Madeleine Barr
Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
View Madeleine's Bio

Today we are starting a new Video of the Week series in which we highlight a clean energy video from the Commonwealth. With so many great clean energy stories happening across the state, it will be difficult to pick just one. 

This week, we have two videos that feature energy measurement projects that were funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 – which just had its third year anniversary and has resulted in a paycheck for more than 6,500 clean energy workers.

Through the Enterprise Energy Management Systems (EEMS), EnerNOC is installed energy meters at state-owned buildings so that facilities managers can see just how much energy is being used.  Using this information they will be able to make adjustments in their own consumption.  This video highlights how Fitchburg State University utilizes EnerNOC technology to reduce their overall energy costs. 

Our second video this week is of the Massachusetts Hospital School; it is an institution that provides medical, rehabilitative, educational, recreational, and vocational services to children and young adults with disabilities.  The mission of this school is to help the students achieve their full potential in all aspects of daily life.  By staying aware of energy consumption through EnerNOC software, the Mass Hospital School can spend its money on assets valuable to their students’ growth as opposed to wasting the limited funds on unnecessary energy use.  This video shows just how they do it. 

Know of a video that you’d like to see on the blog? Share it in the comments section below. 

Energy by the numbers: 2.7 Million

Dan Burgess

Clean Energy Fellow, Department of Energy Resources

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Since the Green Communities Act was passed in 2008, 86 cities and towns in the Commonwealth have been officially designated as a Green Community - that means more than 2.7 million Massachusetts residents are living in a municipality that has met five clean energy criteria.

The residents, businesses, and public officials in these municipalities are making real progress in reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy and are key partners in the progress that the Commonwealth is making toward achieving a cleaner energy future. 

Visit the Green Communities web page to see a map of the 86 municipalities and to learn more about the program.

Infographic: Clean Energy in Massachusetts

Dan Burgess

Clean Energy Fellow, Department of Energy Resources

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You can download the text of this infographic here.

Energy By the Numbers: $17,689,893

Dan Burgess

Clean Energy Fellow, Department of Energy Resources

View Dan's Complete Bio

Since 2008, 86 Massachusets cities and towns have received a combined total of $17,689,893 in Green Communities grant awards for clean energy projects in their community. 

These grants have helped fund projects that are creating local Massachusetts jobs and developing cleaner, safer and more sustainable energy options for these communities.  These projects have included solar photovoltaic installations, the development of energy management plans, installation of LED streetlights, and adopting various other energy efficient measures.

The Green Communities program is a crucial component of the Commonwealth’s efforts to create a cleaner energy future and you can visit the program web page to see a map of Green Communities in Massachusetts and to learn more about the program.

ARRA 101: The Recovery Act turns three

Dan Burgess

Clean Energy Fellow, Department of Energy Resources

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Last week, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) reached it's third year anniversary. Since 2009, the Patrick-Murray Administration has prudently invested Massachusetts' federal stimulus funds with thousands of clean energy projects completed as a result. Check out some of the social media highlights of Recovery Act in Massachusetts below - you can also view these stories in a slide show. 

Wind turbine health impact report upcoming meetings

Kenneth Kimmell

Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)

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On Jan. 17, an independent panel of scientific experts released a report entitled “Wind Turbine Health Impact Study:  Report of the Independent Panel”  and we're holding three meetings (two this week) to collect public feedback about the report.

MassDEP and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) sought the development of this report by a panel of independent experts in order to help the Commonwealth, as well as local governments, address some of the questions that have been raised about possible human health impacts associated with proximity to wind turbines.  

Among the key findings of the panel are:

• There is no evidence for a set of health effects from exposure to wind turbines that could be characterized as a “Wind Turbine Syndrome.”
• Claims that infrasound from wind turbines directly impacts the vestibular system have not been demonstrated scientifically. Available evidence shows that the infrasound levels near wind turbines cannot impact the vestibular system.
• The weight of the evidence suggests no association between noise from wind turbines and measures of psychological distress or mental health problems.
• None of the limited epidemiological evidence reviewed suggests an association between noise from wind turbines and pain and stiffness, diabetes, high blood pressure, tinnitus, hearing impairment, cardiovascular disease, and headache/migraine.
• There is limited epidemiologic evidence suggesting an association between exposure to wind turbines and annoyance. There is insufficient epidemiologic evidence to determine whether there is an association between noise from wind turbines and annoyance independent from the effects of seeing a wind turbine and vice versa.
• There is limited evidence from epidemiologic studies suggesting an association between noise from wind turbines and sleep disruption. In other words, it is possible that noise from some wind turbines can cause sleep disruption. Whether annoyance from wind turbines leads to sleep issues or stress has not been sufficiently quantified. While not based on evidence from wind turbines, there is evidence that sleep disruption can adversely affect mood, cognitive functioning, and overall sense of health and well-being.
• Scientific evidence suggests that shadow flicker does not pose a risk for eliciting seizures as a result of photic stimulation. There is limited scientific evidence of an association between annoyance from prolonged shadow flicker (exceeding 30 minutes per day) and potential transitory cognitive and physical health effects.

The panel is composed of physicians and scientists with broad expertise in areas including acoustical noise/infrasound, public health, sleep disturbance, mechanical engineering, epidemiology, and neuroscience. The members of the panel are: 

Dr. Jeffrey M. Ellenbogen of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital; Dr. Sheryl Grace of Boston University; Dr. Wendy J. Heiger-Bernays of the Boston University School of Public Health; Dr. James F. Manwell of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst; Dr. Dora Anne Mills of the University of New England; Dr. Kimberly A. Sullivan of the Boston University School of Public Health; Dr. Marc G. Weisskopf of the Harvard School of Public Health; and Dr. Susan L. Santos (panel facilitator).

Wind Turbine Health Impact Study

I urge anyone with an interest in this topic to review it, and I encourage anyone with comments to submit them to us or to participate in one of three public meetings in February. This panel functioned independently of MassDEP and MDPH and consisted of seven individuals with backgrounds in public health, epidemiology, toxicology, neurology and sleep medicine, neuroscience, and mechanical engineering.  Each of these individuals is considered an independent expert from academic institutions, and I personally want to thank each of them for their time and commitment to this important public project.  

We’ve seen the public interest around this topic steadily grow.  It is extremely important that we have the best science available to us as we make future decisions on wind energy.

As MassDEP begins to digest the panel’s report and findings,  MassDEP will accept written public comments on the report until March 19, 2012 and is hoolding three upcoming public meetings.

• Tuesday, February 14, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Gardner Auditorium in the State House, 24 Beacon St.

• Thursday, February 16, 2012, from 5-8 p.m. - Bourne High School, Beth Bourne Auditorium, 75 Waterhouse Road, Bourne.

• Tuesday, February 28, 2012, from 5-8 p.m. - The Lee Middle and High School Auditorium, 300 Greylock Street, Lee. Snow date: February 29th.

We hope that interested parties will participate in this process so the Commonwealth will have the full benefit of public feedback before taking steps to implement or adopt the findings or recommendations by the independent panel.

2012: Time for the new (and improved!)

Mark Sylvia

Commissioner, Department of Energy Resources (DOER)

View Mark's Bio

Here we are, already in the second month of the New Year. If you were impacted by the tornadoes last year in western and central Massachusetts, you know that months later, residents of Monson, Springfield and surrounding towns are still working to restore their homes and get their lives back to normal. You’re probably relieved to turn the calendar page, make a fresh start and plan for the year ahead.

The staff at the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center want to help you make 2012 a better year than last, by helping you rebuild – and rebuild keeping energy efficiency and renewable energy in mind. 

The ReBuild Western Massachusetts program offers rebates, grants and 0 percent interest loans for energy efficiency improvements and solar projects as you repair or rebuild your homes.  If you plan to install windows, doors or a new heating system this year, understand that there are a number of available incentives to reduce your costs.   Home and business owners as well as municipalities in the affected areas are eligible for up to $5,000 rebates and 0 percent interest loans for up to $100,000.  The available incentives in the ReBuild program in conjunction with many incentives offered by local utilities may make your efficient home improvements cost less than a non-efficient measure. Check out the video below to learn more.

ReBuild Western Massachusetts: wwlp.com

By installing good insulation, ENERGY STAR® qualified windows and doors, or a high efficiency heating system, you’ll improve your comfort every day while saving money on your monthly electrical bills. 

If you are installing a new water heater, keep in mind that a solar water heating system can provide up to 75 percent of your annual hot water usage and can greatly reduce bills from expensive heating fuels like oil, electricity and propane. 

Installing a new roof? This could be a great time to incorporate a solar electric system to lower your monthly electric bills.  With the additional rebate available in the recovery zones, almost 75 percent of the system is covered and the system can actually pay for itself in the first 2-3 years!

Remember – energy improvements are the only household improvements that actually pay you back. And when you are ready to sell the house, a lower utility bill can help sell the house faster.  Here’s to a new and improved year!

To find out more about the ReBuild Western Mass program, call 877-524-1325 to speak to a representative, email rebuildwma@icfi.com, or visit www.mass.gov/energy/rebuildwesternma.