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Dear ,
This past week, Governor Baker signed
Executive Order (EO) No. 569, "establishing an integrated climate change strategy for the Commonwealth." Most notably, the EO called on the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to establish statewide emissions targets for 2030 and 2040 by 2020 and 2030, respectively. The EO also acknowledged the mandate of the
Global Warming Solutions Act for the state to meet the 2020 emissions target of a 25% reduction and specifically identified transportation, gas leaks, emissions permits and gas insulated switch gears as emissions that should be addressed to reach this target. The EO sets a deadline of
December 16, 2016, for draft regulations.
Climate adaptation is addressed alongside these climate mitigation strategies. The EO addresses adaptation and preparedness throughout the Commonwealth by requiring the creation of a
climate adaptation plan by 2018 and that each executive office designate a climate coordinator on staff. Cities and towns should be on the lookout for technical assistance grants for vulnerability assessments and implementation of adaptation strategies as is called for in the EO. Our team will also make sure to notify our communities as these new opportunities arise.
If you're interested in learning more about any of MAPC's clean energy programs, please
contact us.
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Drop some knowledge! Or gain some! Take this one-question quiz on the energy storage goal set forth by the recently released study by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.
Want to learn more? Click here
to take our short quiz!
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MAPC and HEET Recap Gas Leaks Workshops and Continue Registration
Last week, MAPC and HEET hosted two gas leaks workshops where we presented the findings of our year-long study on natural gas leaks in the region. The workshops were well attended by representatives from various municipalities, utilities and community groups. There were many productive discussions and interesting ideas exchanged about how to improve coordination in order to minimize cuts into municipal roads, extend road life, and - at the same time - accelerate the amount of leaking and leak-prone gas mains that we replace each year.
The collaboration so far has been incredible and we are excited to continue the conversation at our third and final workshop this Thursday, September 29th, from 9AM to 11AM in Marlborough, MA. Check out the map below to see which communities in your region are attending or have attended. We hope you can join us! Please register here.
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Gas Leaks Workshop attendees across the region.
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MAPC Hosts Municipal Green Vehicle Technology Workshops: Nov 1 & 16
MAPC has partnered with the Commonwealth's
Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and
Operational Services Division (OSD) to offer a groundbreaking bid for Green Vehicle Technology. The contract, which will be available to all cities and towns across the state starting early October, covers electric vehicle charging stations, anti-idling equipment and after-market hybrid retrofits. Local governments will be able to purchase equipment that will improve air quality and reduce the fuel used by their fleets.
MAPC is hosting two informational workshops with vendor coffee hours in November to help cities and towns better understand the products offered and the financial, operational, and environmental benefits they provide. At the workshop you will have the opportunity to: hear from peers with experience purchasing green vehicle technology, understand the benefits of these technologies for your bottom line, get the low-down on available financing tools to make these decisions more affordable, and talk face-to-face with the qualified vendors on the state contract. Please register for the workshop that is most convenient for you:
- Morse Institute Library, Natick, MA: Nov 1, 8:30AM - 11:00AM, register here.
- Union Station (CMRPC), Worcester, MA: Nov 16, 10:00AM - 12:30PM, register here.
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MA DOER Announces Proposed Next Generation Solar Incentive
At the end of last week, the
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) presented their vision for the next generation of solar incentives in Massachusetts to the public. The plan aims to make the incentives more predictable and streamlined over time. Read more about the plan
here and
here.
DOER will be accepting comments on the straw proposal of the solar incentives until
October 21, 2016. Stakeholders can submit all comments via email to
DOER.SREC@state.ma.us. To sign up for updates from DOER on the solar incentives
fill out this form.
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MA DOER Releases "The State of Charge" Report
The
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) released their long-awaited energy storage study, "State of Charge," this past week. The 200-page report sets a goal of 600 MW of energy storage in Massachusetts by 2025, supported by comprehensive economic analysis of the challenges and benefits of energy storage. The 2025 goal is anticipated to provide $800 million in system benefits to ratepayers. The report emphasizes the opportunities to apply energy storage to address generation retirements in New England without building new power plants, shift peak load as peak demand increases, integrate intermittent renewable generation, increase grid resilience, and lower the cost of electricity over time.
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This study is a part of
Massachusetts' Energy Storage Initiative
, and the report puts forth several recommendations around grants and funding opportunities for commercial and municipal entities to take advantage of for assistance in implementation of energy storage projects. DOER will be issuing an RFP for demonstration projects with funding of $10-$20 million available.
Watch this space
for future announcements of funding opportunities.
Click here to read the executive summary and
here to read the full report.
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Antioch University of New England and the
U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are kicking off their webinar series, Weathering Change: Local Solutions for Strong Communities, on
Thursday, September 29, from
12PM to 1PM. Join the webinar led by Mark Z. Jacobson, director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program and professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, and moderated by Irene Boland Nielson, climate change coordinator for EPA Region 2.
You'll learn what communities and cities can do to help transform the United States' energy infrastructure for all purposes to 100% wind, water, and solar power.The presenters will discuss proven and simulated methods to accomplish this goal such as community-scale underground heat storage and large scale offshore wind turbines. They will also examine the cost, reliability, and feasibility factors for these methods.
Register for the webinar
here.
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On
Wednesday, October 19, from
9AM to 1PM, the
Massachusetts Operational Services Division (OSD) will host the State Fall Fleet Event at the Leicester Town Hall, 3 Washburn Square, Leicester, MA. The event includes a presentation by the Inspector General's Office, and overviews throughout the morning of the Fleet-Related Statewide Contracts. Attendees will have opportunities throughout the day to meet the vendors.
At 11:30AM, the presentations will feature the alternative fuel opportunities that the state has to offer, including: Green Fleet: Preserve the Environment and Save Money; Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Fuel Conversions, and Idle Reduction Technologies; and Green Fleet Policy Guidance.
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Join
Greentown Labs on
Wednesday, October 26,
from
2PM to 7PM
in Somerville, MA, for DEMO Day. Greentown Labs' annual DEMO Day brings together entrepreneurs, investors, strategic partners and VIPs from around the world to view and discuss solutions to our global environmental challenges. DEMO Day is a showcase of cutting-edge clean technology and innovation across the clean technology and energy sectors.
Attendees will have an opportunity to meet with all of Greentown Labs' member companies, tour their 33,000 sq. ft. headquarters and hear from a series of keynote speakers.
Buy a ticket and register for the event
here.
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Save the date for
MassCEC's Microgrid and DER Symposium on
Thursday, February 16, from
8AM to 6PM. The Microgrid & DER Controller Symposium will bring together Microgrid & DER controller vendors, microgrid developers, energy infrastructure decision makers, utility engineers and state and national energy leaders to: introduce the latest developments in microgrid & DER controllers and real-time power system simulation technologies, demonstrate functionality of existing microgrid & DER controllers on a realistic community microgrid, and foster connections between microgrid vendors and developers, distribution utilities and distribution utility engineers responsible for DER deployment and interconnection.
Register for the event
here.
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Metropolitan Area Planning Council | 60 Temple Place | Boston, MA 02111
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