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Eversource considers Worcester for renewable energy project VEER MUDAMBI
so let’s stop installing gas infrastructure and start installing what magine a future where you we need in the future that will be don’t need natural gas in and safer, lower cost, less explosive and around your home … yes, that more reliable.” explosive substance where Odell agrees that the goal is to combustion is necessary for use, reach net zero by 2050, which inwhich decreases indoor air qualcludes cutting down on natural gas, ity, which is associated with child- but is wary of being too prescriphood asthma and other respirato- tive. In fact, he would like to leave ry diseases, and suffocates trees room to work with Eversource on as it leaks into the ground. projects that will help the city find Well, that future may be closer out how to get to that goal. than you think. He means projects like the The fact that Worcester has Eversource Pilot Program called had more than its fair share of gas GeoMicroDistrict, a geothermal leaks is not up for debate. Dominic energy network created by ground Nicholas, director of Home Energy source heat pumps. The GeoMiEfficiency Team or HEET, shared croDistrict, said Schulman, was data extracted directly from the first proposed to Eversource by gas utility’s most recently available HEET about three years ago, when quarterly leak inventory reports they came up with the idea of net(Q3 — ending Sept 2020) showworking many different buildings ing that the city had 498 leaks of together, including those with which only 115 were repaired. That different energy use. is far more than other towns in “You can move what would Worcester County — Leominster be wasted energy around to the had 99, Southbridge had 53, Milbuilding that needs it,” in a form of ford had 47, Shrewsbury had 38, energy sharing and load canceling. Fitchburg had 4 and Gardner had A state-wide study two years ago 1. While these towns are much found that “any place that has gas smaller than Worcester, it is still systems currently can get almost an order of magnitude difference. all the heating and cooling done This begs the question — why through a network of ground source is Worcester so much worse? heat pumps, but it may be challengMainly, it is the age of the infraing in densely populated areas.” structure and the fact that the cast After the feasibility study, Everiron pipes were sealed with jute, or source decided to try it out and grass fiber, which is biodegradable the Massachusetts Department of and dried out over time, allowing Public Utilities approved a pilot the gas to leak out. In addition, it project of one segment, mandating is possible the pipes themselves that it include about 100 different rusted and contributed to the units, both homes and businesses problem. John Odell, director of in urban areas. As part of the pilot, the City Energy and Asset Manage- said Schulman, energy bills will be ment Division, said the City Coun- substantially lower for both heatcil and city manager are well aware ing and cooling — $5 a month for of the number of gas leaks, that low-income users and $20 a month the problem is real, and they have for others. The price has not repeatedly called for EverSource to been announced for businesses. replace the problematic pipes. Schulman feels that, “given what’s Audrey Schulman, co-founder currently happening with the and co-executive director of HEET, economy, it would be good to help questions the need to replace people, who are in tough financial and/or repair. “Why replace that situations, stay warm.” infrastructure in the ground with Nikki Bruno, an Eversource one that will not be needed past representative who has been 2050? … We know that natural gas communicating with HEET, said will not be needed past that point that the company is aiming to
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local decision makers and local advocates, who they advise on site selection. Moore is optimistic that Worcester is on the shortlist. “My impression is that Eversource has been interested in Worcester from the beginning,” she said. The chosen pilot area would hopefully benefit a community that is otherwise under-served and has been impacted by a number of environmental problems. There are parts of Worcester with poor quality housing, many gas leaks and trees that have been poisoned by them. While there are several considerations as far as finding the right site, it is important, according to Moore, to make connections between people in the city who have that kind of information. She feels it “would be such a shame and a missed opportunity if Worcester didn’t take advantage of the chance to be part of the pilot.” Moore reiterated that while they have met with William Akley, A diagram of the geothermal network structure. the head of Eversource Gas, “the HEET project needs a champion in Worcester — someone who is acsome point. He is hopeful and the economic downturn and the tively looking to locate and identify believes it is “highly probable beCOVID crisis, meeting one of the the correct site,” but she is not sure cause they think Worcester would who is going to lead the charge. recommendations of the DPU for be an excellent candidate, with a the site. She is also optimistic that the great deal of gas infrastructure.” “It’s an incredible deal,” said GeoMicroDistrict pilot project Schulman notes that while the Schulman, “all infrastructure would synergize with the Green upsides are incredible, a few implewill be paid for and it would be Worcester Plan. “We’ve been mentation challenges do come to a way to showcase how to move talking to John Odell and the mind. The first is finding a variety of more we can get people across the off natural gas towards a lower pilot sites, but she doesn’t think that city knowing about it, the better emitting, more reliable and safer would be insurmountable consider- chance it will end up in Worcester.” energy source that will work for ing people should be competing to tomorrow.” Besides being able to Odell, in turn, is hopeful as well. meet Gov. Baker’s 50% reduction in get such an incredible deal. Second- “This is definitely something that use of natural gas by 2030, the pilot ly, there will be an experimentation we can work into the GWP, which period, where the utility figures out would go on about three years was conceptualized as a living plan.” how to balance the temperature with a view to a 10-year investThough the pilot was not initially across all the buildings, evaluating ment. Since Worcester is in Everin the GWP, it provides an excellent it and getting people to understand source gas territory, it would only window into how a geothermal nethow to use it and trust it. She chuck- worked infrastructure could work be a case of choosing a neighborles when she says, “our hope is that it in Worcester, and one of the goals of hood with a mix of different types will become like the internet where the GWP is to assist EverSource and of businesses along with homes. Odell is aware that Eversource everybody wants it.” the community in this effort. Gaylen Moore of the Worcester is looking for a pilot site here in He reiterated that the City chapter of MOF confirms that her Manager Edward M. AugusWorcester — “they’ve asked if we organization is “excited and has have any candidates in mind.” He tus Jr. and council are strong adindicated that HEET and Mothers been talking about the Eversource vocates for this and look forward Pilot Program every chance we Out Front reached out to them to making Worcester one of the get.” Primarily, they have been about this opportunity over the most sustainable mid-sized cities summer of last year. While it can’t trying to connect HEET with in America. assemble a variety of pilot sites by February. At that point, they will need to place an update and implementation plan before the DPU. “We’re very interested in Worcester in terms of how it matches our mandates and recommendations from the DPU,” said Bruno. It would be an appropriate choice because Worcester is where people have been deeply impacted by
just be any place — it has to be urban and has to contain a mix of at least 100 homes and businesses, he explained that, “there’s no defined ratio but it’s part of their criteria in terms of determining where they land and the pilot site segment translates to about one street.” One of the factors is the dimension and age of the gas pipes in the area, which may have to be dug up at
