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Greenbytes: July 16, 2003 Edition
In this IssueGreetings from EPA New England. We hope you find this edition of Greenbytes useful and we encourage you to give us feedback. Please send an email to Paul Wintrob with your thoughts, comments or suggestions: wintrob.paul@epa.gov
Hats off to the City of Brockton for pursuing an intriguing project to transform an abandoned parcel in the city into a money-generating solar facility - the largest of its kind in New England. Although construction is still at least a year away, the city's plan is to cover 10 acres of city land with solar panels that could power about 300 homes. The one-megawatt project got a boost last week when the city announced that it had received a $79,500 grant from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust to complete marketing, financing and other predevelopment activities for the project. The project will start with a first .5 megawatt phase that will require $3.6 million in grants, direct assistance and loans. Brockton has also received a $10,000 EPA grant which will be used to help the city develop a marketing strategy for selling the green tags – Renewable Energy Certificates – so that necessary construction financing can be secured. The US Department of Energy previously provided a $30,000 planning grant for the project. Last fall, Brockton and its partners - the Bay State Gas Company, Brockton 21st Century Corporation, Spire Corporation and XENERGY - completed a year-long feasibility study on the so-called Brightfields project. The study concluded that about 10 acres of a 27-acre Brownfields parcel could be used for an array of photovoltaic panels that would cover the equivalent of 10 football fields. The feasibility study determined that the most important next step for developing the project was to market the project's products - energy and Renewable Energy Certificates - in order to secure project financing. The city is likely to purchase all of the energy the project will generate. Renewable Energy Certificates will then be sold by the city to customers across the state - and possibility outside the state - who are willing to pay a premium to support development of new, clean energy sources through their purchase. Obtaining contracts from these customers is necessary to complete the financing plan and secure grants and loans. For more information about the project, call Brockton's Brownfields
Coordinator Lori Coloumbo at 508-895-9129 or visit the Massachusetts
Technology Collaboratives web site at www.masstech.org. Web Resources:
Press Releases EPA Launches Web Tools to Improve Environmental Performance at Education Facilities EPA Awards UNH $20,000 Grant to Study Hospital ‘Greening' Poor Air Quality Predicted in Several New England Areas for Tuesday July 8 Poor Air Quality Predicted in Several New England Areas for the Holiday Weekend Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Data for all six New England states
Events and conferences are not archived. Please refer to the Regional Calendar for upcoming events and conferences.
Brownfields - what’s new section Environmental Justice - updated text, new pdfs, new grants GE Pittsfield Superfund Site - what’s new section Salvage Yard and Auto Recyclers Assistance - new site Title V Air Permits - updated charts
"In The News" is a free daily service that provides links to today's top newspaper stories about the New England environment and links to related EPA New England information. In The News Email Service: As soon as today's edition of "In The News" has been posted we will email you a listing of the day's environmental news. |
