Grant Will Fund Solar Installation Projects at Public Schools
BOSTON - July 28, 2016 - The Baker-Polito Administration today announced a
$1,764,510 grant award to the City of Salem for the installation of two solar
projects at Salem public schools. The grant is part of an agreement by the
Commonwealth to assist host municipalities of active or decommissioned coal
generation facilities with developing and implementing a clean energy strategy,
including the building of a renewable energy project within the community.
"Massachusetts is a national leader in embracing clean, emerging technologies," said
Governor Charlie Baker. "By embracing clean solar energy technologies, Salem will
save hundreds of thousands of dollars going forward that can be reinvested in other
vital municipal functions."
"Our Administration is committed to working with our municipal partners to meet our
ambitious shared clean energy goals," said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. "By
working with the City of Salem to transition from traditional power generation to
clean alternatives, our administration is affirming our commitment to a diverse
energy portfolio."
The grant awarded today is for the installation of rooftop solar installations at
two elementary schools owned by the City of Salem. The grant will fund a 430 kW
system at the Bentley Elementary School that will offset $75,996 in annual
electrical costs, and a 491 kW system at Witchcraft Heights Elementary School that
will offset $86,772 in yearly electrical costs. The combined capacity of the two
projects will generate enough energy to offset 100 percent of the electricity needs
of the two buildings.
"The installation of two solar arrays at Salem public schools will have long-term
positive economic and environmental benefits for Salem and our Commonwealth as a
whole," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. "The
Baker-Polito Administration is committed to working with our municipal partners
across Massachusetts to lower energy consumption and reduce emissions."
"DOER is proud of our partnership with the City of Salem and continued support their
efforts to adopt clean energy technology," said Department of Energy Resources
Commissioner Judith Judson. "These solar arrays will build upon Salem's already
impressive efforts as a Green Community and solidifies their place a statewide
leader in clean energy adoption."
Salem was home to the now decommissioned Salem Harbor Generating Station, a 740 MW
coal and oil fired power generation plant that operated until being shut down on
June 1, 2014. It was replaced by the Salem Harbor Station, a 674MW natural gas-fired
electric generation facility.
Salem has been a designated Green Community since 2010 and has received nearly
$700,000 in grant funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability
projects. There are 155 Green
Communities<http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/green-communities/grant-program/map-summary-green-communities.pdf>
in the Commonwealth.
"Both of these projects make good sense environmentally and fiscally for the City of
Salem," stated State Senator Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem). "Salem has been a leader in
implementing alternative energy and green friendly initiatives. These solar arrays
will add to their already impressive portfolio."
"This grant re-affirms Salem's designation as a proud Green Community and
demonstrates our commitment to renewable energy which benefits our city
environmentally and economically," said State Representative Paul Tucker (D-Salem).
"I am grateful to Governor Baker and the Executive Office of Energy and
Environmental Affairs for this investment which will pay dividends well into the
future."
"The City of Salem is excited and grateful for the opportunity to install over 900kw
of Solar PV on two elementary schools in Salem," said Mayor Kim Driscoll. "Through
the Department of Energy Resources Decommissioned Coal Plant Grant Program, Salem
will offset 100% of the energy usage in these two schools while also producing solar
renewable credits that generate income for the Salem School Department. This
renewable energy project demonstrates Salem's continued commitment to sustainable
energy generation and a leader in energy resiliency in the Commonwealth."
The funding for this award is to come Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP), which
are paid by electrical retail suppliers if they have insufficient Renewable or
Alternative Energy Certificates to meet their compliance obligations under the
Renewable and Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard programs.
