Municipalities across Greater Boston stand to reduce their energy expenditures through a partnership with a Boston-based solar firm.
Broadway Electrical Company, Inc. has been selected by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to serve as the regional solar developer for 17 communities in the Greater Boston area.
Under solar “energy management services” agreements with Broadway, the participating municipalities gain access to affordable solar energy for as long as 20 years. This arrangement allows them to benefit from renewable energy without assuming the burden of ownership and upkeep of their own photovoltaic installations.
Belmont, Beverly, Boxborough, Brookline, Chelsea, Hudson, Lincoln, Marlborough, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Reading, Sherborn, Wayland, Weston, Weymouth, and Winthrop comprise the 17 municipalities eligible for participation in MAPC’s regional solar initiative.
According to Helen Aki, MAPC Clean Energy Program Coordinator, “We are very excited to announce the selection of Broadway as our regional solar partner,” “These cities and towns stand to achieve serious savings on energy costs by working in collaboration through this program, and we look forward to helping our member municipalities to develop solar projects and generate local renewable energy.”
Jonathan Wienslaw, president of Broadway Electrical Co. Inc., stated that “We are honored that Broadway Electrical has been selected by MAPC and the 17 participating cities and towns for this very important and innovative project,” “The commitment from these municipalities to incorporate solar photovoltaic energy into their electrical supply as a renewable energy source will be paying environmental and financial dividends for years to come. Not only do the solar projects provide great learning opportunities for students, they also open the door for other energy projects to develop within the overall community. We look forward to delivering real economic and environmental benefits to these communities and expanding the education of solar as a renewable source of energy.”
Before unanimously selecting Broadway, officials from the participating cities and towns evaluated applications and conducted in-person interviews. MAPC facilitated this selection process with assistance from the Cadmus Group, a strategic consulting firm focused on clean energy initiatives. The agreement between MAPC and Broadway ensures that all municipalities receive equal treatment in project consideration, irrespective of scale.
Through solar energy management agreements, a developer handles design, financing, installation, ownership, maintenance and eventual decommissioning of a PV system. The host community provides a publicly-owned location for the system and commits to purchasing the renewable electricity it produces.
Support from the 2012 District Local Technical Assistance (DLTA) program enabled the MAPC Regional Solar procurement. Massachusetts distributes these state funds to its 13 Regional Planning Agencies (RPAs) to furnish technical assistance regarding regional collaboration, economic development, zoning and environmental protection. The Barr Foundation contributes additional funding to support MAPC’s clean energy initiatives.
To learn more, contact Clean Energy Program Coordinator Helen Aki at 617-933-0714 or [email protected]. Additional information about MAPC is available at www.mapc.org
About Broadway Electrical Co. Inc. Headquartered in Boston, MA, Broadway Electrical Company, Inc. is a comprehensive electrical construction firm established in 1936. The company ranks among the Northeast’s largest electrical contractors and has executed major projects across commercial, educational, health care, biotechnology, industrial, power and government sectors. With more than 55 MW of solar installation projects operational or under development, Broadway stands as one of New England’s leading solar developers. The firm delivers full-service renewable energy solutions encompassing engineering, procurement, construction, and financing through power purchase agreements, along with a 24/7 solar operations and maintenance division. Visit www.broadelec.com/– for additional details about Broadway Electrical Company, Inc.