Mayor Wu Kicks off Neighborhood Vitality’s Electrification Plans

CAMBRIDGE, MA —Neighborhood Vitality, a decarbonization agency with the nation’s largest portfolio of district vitality methods, serving over 70 million sq. toes of constructing area throughout Boston and Cambridge, has formally kicked off its electrification plans with the deconstruction of a steam turbine on the Kendall Inexperienced Vitality Cogeneration Facility. Neighborhood will set up an electrical boiler as a substitute, marking a important step within the firm’s Clear Vitality Future dedication to reaching internet zero carbon emissions throughout all its operations by 2050.

Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu commemorated the day at Neighborhood’s Kendall facility. Marking a vital step towards a clear vitality future for Boston and Cambridge, the deconstruction aligns with the Mayor’s newest transfer to file a house rule petition to ban using fossil fuels for brand new buildings in Boston.

“It’s outstanding to have the ability to say that Neighborhood is the primary vitality firm within the nation to affect its operations. That may be a big deal and one that can have ramifications for generations to return. For each gigantic pure gasoline boiler that’s going to be decommissioned, for each new constructing that can use eSteamTM, these are jobs created proper right here for our residents and our communities,” stated Boston mayor Michelle Wu. “It’s clear that the work of making certain our planet stays livable goes to require all of us: each stage of presidency, enterprise, and neighborhood. We’re very grateful that Neighborhood’s carbon-free eSteam product will energy the main industries we’re already recognized for right here in Larger Boston resembling life sciences, healthcare, business actual property, and lots of extra.”

“With the set up of this electrical boiler, we’re enabling a seamless conversion to carbon-free eSteam for our clients, together with modern business constructing house owners and builders like IQHQ,” stated Invoice DiCroce, president and chief government officer of Neighborhood Vitality. “That is game-changing for our communities and a first-rate instance of what occurs when authorities, the enterprise neighborhood, and the vitality sector work collectively and embrace the area’s Inexperienced New Deal.”

The electrical boiler will enter service in 2024. At the moment, the corporate will procure electrical energy from renewable, carbon-free vitality sources resembling wind, photo voltaic, and hydro to generate eSteam, the first-ever carbon-free renewable vitality product. IQHQ will probably be Neighborhood’s first buyer to energy the fast decarbonization of its buildings in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood: 109 Brookline and Fenway Heart Part 2 with carbon-free eSteam.

“As we speak, we’re excited to be celebrating the set up of the electrical boiler,” stated Jenny Whitson, director of sustainability & ESG at IQHQ. “By Neighborhood taking this step to supply builders like us the chance to supply electrical steam generated by renewable vitality, we’re in a position to obtain our local weather targets and carbon emission discount targets for our initiatives.”

Over time, Neighborhood has advanced as new, cleaner gasoline sources have develop into commercially out there. The corporate’s predecessors burned coal to generate steam earlier than migrating to grease,

pure gasoline, and mixed warmth and energy (CHP). As a result of district vitality methods are agnostic to gasoline sort, they will rapidly implement these new, extra sustainable applied sciences and gasoline sources. Electrification is the subsequent essential step to decarbonize Boston and Cambridge at scale and guarantee each municipalities meet their new vitality requirements and emission mandates.

The Kendall Inexperienced Vitality Cogeneration Facility concurrently produces thermal vitality and electrical energy in a single environment friendly course of to serve roughly 75% of Neighborhood’s clients all through the area. When the electrical boilers start service, all of those amenities can have entry to carbon-free, renewable vitality directly.

“Right here in Kendall Sq., a spot recognized for international innovation, we’re happy with Neighborhood’s contribution to city decarbonization with eSteam,” stated Beth O’Neill Maloney, government director on the Kendall Sq. Affiliation. “Neighborhood’s electrification plans will assist contribute to the decarbonization of Cambridge and Boston with out building-level adjustments. Neighborhood is a worldwide sustainability chief, charting a brand new path ahead for district vitality.”

Neighborhood is on observe to totally electrify its steam era in Boston-Cambridge and introduce different technological developments into its operations, together with industrial-scale warmth pumps and molten salt thermal vitality storage. The corporate’s different areas throughout the nation will endure comparable electrification processes within the coming years. Click on right here to learn extra about eSteamTM, district vitality methods, and Neighborhood’s dedication to innovation and the surroundings.

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