Montachusett Regional Energy Plan

The Montachusett Regional Energy Plan assesses the region's current energy sources, project its future needs and make recommendations. The Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) produced the plan with oversight from the Energy Advisory Committee which is made up of various community representatives from private and public sectors. To develop this plan, existing and proposed renewable energy development throughout the region was inventoried including wind energy, solar photovoltaic energy, geothermal, landfill gas, hydro and biomass and students from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) built a model to assess the Montachusett Region Current Energy Needs/Demands. All this information was analyzed to make recommendations for the region. The funding for this project has been made available by the Economic Development Administration through the Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund.

WPI Model Presentations
WPI presented the Montachusett Region Current Energy Needs/Demands Model to the Energy Advisory Committee meeting on May 13, 2011. Download WPI Model PowerPoint Presentation and WPI Model Handout.
System Dynamics Computer Simulation Modeling to Forecast the Energy Demands for the Montachusett Region Report.

     
Pictures from WPI Model Presentation - Source: Liz Garner

Wrap Up Event

The Regional Energy Plan Wrap-Up Event was held on Friday, October 21, 2011 at the Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, MA. The Red Apple Farm is 100% powered by sun and wind making it an ideal setting for this event. The event was a huge success with over 50 people attending. There were discussions of collaborative outreach and education, all work completed, and recommendations included in the report. Speakers included Congressman John Olver, Representative Stephen DiNatale, Kelly Brown from the Department of Energy Resources, Professor Michael Radzicki, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Victor Koivumaki, Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, and Sean Hamilton, Montachusett Region Energy Advisory Committee.  Also, staff from the MRPC and consultant Jennifer Andersen gave a PowerPoint on the Regional Energy Plan.

Congressman Olver speaks at Wrap Up Event - Source: MRPC

Workshops
As part of this plan, MRPC hosted six workshops on a variety of renewable energy topics.

The final workshop was held at the Harvard Public Library on September 29^th.  The “Solar in September” featured many speakers and was well attended.  Senator Jamie Eldridge and Representative Stephen DiNatale gave legislative updates on energy issues.  Kelly Brown of the MA Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs discussed incentive opportunities to help communities save money.  Massachusetts Clean Energy Center representatives spoke about solar incentive programs.  Members of the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee shared their experiences regarding becoming a Green Community and the selection of Solarize Mass solar installation discounts.  New England Breeze Solar Installation President Mark Durrenberger discussed the project in Harvard.   Real Estate Broker Victor Normand addressed relationships between solar installations, real estate property values and neighborhood desirability.

Picture from Solar in September Workshop 6 - Source: MRPC

We had our fifth of six workshops on June 20, 2011 at the Cosgrove Intake Facility at Wachusett Reservoir. State Representative Stephen DiNatale gave a legislative update on energy-related issues and and Q and A with Amy Barad from Clean Energy Center Project.

     
Picture from Hydropower Workshop 5 - Source: MRPC

We had our fourth of six workshops on May 5, 2011 at the Athol Town Hall. State Representative Stephen DiNatale gave a legislative update on energy-related issues and Joel Lindsay, Program Manager for Weston Solutions, gave a presentation on virtual net metering: how municipalities and businesses can generate renewable energy and sell it. Download Joel Lindsay's PowerPoint. Audio to be posted soon.

Picture from Virtual New Metering Workshop 4 - Source: Liz Garner

We had our third of six workshops on March 22, 2011 at the Doyle Center in Leominster. State Representative Dennis Rosa gave a legislative update on energy-related issues and Donald McCauley of McCauley Lyman LLC and Minutemen Wind and John Fitch of Princeton Municipal Light gave seperate presentations on wind turbine siting. Download Kelly Don McCauley's PowerPoint. Download John Fitch's PowerPoint. A video of the event will be posted soon.

     
Pictures from Wind Turbine Siting Workshop 3 - Source: Liz Garner

We had our second of six workshops on January 14, 2011 at Lancaster Town Hall. Kelly Brown, Regional Coordinator for the Green Communities Division of MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER), presented information about the Green Communities Program. Download Kelly Brown's PowerPoint.

     
Pictures from Green Communities Program Workshop 2 - Source: Liz Garner

We had our first of six workshops on December 1st, 2010 at the Mount Wachusett Community College Gardner Campus. Professor Mike Radzicki and the students at WPI ran a Regional Energy Cafe to gather input from stakeholders to develop a system dynamics simulation model for future energy demands and needs within the Montachusett Region. Download the Regional Energy Cafe Agenda. Download Mike Radzicki's PowerPoint. Download Student Notes from the event.

     
Pictures from Regional Energy Cafe Workshop - Source: Liz Garner

Press Conference
We had a press conference announcing the federal funding for the Regional Energy Plan on Friday, October 22, 2010 at Evergreen Solar in Devens.

     
Pictures from Regional Energy Plan Press Conference - Source: MRPC Staff

Energy Advisory Committee
Minutes of February 12, 2010 Meeting
Minutes of March 26, 2010 Meeting
Minutes of June 25, 2010 Meeting
Minutes of August 20, 2010 Meeting
Minutes of November 19, 2010 Meeting
Minutes of March 11, 2011 Meeting
Minutes of May 13, 2011 Meeting
Minutes of September 16, 2011 Meeting