Green Business Transportation Workshop- 8/25

Posted on August 26, 2010 by JesseGorden

Brad Winnett from MassRIDES discusses green alternatives while other panelists look on.

On Wednesday August 25th, the Cambridge Energy Alliance and the Sustainable Business Leader Program hosted a Green Transportation Workshop. Panelists discussed ways to make a key facet of business operations, employee transportation, “green.”

Stephanie Anderberg from Cambridge Community Development discussed how businesses can support alternative transportation with help from Pre-tax Commuter Benefits. Basically, these are ways in which businesses can pay for their employees’ green travel (e.g. shuttles, vanpools, biking, the T) before taxes are considered. These can be administered in several fairly easy ways, including giving vouchers or using a 3rd party administrator.

Jim Gascoigne from the Charles River TMA opened with a significant statistic: a staggering 67% of people in Cambridge – an environmentally forward-thinking city – get to work by driving in cars alone. Mr. Gascoigne went on to explain that while the Charles River TMA’s purpose is to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality, it’s also to help Cambridge citizens reach for more environmentally responsible solutions. Specific services Jim discussed were the public $1 per ride EZride shuttle, which goes to areas around Cambridge that the T does not reach, and an Emergency taxi Ride Home voucher for members.

Brad Winnett from MassRIDES spoke about how his state-wide organization works individually with businesses to incorporate customized combinations of transportation programs that suit their unique circumstances. These combos include ride-sharing, vanpools, biking, walking, the T, and tele-working.

Shane Jordan presented for Mass Bike, a state-wide bicycling advocacy group that supplies many services. Mass Bike Provides three different kinds of 1-hour workshops – general biking, bike maintenance, and one for winter bike-riding. Shane mentioned that Mass Bike has a valet bike parking service, as well as a consulting service. Lastly, Mr. Jordan suggested that if an organization wanted to perform a biking event but didn’t have insurance, they could partner with Mass Bike to be covered under Mass Bike’s insurance.

Zipcar is a membership-based car-sharing service, and was represented on the Green Transportation panel by Matt Kurkowski. Mr. Kurkowski discussed the various benefits of the multiple Zipcar programs and options. Zipcar was what helped one audience member (Janie Katz) transition from 30 years of driving her own car to a no-car diet; others discussed the convenience of the service when traveling for business or for emergencies. For businesses, the Zipcar program is significantly more cost-effective than it might be for the already-affordable personal accounts, making this a great business choice.

After this, Metro Pedal Power (unable to be represented at the event) was discussed thoroughly by the hosts as well as multiple panelists. This company is a local, bike-powered delivery service that provides regularly scheduled as well as on-call deliveries of up to 500 pounds, in all weather. This service makes sense for so many members of the community who may need to transport something only across town, but would otherwise have to ship via UPS or FedEx, whose warehouse check-in point might even be out of state. The service is cost-effective because of the lack of spending on gasoline, and you are reducing the carbon you emit by keeping fossil-fuel-burning vehicles off the road.

In addition, Janie Katz-Christy, the director of the Green Streets Initiative shared how businesses and employees can get involved in Walk/Ride Days. Walk/Ride Days are on the last Friday of each month, when people can use sustainable transportation and get rewarded by local businesses for doing so. Walk/Ride Days have had excellent results for all kinds of large and small businesses and the Fed DOT is now funding a project to spread Walk/Ride Days to 6 Boston-region communities.

The last mentioned service was that of the downtown-Boston-based Urban Adventours, who offer bike tours throughout the city. This is a great way to get people introduced to the concept of biking as an alternative transportation, as well. For organizations who need bikes to get started, this is one of the bike rental providers in Boston.

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This workshop was full of organizations who, as a combination, can comprehensively make our community more fossil-fuel independent than ever. I strongly urge you to take advantage of some or all of the services detailed here- and tell your friends!

As always- you may comment here, or email me personally at jgorden@cambridgeenergyalliance.org if you have further questions.

A Permanent Boston Public Market

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Boston GreenScene

Boston needs a permanent public market and now there is a coordinated campaign to make it happen. An impressive list of entrepreneurs, businesspeople, government officials, farmers, and community leaders have all come together to form a coalition that is building a grassroots campaign to send the message to our elected leaders.

As mentioned on Boston GreenScene before, building a sustainable food system is crucial to the future of Massachusetts. A vibrant Boston Public Market would be a vital, visible step towards reaching that goal and this coaltion appears to have what it takes to make a permanant public market in Boston a reality. So, take a second to visit the BPM website to learn more and send an email to Governor Patrick to express your support!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_zxiQc9Yyg

Cross-posted at Boston Green Scene

Mass Renewables Redux

Posted on July 21, 2010 by JPierce

This time last year we reported that a state law requiring heating oil to contain a paltry 2% biodiesel was finally being enforced. Alas, once again, implementation has been delayed.

Although Cape Wind gets most of the press, it is not the only contentious wind project in the Bay State. Last week the SJC ruled that a planned project in Western Mass. was legitimately permitted and could proceed.

Finally, the state has also announced that it will be reviewing emissions regulations for biomass-fueled power plants. Variously characterized as perplexing, raising the bar, and a win for biomass opponents

$18.5 Million for New England Energy Projects

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Tara Holmes

On Monday, the DOE announced a $18.5 million grant will be dispersed via the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) amongst various energy research labs and companies throughout New England. The funds are part of the larger $349 million Recovery Act funding pool and will be used primarily for energy efficiency projects; specifically in this case, solid state lighting using gallium nitride, air conditioning efficiency, chemical flow batteries, and overall energy storage capacity research.

MIT will receive $4.4 million, United Technologies Research Center will receive a total of $8.8 million, Beacon Power Corp will receive $2.2 million, Proton Energy will receive $2.1 million and General Compression will receive $750,000. Massachusetts continues to be a leader in the domestic clean-energy technology revolution and these funds will help push forward numerous projects centered around transformational energy research. For 2011, $299,000,000 is sought so critical energy research can continue to be funded.

Entire City of Boston to be Scanned for “Energy Gushers”

Posted on June 24, 2010 by LGlick

IR scan of a local home
Big news coming out of Boston this week. Last Friday, the Wattzy team had the opportunity to join Mayor Tom Menino and MIT Projessor Sanjay Sarma for an historic announcement – the entire City of Boston is to be scanned in infrared.

Infrared scanning is nothing new in the world of single-family homes, as any energy efficiency pro can tell you. Utilities like NStar even offer home infrared scans at free or discounted cost. They are highly effective at identifying areas of home heating inefficiency. Although commercial services have offered wide-area aerial scans for some time, this will be the first complete street-level scan of a major city.

If any place can use a city-wide scan, it certainly is Boston. Our housing stock is some of the oldest in the country, which means a huge opportunity for energy savings. The Boston Climate Action Leadership Committee estimates that Boston business and residents “could save more than $2 billion over 10 years” through basic weatherization.

It was no coincidence that this historic event took place at the offices of Next Step Living, a leading Boston-based contractor that provides energy efficiency services directly to homeowners.

Contractors like Next Step Living “are the energy drillers of the clean-tech era,” said MIT Professor Sanjay Sarma. “Instead of the Gulf, they are drilling for energy savings in our homes. This infrared technology is for prospecting.” Professor Sarma is widely credited as the technology visionary behind the foundation of the commercial RFID industry.

Continuing with the “Drill, Baby! Drill!” theme, Galen Nelson, the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s green tech business manager said, “The American home is often referred to as the Saudi Arabia of energy efficiency. There’s so much to be capped.”

In addition to developing the infrared technology to scan every square foot of Boston from the aircraft and street level, Professor Sarma isn’t afraid to put his money where his mouth is. He displayed an infrared image of his home pulsating with red highlights from excessive heat loss. A still version is show above.

“An Energy Gusher,” Professor Sarma said, “and a huge opportunity.”

We at Wattzy certainly agree! The opportunity to save with energy efficiency can indeed be huge.

That’s why Wattzy provides Professor Sarma and all residents of the City of Boston with an easy way to estimate and track their savings from energy efficiency projects.

Financing a Solar Project

Posted on May 28, 2010 by ebaxstrom

The Cambridge Energy Alliance recently organized an event at the Cambridge City Hall Annex on financing solar energy projects for your home and business.

The event featured some wonderful presentations by our panelists and we wanted to share them with you here.

Here is the presentation from the Mass Clean Energy Center giving an overview of the CommonWealth Solar rebate program, renewable energy certificates, tax incentives, and other financial options to help pay for a solar project.

SunBug Solar gave a presentation about Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs).

Here is the presentation from Mass Energy about regulations, “neighborhood” net metering, and ownership structures.

Nexamp presented about photovoltaic projects for businesses, institutions, and government facilities.

If you would like to find out more, check out our website about renewables for your home or for your business.

Green Communities Eligible for Grants

Posted on May 27, 2010 by nikitaob

The newest beneficiaries from the “green” energy policies of Massachusetts will be comprised of cities which have already taken steps in limiting their carbon emissions through alternative energy solutions. Yesterday, Governor Deval Patrick visited the city of Hopkinton, which has taken major advancements towards solar energy development with a cutting-edge 325 kilowatt solar panel system, unveiled last year. During his trip, the governor met with Linda Donahue of the Housing Authority, and promised to support green-energy efforts throughout the state with a portion of the 7 million dollars designated for green energy spending from RGGI and other sources; §10b. Under the new system, nearly 36 cities and towns will receive the state’s “Green Community” designation, including Newton, Sudbury, and Natick. To qualify for the grants, cities must submit paperwork corresponding with five major criteria:

Adopt zoning that allows the construction of renewable energy projects in certain areas without special permission.

Establish an expedited permitting process for those projects.

Set a baseline for municipal energy and reduce use 20 percent within five years.

Only purchase fuel-efficient municipal cars and trucks when available and practical, with exemptions for public safety.

Change building codes to require a 20 percent increase in energy efficiency for new commercial construction and new homes larger than 3,000 square feet.

In additional to grant eligibility, each Green Community will receive a solar waste compacter, a design that uses the sun’s energy to compress trash, increasing the amount that is able to fit in the can, reducing garbage truck trips. The gifts are intended for use at municipal beaches and parks. Patrick and state leaders have acknowledged that supporting energy efficiency should be an integral part of the state’s energy policy.

Also see who’s in the running.

Global Warming Solutions Act

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Tara Holmes

If you’ve been itching to voice your opinion on state global warming legislation, now’s your chance! Public hearings are being held across the state next month to discuss the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Target and Draft Committee Implementation Plan for 2020.

A little background:

In August 2008, Governor Patrick signed into law the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), an Act that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by 2050, with a 2020 target set between 10 and 25 percent below 1990 levels. Massachusetts has already promulgated greenhouse gas reporting regulations under the Act; 2009 emissions will be the first year reported. The Act requires that by January 1, 2011 the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), develops an implementation plan for achieving the reductions required to meet the 2020 target.

The Commonwealth’s technical consultant completed an analysis demonstrating that state and federal policies now in place, or anticipated, have Massachusetts on track toward emissions reductions of 18 percent by 2020. On Earth Day, April 22, 2009, the Secretary announced that hearings would be held around the state to take public comment on a 2020 reduction target between 18 percent and 25 percent. The Secretary also recently released a draft report on this topic: Cost Effective Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Massachusetts: An Analysis of 2020 Potential.

If you have expertise in the area, or just want to show support for clean energy legislation in the state of Massachusetts, please take note of the hearing dates and locations!

P.S. See also June 3^rd‘s Panel on Federal Climate Legislation.

A Victory for Cape Wind

Posted on May 13, 2010 by nikitaob

In a game-changing move for the financing of offshore wind farms across the United States, National Grid has agreed to buy power from the Cape Wind project after a nine year court struggle. The announcement comes in a period of success for the project, falling one week after the federal government officially approved of the project over the defiance of some Cape residents. Under the new 15 year PPA agreement, the UK based National Grid would begin purchasing up to one half of the total generated kilowatt hours starting in 2013 for the sum of 20.7 cents per every kilowatt hour.

The deal is estimated to raise the average cost of National Grid’s electricity customers by approximately 2 percent in the coming years after the launch of the wind farm , however, in the long run experts say that the consistency of wind power as an alternative power source would keep rates under control, especially if the prices for oil and natural gas skyrocket. The additional 2 percent increase would add about $1.59 to every 500 kwh. Recently however, these statistics have been disputed by the Alliance for the protection of Nantucket Sound, longtime opponent of the Cape Wind project, have recently argued that rates for consumers would increase by 442 million over the next 15 years. Cape Wind’s Mark Rogers fired back when he told Reuters, “I have no idea where they [The Alliance] are getting their numbers from—maybe they are assuming there will be no fossil fuel price increases. Their predictions about rate increases lack credibility.”

The opposition to the project has now begun to seek legal measures to prevent the construction of the wind farm, piling up a stack of lawsuits supported by a variety of different organizations from the Earth Land Institute to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe; the Pocasett Wampanoag recently spoke out in favor of the project. However, in a recent meeting with Siemens Energy, President Obama told workers in a blade manufacturing plant that his administration’s investments in clean energy would be the largest in US history. “One study suggests that if we pursue our full potential for wind energy, and everything else goes right, wind could generate as much as 20 percent of America’s electricity 20 years from now.”

ecO ‘lectrc’ty where art thou?

Posted on May 10, 2010 by JPierce

Did you know that you have the option to choose who makes your electricity? Since deregulation in 1997, NSTAR no longer generates electricity. This is why there are separate charges on your utility bill for generation and distribution.

One of the hopes of utility deregulation in the late 90s was that it would allow for market forces to create a cleaner energy supply. The idea was that if customers were not forced to buy energy from their local utility they might express demand for less damaging electricity generation. Many academics and environmentalists were worried though, that consumers would instead focus on cost and become blind to other energy attributes, or remain ignorant of the specific ties and between power generation and the environment. This belief seems well-founded since more than five years into deregulation, fewer than 4% of Massachusetts customers had chosen competitive suppliers.

Bay State policy makers foresaw the difficulties for individuals in overcoming inertia to become informed and make the switch to another provider, an therefore included a novel clause in the deregulation act providing for something known as community choice aggregation. Community choice allows municipal governments to go through the competitive supplier selection process on behalf of all of their residents, permitting them to take advantage of the resulting collective bargaining power. Although Cambridge has not availed itself of this option, dozens of communities have, including those served by the well-known Cape Light Compact. Therefore, you are most likely receiving electricity through NSTAR’s default or standard offer service. Because NSTAR no longer runs power plants it acts as a de facto aggregator itself, and through an annual bidding process selects a provider for customers without a competitive supplier.

How green is this supply? What if you want something different? NSTAR began offering a wind-based power supply a little over two years ago, but there are other options available. At one point many businesses sought to be competitive suppliers in Massachusetts, but very few remain in the residential sector. Fortunately NSTAR provides a more up to date database of competitive suppliers. Simply search for your rate class (typically 01 for residential and 02 for small business) to obtain a list of alternative electricity suppliers.

Although it is still listed, Just Energy no longer offers service in Massachusetts. Neither Alternative Energy Resources nor Angora has publicly available information, and both did not respond to inquiries. The table below summarizes the information I was able to gather about the remaining residential competitive suppliers in Massachusetts. Prices are ¢/kWh for December 2009.

	New England Average	NSTAR			Easy Energy			Dominion	Horizon
	New England Average	Basic	Green 50	Green 100	Basic	Green 50	Green 100	Dominion	Horizon
Biomass					6.0%	10.1%	12.4%	2.1%	0.2%
Hydro	5.4%	3.0%	1.0%		8.0%	35.5%	74.9%	7.1%	1.1%
Solar						3.1%	6.2%
Wind			50.0%	100.0%		3.4%	6.4%		0.9%
“Renewables”	3.3%	8.0%	5.0%
Incinerator						0.5%		3.0%	0.6%
Landfill gas								0.5%	0.3%
Nuclear	14.4%	29.0%	15.0%		35.0%	14.0%		28.8%	35.6%
Coal	8.9%	16.0%	7.0%		13.0%	6.0%		15.8%	53.3%
Diesel								2.1%
Natural gas	38.0%	35.0%	17.0%		27.0%	16.5%		35.1%	7.5%
Oil	24.6%	10.0%	5.0%		11.0%	4.5%		2.9%	0.6%
“Other”	5.4%					6.5%		2.4%
Base		9.22	9.22	9.22	8.6	8.6	8.6
Premium			0.84	1.4		1.25	2.5

Sources:

New England Average
NSTAR
Easy Energy: Basic, Green, and personal communication
Dominion
Horizon: personal communication

Warm Home Cool Planet

Sustainability begins at home

Category Archives: Massachusetts