7/15/16

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Marie Zack Nolan

mznolan@comcast.net

(508) 361-8786

Medfield Launches Community-Wide Solar Initiative

MEDFIELD, Mass., July 15, 2016 – Medfield homeowners and businesses can have solar energy systems installed on their properties at discounted prices through the new Solarize Medfield community program, Marie Nolan, the program’s Solar Coach and a Medfield Energy Committee member, announced today. An installer — New England Clean Energy of Hudson, Mass. — has been selected after a competitive bidding process, and a “Meet the Installer” event will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27 at the Medfield Town Hall.

The event is free and open to all Medfield residents and business-owners. Information about solar benefits, incentives and pricing, and how the program works, will be presented by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, New England Clean Energy, and Solarize Medfield. Attendees can ask questions and sign up for property assessments at the event. Light refreshments will be provided.

“Medfield has been very active in using renewable energy to reduce town costs and help our environment. Solarize Medfield, with its tiered pricing structure that offers increased savings for everyone as more people sign up, was a natural step to allow more people in town to participate and benefit from solar,” said Medfield Energy and Facilities Manager Andrew Seaman.

“Our goal is to increase the adoption of solar energy systems through a grassroots educational campaign, driven mainly by Medfield volunteers. I encourage people to get involved. Even those with roofs that are not good candidates for solar can help the community and the planet by volunteering and spreading the word to their friends and neighbors,” Nolan said.

Solarize Medfield offers discounted prices from the start. As more people sign up and new tiers are reached, the discounts become greater. Everyone in the program gets the final discount, regardless of when in the program they sign up. Those who sign up first will have their systems installed first. The program has five tiers. It ends on November 30.

“The residential sector makes up 70% of Medfield’s total energy use, so there is an opportunity for significant energy savings if many homeowners participate. So far we have 39 residential solar arrays in Medfield.  With the Solarize Medfield program it would be great if we could have 30 more or even double the existing systems, so we could reach tier 5 and get the best price for everyone,” added Nolan.

New England Clean Energy is offering solar electric systems for purchase, with financing available, as well as leased systems for those with limited tax liability. The company also offers energy-efficient ductless heating and cooling systems, installed in conjunction with solar or on a standalone basis.

Representatives from the Town chose New England Clean Energy as the installer after a rigorous review process. The company has installed 700 systems in this region since being founded 10 years ago. It has more positive reviews than any Northeast installer on independent website Solar Reviews.

“Solar in Massachusetts continues to be an amazing deal for homeowners and small businesses. Federal and state tax credits, net metering, and the green income generated by ‘SRECs’ make solar extremely economical, and financing such as the Mass Solar Loan makes it easy to own your system without a large upfront investment.  We are very excited to be working with the Solarize Medfield team to bring more clean solar energy to the community,” said Mark Durrenberger, New England Clean Energy president.

The Town of Medfield was selected to participate in the Solarize Massachusetts program in March.  Solarize Massachusetts is co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (Mass CEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, Green Communities Division.

For more information about Solarize Medfield, including a calendar of events and a sign-up form, visit: http://www.solarizemedfield.org/  or call Marie Zack Nolan, Solar Coach at 508-361-8786. Property owners ready to have their roofs evaluated for solar can complete the registration form on the Solarize Medfield website or call New England Clean Energy directly at 978-567-6527.

MEC Meeting Minutes – June 9th, 2016  – – – Next meeting July 14

Attendance: Fred Bunger, Cynthia Green, Paul Fechtelkotter, Lee Alinsky, Pete Peterson, Fred Davis, Marie Nolan,  Andrew Seaman .

1.    May 12th meeting minutes accepted with corrections.

2.     Energy Manager’s Report
a.    Presented energy baseline data to Selectmen June 7 noting major energy users and energy users with high energy use index (EUI).  Selectmen support 5 year 20% improvement goal
b.    WWTP Solar at full capacity with bad inverter replaced.
c.     Public Safety Building solar change order issued.
d.     DPW solar RFP being prepared by New Ecology using funds from OATA. Target RFP issued 7/5 with award in August.
e.    Andrew to meet 6/14 with Kelly Brown of DOER and Steve Gratton of Eversource to clarify what is needed for 20% improvement plan submission and discuss areas where Eversource can provide help.
f.    LED streetlights still on hold pending getting evidence from other towns on LED maintenance experience.  –Fred Davis volunteered to draft letter to send to other towns asking for information.

3.    Discussed Andrew’s leaving.  Hopes to leave in July.  Job description to be updated and more Facilities Manager content added.  Asked Energy Committee members for recommendations where to recruit for Andrew’s replacement.

4.    Solarize Medfield: RFP  sent out to select installers,  replies due June 13th.  Will review by June 22nd and select in early July.  A “meet the installer” will be held in July/August and September.  Marie will reserve space for Medfield Day with Energy Committee to help man the booth.

5.    Stretch Energy Code Support:  Energy Committee will urge the Selectmen to write to the State to support a strong Stretch Energy code.  Fred B to draft a letter, circulate via e-mail to Committee members for editing.

6.    Green Communities 20% Energy Reduction Plan
a.    Charts prepared to show major energy users: MHS, Middle School, Town Garage,  Dale School, Memorial School, Wheelock School and diesel fuel account for 80% of Town energy.
b.    Chart of Energy Use Index(EUI) shows excessive energy use in Town Garage, Pfaff center, Dale School, MHS, COA, Memorial, Middle School.  All are more than 20% above US medians for similar buildings.
c.    Andrew will add police & fire buildings and streetlights into baseline data
d.     Committee discussed focusing energy reduction efforts on Town Garage, MHS, Middle School, Memorial and Wheelock.
e.    An energy conservation program will be developed for each Town Department/major energy user.  Fred recommended that every effort be made to have the individual departments and personnel participate in preparing their own energy reduction plan so that there will be commitment to execute the plan.
f.    Andrew and Fred scheduled meeting June 20th with School Superintendent and School Committee to review the energy baseline and get support for the department to develop a schools energy reduction plan.
g.    Development of 20% improvement plan:
i.    Schools – Paul and Fred D. work with Alan Peterson to review earlier projects and add detail to 20% energy  improvement plan.
ii.    Department of Public Works, diesel & gasoline – will discuss with new Superintendent of Works when hired.
iii.    Water & Sewer Department   –  energy committee volunteer: Fred Bunger
iv.    Street lighting proposal already developed
v.    Town House, Library, The Center and Parks and Recreation – no action planned at this time
vi.    Recommended MassSave energy audits on COA, Pfaff and Dale to see if there are low cost quick fixes available.  Dale’s age and uncertain future may preclude doing much to lower energy use.
vii.

6.  Meeting was adjourned at 9:27

Next Meeting:  Thursday July 14th

The Medfield Energy Committee is working on crafting a plan to reduce town energy consumption by 20%, in order to qualify as a Green Community (and thereby pick up our $148,000 state DOER grant monies).  As part of that process, the MEC is gathering the data on what buildings and uses use what amounts of energy, and also asking departments for recommendations on how to their reduce usage.

The MEC reports the following current existing energy use by building or use: