FRAMINGHAM — Eversource broke ground Monday on a first-of-its-kind utility-scale networked geothermal system in Framingham.
The pilot program is designed to explore whether a geothermal network can be used in combination with, or instead of, traditional energy sources like natural gas or heating oil. Eversource officials say it highlights the collaboration necessary between utilities, state and local government, environmental advocate partners and other stakeholders to both combat climate change and achieve decarbonization and electrification goals.
“We’re looking forward to a successful program,” said Mayor Charlie Sisitsky during Monday’s groundbreaking, which took place at MassBay Community College. “This project shows that collaboration can create a clean, innovative energy option for the city and I look forward to coming back here in the fall to flip the switch.”
What is Eversource hoping to build
Eversource plans to install and operate a geothermal network to provide indoor heating and cooling to customers in a pilot area in Framingham. The geothermal network consists of a one-mile-long loop that pipes 37 buildings (32 residential, five commercial), serving about 150 customers. The loop will be constructed on Normandy Road, Concord Street, Lindbergh Road, Berkshire Road and Rose Kennedy Lane.
Commercial buildings in the loop include the Framingham Housing Authority headquarters and the Framingham Public Schools building.
According to Eversource, geothermal technology works by transferring heat to and from the earth using water, wells, piping and pumps to pull the earth’s heat from the ground to warm buildings in winter and then pump heat from buildings back into the ground during the summer to cool them.
Eversource broke ground on the new program Monday.
Joe Nolan, the utility’s president and chief executive officer, said he is excited for the new collaboration.
“We continue to invest in different kinds of technologies, but that’s not enough,” he said. “That’s why we’re so excited to be here today around geothermal. I spend a lot of time on the road, I talk to our investors, I talk to our key decision makers. This is one of the most exciting opportunities for me to ship now what is going on in geothermal.”
Geothermal project has national interest
Nolan said people have called from throughout the country to tour the new project.
“Folks want to see what this is all about,” he said. “I’m very, very excited about it as we transition to a carbon-free future. This is going to be the answer and it’s all starting right here in Framingham.”
State Rep. Priscilla Sousa, D-Framingham, and chair of the Framingham School Committee, said the pilot program is an injunction of two of her passions — renewable energy and equity. She said before becoming a legislator, she worked to bring renewable energy to underserved communities.
“To know that some of these diverse communities will have access to renewable energy — and, more importantly, cost-effective energy — is worthy of celebration,” Sousa said.
The project has been years in the making from idea to utilization, according to Zeyneb Magavi, co-executive director of Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET). The nonprofit climate solutions organization’s mission is to cut carbon emissions immediately through systems change.
Magavi praised the collaboration, saying that in a hyperpolarized world, HEET and gas companies should be enemies.
“I think the thing even more than the technology that we are celebrating today is a rewriting of the story and how it’s going to end,” she said. “Instead of just breaking ground on this project, what’s happened by all working together across so many different groups is that we’re breaking ground on a new clean energy industry.”
Magavi also said there are various projects throughout the country in various stages of feasibility and enactment.
“Here we are in Massachusetts, in Framingham, leading the way to an energy solution that doesn’t just solve our climate challenges and our equity challenges, but it also solves our community and helps us all come together,” she said.
Bill Akley, president of Eversource’s gas business, also praised the collaboration.
“We’re here to prove what the power collaboration can do,” he said. He said the geothermal project keeps the gas business in balance, and that he is proud of the team at Eversource.
How will customer’s bills change with a geothermal system?
The pilot study will also reduce heating and cooling costs but will increase electricity costs, according to a pamphlet supplied by Eversource.
“Because the geothermal system is run with electricity, your electric costs will increase,” the pamphlet reads. It adds that participating customers will be placed on a monthly budget billing plan, as well as be charged a…
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