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Sullivan: Town will save with solar partnership

Date: 1/23/2015


WEST SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Edward Sullivan announced at the Town Council meeting Jan. 20 that West Springfield would be making another green initiative. 

West Springfield has formed a partnership with Kearsarge Energy, a renewable energy project developer. This partnership would form what is called a net metering credit purchase agreement (NMA), which is “designed to reduce electricity costs for the public entity while providing consistent energy payments to the project owner over the term of the contract,” according to the town’s contract.

Credits that are earned will be used toward the electric bills at town buildings, such as the new high school, gas stations and streetlights, as well as other areas in town. By using solar energy to offset the cost of traditional the power traditional electric companies provide, West Springfield will save, Sullivan said. 

The town spends roughly $1.5 million annually, but the NMA will help cut that total down. Ultimately, West Springfield is expected to save $110,000 to $190,000 annually over 20 years, which would amount to $2.3 million to $4 million in total savings by the time the contract expires, according to Sullivan. 

The contract will save 13 percent annually on the town’s electric bill, something that Sullivan said could not have come at a better time. 

“Considering that electric rates are going up, our timing on this project couldn’t be better,” Sullivan said. “This is just one of the many energy programs the town participates in to promote the use of green, efficient energy.”

Kearsarge Energy is one of the largest renewable energy project developers in the state of Massachusetts. With solar farms in Chester, Concord, Franklin and even Chicopee, Kearsarge has maintained an objective of building a more sustainable world while providing “superior returns to all project stakeholders and the environment,” according to the company profile. 

The Watertown-based company will use the solar farm that is being built in Southwick, which will start being used at the end of February. The town will start receiving credits towards its electric bills in May.