As Massachusetts communities spearhead the delivery of clean energy to help the commonwealth meet its leading decarbonization goals, Eversource is proud to announce the commissioning of its first-in-the-nation networked geothermal neighborhood in Framingham, Massachusetts. Over the course of two heating and cooling seasons, this innovative, community-focused, and eco-friendly pilot project will evaluate whether utility-scale geothermal networks can feasibly and affordably heat and cool homes and businesses in densely populated and mixed-use areas of New England. With the networked geothermal system now up and running, customer conversions will continue through the summer with the official pilot start date for data collection beginning in July.
"Massachusetts is on the cutting edge of leading an unprecedented clean energy transition in New England, and our networked geothermal pilot exemplifies the collaboration that is essential to achieving decarbonization goals," said Eversource Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Nolan. "We're incredibly excited to commission this first-in-the-nation utility-scale networked geothermal project, which was made possible by state and local government, environmental stakeholders, and the private sector working together. Over the next two years, we look forward to closely evaluating how this technology can be cost-effectively leveraged in other communities as part of a comprehensive approach to combatting the climate crisis.
"When utilities, the business community, state and local government, and climate advocates like HEET join forces, innovative solutions come to life," said Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "As we move forward on our clean energy transition and transform our energy ecosystem, we need everyone working together to make change. In the Healey-Driscoll Administration, we will be watching this geothermal pilot closely to better understand the implications of this important technology. Hopefully, years from now, residents will be able to benefit from the lessons learned here in Framingham."
Approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities in 2020, this project - which is a finalist for the Environmental Business Council of New England Community Choice Award - broke ground in June 2023 and connects 31 residential and five commercial buildings, serving approximately 135 customers with an innovative heating and cooling system that harnesses renewable energy from the earth. Each customer will be connected to an approximately one-mile loop that utilizes the earth's consistent underground temperature to deliver the most efficient heating and cooling available. Additionally, this system will enable customers to reduce their carbon footprint and lower costs compared to using alternative fuels such as oil, propane, and natural gas.
The success of the project is due to transparent collaboration among public, private, and non-profit groups, including HEET - a nationally recognized thought leader in the thermal energy transition. Eversource formed a trusting partnership with the City of Framingham and built strong relationships with participating customers through in-person visits, community events and meetings, and regular communication.
"Committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the City of Framingham recognizes the critical role that innovative clean energy solutions such as networked geothermal will play in creating an efficient, equitable, and affordable energy future," said City of Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky. "With deep gratitude to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Eversource, HEET, and the many other local organizations and community members who have helped us to reach this remarkable milestone, we look forward to the connection of residents, businesses, and municipal facilities to this network through the official launch of the pilot and exploring future opportunities to extend the benefits of clean heating and cooling across the community,"
"This project will demonstrate that interconnecting diverse buildings with geothermal heat pumps delivers decarbonization more equitably and efficiently than each building going it alone," said Zeyneb Magavi, Executive Director at HEET. "Today we have already demonstrated the progress that can happen when we people do the same - connecting across boundaries and working together to build a better future."
Looking ahead, Eversource will continue to explore innovative methods to reduce New England's carbon footprint. By utilizing renewable energy sources such as geothermal energy and fostering strong community partnerships, significant progress can be made toward a more sustainable future. This project serves as a model for future initiatives, demonstrating that through collaboration and commitment, decarbonization goals can be achieved and a cleaner, more energy-efficient region can be created.
Updates on the project, community events, and more information about networked geothermal are available on the dedicated Networked Geothermal Pilot page.
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is among the top energy companies in Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2024 and recognized as a Five-Year Champion, appearing in every edition of the list. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.47 million electric customers in 140 communities, 639,000 gas customers in 117 communities, and 11,500 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,900 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
