Leadership
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has one state statue for Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contracting (GESPC) that covers all four public market sectors: state agencies, local units of government, universities, and K-12 school districts. The statue allows for a scope of work that includes all measures that pay for themselves in energy savings, operational savings, use of water savings, and renewable technologies, as well as avoided future costs, behavior training, and capital infusion. Other details in statue include 20 year limits on contracts, a requirement for a savings guarantee, and a provision that allows the agency to retain excess savings.
Massachusetts has done an excellent job benchmarking energy usage in its buildings, and requiring reporting and measurement and verification on all GESPC projects.
In the past there have been examples where the verified savings have exceeded the guarantee. Success stories include:
- Roxbury Community College (RCC) implemented a $20.1 million GESPC to upgrade the College’s energy infrastructure and to add renewable energy resources on campus in part to help achieve a green urban campus. The GESPC project is expected to be completed by year-end 2017, and to result in nearly $860,000 in annual energy savings for the College.
- The Town of Easton installed a roof-top solar system at two Easton schools as part of a GESPC. The systems include 2,299 panels installed on the roofs of the schools, and generated approximately $79,000 in net metering credits in the first year and upwards of $1.24 million over the 20-year term of the agreement for the Town of Easton. The total installed capacity of the solar systems is over 700 kW. The Easton Middle School and Oliver Ames High School solar arrays follow many successful energy efficiency projects in Easton, including the Town’s ongoing energy efficiency performance contract and associated improvements to municipal and school facilities which is projected to save $250,000 in energy costs annually, while improving air quality and comfort conditions in the buildings.
- The Town of Framingham implemented a $6 million GESPC to improve town buildings and increase operational efficiency. Framingham was designated as a Green Community in 2013, and the GESPC is a central tool to the town’s commitment to lower its energy consumption by 20% over the next several years. Under the GESPC nearly 2 million square feet of building space was improved with 93 energy conservation projects, including 5,000 energy efficient streetlights. Annual energy savings for the schools is expected to be nearly 900,000 kWh. The Easton Middle School and Oliver Ames High School solar arrays follow many successful energy efficiency projects in Easton, including the Town’s ongoing energy efficiency performance contract and associated improvements to municipal and school facilities which is projected to save $250,000 in energy costs annually, while improving indoor air quality and comfort conditions in the buildings.
Program
The Massachusetts program employees multiple team-members in the oversight of GESPC in the Commonwealth, in addition to employing a 3rd Party Owner’s Agents that work on behalf of the public sector. The Massachusetts program also works with local units of government in implementing GESPC projects at the local level. The program manager serves as the public sector co-chair of the Massachusetts’ ESC State Chapter.
The state program uses a set of standardized instruments to promote success and help mitigate risk for the program participants. The documents are publicly posted on the internet.
The program tracks projects in all market sectors and requires an annual M&V report.
ESC Chapter
The state's public sector program manager participates as the public sector co-chair in the Massachusetts ESC Chapter. The Chapter formed more than a decade ago, and meets as needed.