News & Updates

Boston is Greenovating with Solar

Aug 23, 2012

The view of downtown Boston from the top of the Drydock Center is stunning, but add over 2,000 solar panels to that view and you are captivated. The 2,068 solar panels operating on the roofs of 21, 23, and 25 Drydock Avenue will produce 674,000 kWh of power annually, enough to power 110 homes.  This week BRA Director Peter Meade and the City's Chief of Energy and Environment Brian Swett celebrated Boston's 2nd largest rooftop installation alongside the CEO of Mass Clean Energy Council (MassCEC), Alicia Barton McDevitt, President of Broadway Electric, Jonathan Wienslaw, and Millennium Partners Principal, Kathy MacNeil.   [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The 568 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at Drydock Center provides for 85% of the building's energy needs.[/caption] The installation is a collaboration of the City of Boston, the BRA, and three of the city’s leading companies - Millennium Partners, Broadway Renewable Strategies, and SatCon. Millennium Partners owns the Drydock Center under a ground lease with the City; Broadway Electric Co. designed and built the solar panels with monies from the MassCEC’s Commonwealth Solar Stimulus Award; and SatCon provided the inverters. “Boston is the model for how a historic city can reduce its carbon footprint,” said BRA Director Peter Meade. “Boston was the first to require large developments to be LEED certifiable and has the second highest number of green buildings in the nation. The City’s commitment to greenovating requires creativity, and we continue to innovate.” Chief Swett also announced that Mayor Menino and his wife will install solar panels on their Hyde Park home through Solarize Mass – Boston.  “I encourage everyone to join the clean energy revolution in Boston,” said Mayor Menino. “Solar power is now more affordable than ever in the City. It’s being installed on residences, businesses, and municipal buildings at an increasing rate, and we are on the way to meeting our 2015 goal of 25 megawatts of solar energy in Boston.” Solarize Mass – Boston makes solar affordable and accessible for local homeowners and is a joint effort of the City, MassCEC, and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. Register before the September 30, 2012 deadline for a reduced rate!
18 residents have signed up for Solarize Mass – Boston, generating a total of 89 kW, including Mayor Menino’s home of 3.8 kW. Boston has 7.8 MW of solar already installed.  

Related Tags

Drydock Center greenovate Solar Power 

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