FY2013 - FY2017 Capital Investment Plan
Report - Investment Category - Energy and Environment

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) develops policies and targets capital investments that balance sustainable economic development, quality of life, and resource protection, in order to ensure that Massachusetts is a great place to live, work, learn and play for generations to come.

The following graph reflects the Administration’s estimated capital investment in energy and environment projects and programs over the next five years, as compared to fiscal years 2007 and 2012 energy and environment related spending, including funding for the Accelerated Energy Program.

Policy Goals

1. Sustainable economic development. The Commonwealth promotes innovative, clean and efficient energy resources and supports the Commonwealth’s legacy, resource-based industries.
2. Improve quality of life. EEA aims to protect public health by ensuring healthy air and safe drinking water; improve access to and the quality of outdoor recreational opportunities, and to locally-grown food, agriculture, wood and fisheries products; and ensure access to reliable, efficient and cost-effective energy while maintaining Massachusetts as the national leader in renewable and clean resource development.
3. Resource protection. Through the land program, EEA conserves open space and working landscapes to provide clean air, clean water and wildlife habitat for current and future generations. EEA agencies also aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% by 2050 and manage fresh water and ocean resources sustainably.

Administration Accomplishments to Date

• Since 2006, the Patrick-Murray Administration’s conservation efforts have protected more than 100,000 acres of open space at an investment cost of over $287 million. This legacy of land conservation is protecting our drinking water, sustaining communities’ character, providing children with a place to play, conserving forests and natural habitat and supporting jobs in forestry, farming and tourism. The Administration has also:
  • Built and restored more than 150 parks, mostly in environmental justice neighborhoods;
  • Funded 10-year forest management agreements with 900 landowners to advance long-term forest conservation on 60,000 acres of private forest land; and
  • Protected more than 16,000 acres of mountain peaks, wild rivers and forests in ten unique intact ecosystems called Habitat Reserves, which provide species habitats and will buffer climate change impacts.
• The Administration has invested $57 million to protect 142 farms (8,400 acres), placed 11,000 acres under agricultural covenants and invested $1.2 million in efficient conservation enhancements to agricultural operations.
• Access to fishing and boating activities has been greatly increased with $5.5 million for 16 boat ramp projects (including large construction projects in New Bedford and Fall River), 6 floating dock systems, 13 canoe/kayak access projects, 3 shore fishing/pier access projects and 22 statewide maintenance and engineering projects.
• Department of Fish and Game (DFG) trout hatcheries have raised and stocked over 3.6 million trout to provide enhanced recreational opportunities for Massachusetts anglers since 2006.
• $7.1 million invested in smart growth environmental projects through the DFG Division of Ecological Resources has:
  • Restored 640 acres of wetlands and 250 river miles;
  • Created or sustained over 340 jobs;
  • Leveraged $21.3 million in non-state funds; and
  • Generated $49.8 million in economic activity within Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts has bolstered capacity to ensure water quality across all 27 watersheds in the Commonwealth. 39 riverine and lake sites are now monitored on weekly rotation and are consistently evaluated to certify that cities and towns have access to clean water. 
• The Administration has invested over $200 million in Massachusetts parks, pools, parkways and other recreation facilities. An additional $28 million was directed towards beach, bathhouse and comfort stations projects, including new structures at Salisbury, Nahant, Horseneck and Constitution Beaches.
• The Administration has repaired and restored critical dam and seawall infrastructure by investing more than $25 million in over 25 dam and coastal improvement projects.

FY13 Highlights

• The Department of Conservation and Recreation will begin a four-year, $1.75 million initiative to revitalize Heritage Parks. These parks, primarily located in urban areas, provide exhibits and historic information with an emphasis on the industrial history of the communities in which they are located.
• The Commonwealth will invest $1.25 million in the nationally recognized river and wetland restoration program, administered by the Division of Ecological Restoration at the Department of Fish and Game. These restoration projects are expected to leverage an additional $5 million in federal and private funds, in addition to creating over 75 jobs every year.
• The headquarters building for Division of Fisheries and Wildlife in Westborough will go into final design and initial construction. This will replace current outdated and overcrowded facilities and will be the Commonwealth’s first net zero energy building.
• The Commonwealth will invest $29 million in FY13 for the development of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, a unique seaport facility which will provide a staging ground for the development of offshore wind and spur hundreds of jobs on the South Coast of the Commonwealth.

Accelerated Energy Program

The Patrick-Murray Administration is launching the Accelerated Energy Program (“AEP”) to accelerate the implementation of energy and water projects across the Commonwealth and help the Commonwealth comply with E.O. 484 - Leading By Example, which requires state agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use by specified targets. As part of the program, DCAM plans to retrofit 700 sites in 700 working days, encompassing over 4,000 buildings throughout the Commonwealth which have not been retrofitted since 2000.

AEP is a three-year initiative that will create clean energy job opportunities across the Commonwealth and save over $40 million annually through the conservation of energy and water. The program is estimated to cost $427-$480 million, using funds primarily from the Clean Energy Investment Program (CEIP), which uses utilities savings from projects to repay the bonds used for the project.  This is an innovative financing approach developed by the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) that allows these important projects to go forward without impacting the Commonwealth’s bond cap.  AEP also leverages $44 million in utility incentives.

Policy Goals

The goals of the three-year program include:

1. “Green” 700 sites in working 700 days. DCAM plans to retrofit 700 sites in 700 working days encompassing over 4,000 buildings throughout the Commonwealth which have not been retrofitted since 2000.
2. Support long term E.O. 484 targets. E.O. 484 - Leading By Example requires state agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use by specified targets.
3. Create sustainable job opportunities. The program will create clean energy job opportunities and provide access and opportunities for small, minority and women owned businesses.
4. Communicate effectively. DCAM will engage with employees and the public about energy and water conservation.
5. Improve operation and maintenance. The program will achieve long-term operating savings and contribute to addressing the Commonwealth’s deferred maintenance backlog.

Administration Accomplishments to Date

• The Patrick Administration has already completed approximately $156 million in energy investments, including 19 MW of clean energy projects.  Savings from these projects total approximately $12 million annually.
• During that same period, the Commonwealth retrofitted more than 90 sites encompassing in excess of 1,200 buildings. 
• The Patrick-Murray Administration implemented the Clean Energy Investment Program (CEIP), which enables the use of project financing. Energy and water savings from improvement projects are used to pay General Obligation bond debt service. 
• More than 100 sites have started audits or energy and water upgrades since January 2012. Projects at over 200 sites will be started by the end of 2012. Construction has been completed at seven sites.

FY13 Highlights

• Projects at over 100 sites will be completed by the end of FY13.
• The Commonwealth will spend $70 million on AEP projects in FY13, nearly $40 million in CEIP, $22 million in G.O. bonds and leverage over $7.8 million in utilities and other funds.
• Audits at over 300 sites will be completed in FY13. 
• Several significant projects are starting in FY13, including:
  • At NCCI Gardner, DCAM will complete renovation of the boiler plant (estimated to cost $9 million), converting it from oil-fired to gas-fired. Other measures include water conservation, insulation, windows upgrades and steam line improvements.  This project is expected to start construction early in 2013.
  • At Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill and Lawrence, DCAM will convert the heating system from electric-to-gas, upgrade lighting, modify controls, install new hot water heaters and implement other measures, which is estimated to cost $5.9 million. 
  • At the McCormack and Lindemann buildings, DCAM will complete energy and water upgrades of both buildings, including controls, lighting, new air handling units, internal windows at McCormack and water system upgrades, which is estimated to cost $25 million. 
  • Other projects are expected to finish construction, including Middlesex Community College ground source heat pump, State House lighting project and the Department of Youth Services (DYS) Goss building energy upgrades at Taunton Hospital.