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Renewable Energy Options - MA State/Community Colleges

Campuses may choose onsite renewable energy or Renewable Energy Credits (REC's). 

Onsite renewable energy: New onsite solar, wind or other installations can directly supply your campus with electricity while affording tremendous educational opportunities for coursework, training and awareness-building on campus and in your community. Onsite renewables result in lower long-term campus electric bills and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. 

To help fund the upfront capital costs of renewable energy installations, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MTC's) Renewable Energy Trust has several grant and rebate options.  Major sources from MTC are the Small Renewable Initiative and the Large Onsite Renewables Initiative.

Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s): Renewable Energy Credits allow campuses to offset greenhouse gas emissions independent of onsite installations.  REC’s are especially useful for campuses for whom onsite renewable energy installations are not feasible, since they allow a campus to help finance current and new renewable energy projects offsite and then "claim" the environmental benefits generated from such.  When you buy a REC, you are paying extra to have the non-renewable (i.e. from fossil fuels) electricity you consume replaced with power from a renewable source.

Purchasing REC's reduces your campus greenhouse gas emissions just like an onsite renewable energy project would.  The Clean Energy Choice program through MTC provides some REC purchasing options which also offer benefits to the community.

Want more information?
Contact Lauren Miller, CA-CP Campus Program Associate:
lmiller@cleanair-coolplanet.org or (617) 259-2083

Small Renewables Initiative (SRI), Massachusetts Technology Collaborative What: Design & Construction Rebate: Up to $50,000 Electricity Generation: Maximum 10 kilowatts Location: residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities        Eligibility:  Must be a consumer of a Massachusetts investor-owned electric distribution utility OR a state owned facility. Use:  Facilitate the installation of renewable energy projects on existing buildings (retrofits) or in conjunction with new construction/major renovation/addition projects.

4.8 kW solar project, Dartmouth College (Photo courtesy DOE/NREL; Credit - Applied Power Corp.)

Eligible renewable energy technologies: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Wind Electric Micro-hydroelectric For more information, see: http://www.masstech.org/Grants_and_Awards/GBP/small_renewables_3_03.htm

Large Onsite Renewables Initiative (LORI), Massachusetts Technology Collaborative

Application Deadline: January 12, 2006 at 3pm

What: Feasibility study, design & construction

Rebate:
- Design grants are capped at $75,000 or 75% of actual cost
- Construction grants are capped at $500,000 or 75% of actual costs.
- Feasibility Grants are capped at $40,000 with cost-share of at least 20% (up to $5000).

Consumption Requirements:  Must consume at least 50% of the renewable energy generated by the project on-site.          

Eligibility:  Must be a consumer of a Massachusetts investor-owned electric distribution utility OR a state owned facility.

Use:  Facilitate the installation of renewable energy projects on existing buildings (retrofits) or in conjunction with new construction/major renovation/addition projects.

Eligible renewable energy technologies:

- Wind Electric
- Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
- Fuel Cells
- Hydroelectric (existing dams only)
- Biomass (subject to DOER Advisory Ruling)

Equipment:  Must be new with the exception of refurbished hydroelectric (subject to MTC approval).

For more information on the Large Onsite Renewables Program, go to www.masstech.org/renewableenergy/large_renewables.htm

To learn about other programs offered by MTC, see their website.

Clean Energy Choice Program, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative

By purchasing REC’s from a Clean Energy Choice supplier, not only will your campus be supplied with renewable energy, but MTC will match up to $1 to your community and low-income residents and your campus will be supporting the development of renewable energy. By developing energy from wind, solar, and other renewable resources, Massachusetts can reduce reliance on coal, oil, and other fossil fuels that contribute to air pollution, global warming, and numerous health effects. Clean Energy Choice is designed to make sure you have the information you need to make an informed decision to voluntarily contribute to renewable energy.

Hull, MA, wind turbine (Photo courtesy Ecophotography)

There is no requirement to switch electric suppliers, so your campus will continue to receive the same reliable service from your current electric provider while offsetting your greenhouse gas emissions from renewable electricity providers that meet MTC’s high consumer protection standards for information disclosure, accounting, reporting, and pricing.  

To learn more about the Clean Energy Choice program, visit their site:  http://www.cleanenergychoice.org/signup.htm