Mayors Walsh and Maher Join Veolia to Commemorate Boston-Cambridge Sustainable Energy Project
“Green Steam” project advances environmental goals and enhances economic competitiveness – avoiding 475,000 tons of carbon/year, equal to removing 80,000 cars BOSTON, May 20, 2014 - Veolia North America, a leading operator and developer of efficient energy solutions, today commemorated the $112 million investment in its Boston-Cambridge district energy network. The "Green Steam" project, which includes the completion of a 7,000-foot steam pipeline extension and planned reconfiguration of the recently acquired Kendall Station combined heat and power plant, allows Veolia to export more environmentally friendly thermal energy from Kendall Station -- minimizing environmental impact to the Charles River and reducing the carbon footprint of Boston and Cambridge. Veolia's investments will bring multiple benefits to energy consumers by increasing capacity, reliability and overall system efficiency.
"Green Steam" is an innovative environmental solution that captures and reuses heat that was previously lost to the environment. The increased efficiency reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 475,000 tons annually, the equivalent of removing 80,000 cars annually from the road and is directly responsible for nearly 6 percent reduction of non-transportation carbon emissions for both cities. Additionally, "Green Steam" infrastructure improvements support sustainable development in Boston and Cambridge by increasing the LEED ratings of buildings that tie into the system.
"The City of Boston has been making great strides in creating a green city, which is possible through the dedication and help of Boston's residents, businesses, and institutions," said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh."Veolia has been a strong and loyal partner with the City and the completion of this project marks an important step forward in attaining our Greenovate Boston goal of reducing Boston's greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050."
Some of the benefits of Veolia's new steam pipeline connection and planned reconfiguration of Kendall Station:
- Supports sustainable development of Boston and Cambridge by reducing the cities of Boston and Cambridge greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding 475,000 tons of carbon per year that would have otherwise been generated through conventional means - a nearly 6 percent reduction of non-transportation carbon emissions for both cities.
- Created green jobs: The project supported 147,500 man hours (welders, pipe fitters, insulators) that resulted in $21 million in labor costs.
- Represents a $112 million investment by Veolia and its partners into improving the Boston-Cambridge system; Veolia's total investment is $168 million since 2008.
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 475,000 tons annually, the equivalent of removing 80,000 cars from the roads.
- Eliminates thermal pollution from the Charles River ecosystem, decreasing the temperature of the river and thereby protecting the marine inhabitants of this precious natural resource.
- Improves air quality: By utilizing cleaner burning, domestically available fuel sources and taking into account Veolia's infrastructure improvements and cogeneration assets, Veolia has reduced its NOx and SO2 emissions by approximately 36 percent and 61 percent, respectively.
"I applaud Veolia and their partners for this investment, which is a win-win for both the environment and the economy," said Cambridge Mayor David P. Maher. "This investment helps stimulate economic growth within our vital business and university facilities. The ‘Green Steam' project will deliver higher efficiency and a lower carbon footprint - a combination that will benefit Veolia's Cambridge and Boston customers."
"The Boston-Cambridge'Green Steam' connection is an innovative environmental solution that benefits the environment and the economy. Only a handful of cities in the U.S. have the unique opportunity to implement this type of solution combining existing district energy piping networks with innovative combined heat and power technology," said Bill DiCroce, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Veolia North America's Municipal and Commercial Business.
"A project such as this one combines the best of public support with private investment for one common cause - a more sustainable community. Today, we recognize the leadership of individual community members, local and state government, regulatory agencies and environmental conservancy organizations in support of these investments and the sustainable development of Boston and Cambridge."
In Boston and Cambridge, Veolia's district energy networks meet the critical energy requirements of 250 customers in the central business district of Boston, the biotechnology corridor of Cambridge, and the Longwood Medical Area. Veolia’s 256-megawatt cogeneration / combined heat and power (CHP) facility efficiently recycles the heat from its power generation process into useful thermal energy. Customers include major hospitals (and in Boston, Veolia serves every major one), biotech R&D facilities, data centers, office towers (including 70 percent of Boston's high-rise buildings), colleges and universities, and several regional icons (the New England Aquarium, Faneuil Hall, City Hall, the Holocaust Memorial, and the Prudential Building).
Special acknowledgements to: our employees and customers; Governor Deval Patrick and his administration for their support of the Green Communities Act; Former Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ian Bowles; Former Massachusetts Undersecretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Phillip Guidice; Charles River Conservancy; Charles River Watershed Association; City of Boston; City of Cambridge; Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Conservation Law Foundation; International Union of Operating Engineers - Local 877; our investment partner, I Squared Capital; Pipefitters - Local 537; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and many more.
*For more information go to www.veoliaes.com