ORDER-District Heating-Eversource Microgrid-WF11-01-21City of Northampton
Massachusetts
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In City Council, November 4, 2021
Upon the recommendation of Mayor David J. Narkewicz, Planning & Sustainability, and Energy and Sustainability Commission
21.__ AnOrder for District Heating and MicrogridsWHEREAS, Consistent with the Climate Resilience and Regeneration Plan, an element of the Sustainable Northampton Comprehensive Plan,
acknowledges that natural gas leaks and generation results in higher greenhouse gas emissions than is often disclosed and creates a goal of replacing natural gas for building and water
heating with renewable and potentially renewable energy sources;WHEREAS,In endorsing that plan, and other City Council orders and resolutions, City Council has gone on record numerous
times to supports efforts and innovations to reduce the city’s carbon footprint, while helping the city thrive even with climate change; andWHEREAS, Eversource, which provides natural
gas to a majority of buildings in the city, is undertaking a pilot study of networked geothermal systems for heating and cooling potential, potentially combined with other sources of
waste heat, which could reduce or eliminate the need for natural gas; WHEREAS:Replacing fossil fuel sources with geothermal for building water and space heating and cooling can reduce
building carbon emissions by about 60 percent; WHEREAS: Northampton’s participation in the geothermal pilot can significantly advance progress toward the City’s climate goals and advance
Everysource’s offerings;WHEREAS:The city is exploring options for extraction and distribution of ground source (geothermal) energy, which could potentially include Main Street which
will be open during the Picture Main Street construction project and which already supports diverse energy use demands;Ordered, that
City Council enthusiastically supports participating in the Eversource Geothermal Pilot, including for Main Street; and
The City Clerk is requested to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Eversource Geothermal Pilot and the state legislative delegation.