DEEE0010662

Building a utility-managed geothermal network in Framingham, Massachusetts and exploring options to integrate renewable energy elements.

The goal of this project is to develop plans to install an ambient-loop geothermal network that will deliver at least 50% of building heating and cooling needs to a site in the Framingham neighborhood, with the aim of delivering clean, renewable energy to an EJ community in Massachusetts. EJ communities are disproportionately impacted by both emissions and by-products of combustion, as well as by energy insecurity and high energy burdens.

Over 65% of the City of Framingham residents are low income, English-isolated or minority populations, thus fitting Massachusetts’ definition of environmental justice communities. The Concord Loop neighborhood, which is already hosting the installation of a community geothermal project, includes over 60 low income residential buildings owned by the Framingham Housing Authority (FHA) in Eversource’s gas and electric territory.

Natural gas heating is delivered to 94% of customers by Eversource, though the FHA buildings utilize electric resistance heat. The street that the field and that the FHA homes abut, Guadalcanal Rd, is leakprone and is scheduled to be replaced in the next three years so these projects will provide the first demonstration of a geo network installation helping defray gas infrastructure upgrade costs.

Home Energy Efficiency Team

THE OVERALL FOA OBJECTIVE IS TO SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF U.S. COMMUNITY COALITIONS THAT WILL DEVELOP, DESIGN, AND INSTALL COMMUNITY GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS THAT SUPPLY AT LEAST 25% OF THE OVERALL COMMUNITY HEATING OR HEATING AND COOLING DEMAND IN COMMUNITIES WHERE CURRENT FUEL USE TO HEAT OR HEAT AND COOL HOMES AND/OR BUSINESSES RESULTS IN INCREASED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

81.087 - Renewable Energy Research and Development

Golden Field Office (GFO) [DOE - EERE]

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) [DOE]

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-4722 United States

Single Zip Code

Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment (DE-FOA-0002632)

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 11/30/24 to 03/31/28 and the total obligations have increased 1196% from $715,723 to $9,275,592.