Brockton's Solar 'Brightfield'

Brockton's Solar 'Brightfield'

If you are following the solar electricity market or are interested in photovoltaics positive impact on the environment, you may have heard about the City of Brockton in Massachusetts and its plans to convert a former manufactured gas plant "brownfields" site into a solar energy power plant.

SCHOTT Solar, Inc. is proud to be a part of this project and has worked closely with its customer, Global Solar Energy, Inc., to supply it with the more than 1,000 ASE 300 (310 kW) modules needed to make this new "Brightfield" site a reality. SCHOTT manufactured the modules at its Billerica plant, about 40 miles north of Brockton.

The City of Brockton has put a lot of time and effort into this project and conducted a groundbreaking ceremony last week. In case you had not seen it, we wanted to pass the City's press release along to you, detailing the project and announcing last week's event. Also, links to some photos from the groundbreaking ceremony are included here.

Photo 1: Breaking ground at the Brightfield site. (l to r) Mark Finnochario, Mayor James Harrington, David Curtis, Lori Ribeiro, Dennis DeNapoli, Linda Balzotti, Linda Murphy, Tom Brophy, Stephen Bryant, Richard Michaud, Warren Leon, Bruce McLeish. Photo Credit: Mayor's Office, City of Brockton

Thomas Brophy, Brockton City Councilor and Legislative Aide to MA State Senator Robert Creedon, addresses the audience about the significance of the day's event. Photo Credit: Mayor's Office, City of Brockton

We'll be back in touch with you to provide you with information and updates as the installation is completed. Details regarding the project are in the attached press release.

Regards,

Bill

For SCHOTT Solar, Inc.
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Bill Jeppesen Ph: 916-941-7553
Effective PR, Inc. Fax: 916-941-7589
bill@effectivepr.com
Complete PR Plans, Programs and Projects
for Leading-Edge Companies
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Media Relations:
Lori Ribeiro, Brownfields Coordinator
Tel: 781-648-2605

Moises M. Rodrigues
Mayor’s Office, Director of Community Relations
Tel: 508-580-7123

Chris Kealey
MTC’s Renewable Energy Trust
(508) 870-0312 x1240

CITY OF BROCKTON ANNOUNCES SOLAR “BRIGHTFIELD” GROUNDBREAKING
Mayor Harrington caps week of Earth Day activities with green power project
BROCKTON, MA (April 27, 2006) • Brockton Mayor James E. Harrington announced today the City will culminate its week of Earth Day activities with a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of Brockton’s solar Brightfield. The City of Brockton will build New England’s largest solar array at a remediated brownfield on Grove Street. The 425-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array • or “Brightfield” • will be installed in an urban park setting along with interpretive displays for educational activities. The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Thursday April 27, 2006 at 11:30 AM at the corner of Grove and East Union Streets.

“Cities have the power to make a difference in our local and regional environment; and we can do so through our power choices. People are worried about air pollution, growing asthma rates, skyrocketing energy prices, and a dangerous reliance on imported fossil fuels. We need to do all we can to develop alternative sources of energy,” said Mayor Harrington. “Brockton’s citizens are very vocal that they want a cleaner and greener Brockton. As we recognize Earth Day, Brockton is showing its commitment to improving the local environment while developing alternate energy sources like solar.”

Brockton spearheaded the Brightfield project largely because it provides the opportunity to redevelop an idle brownfield with a facility that produces no noise, traffic or pollution in the neighborhood. Solar photovoltaic panels quietly convert sunlight to electricity without any fuel input. Using electricity generated by Brockton’s Brightfield will avoid the emission of about 595,300 pounds of carbon dioxide each year. That is the equivalent of taking 45 cars off the road, or the amount of carbon dioxide that would be absorbed by planting 89 acres of trees. Brockton’s project also avoids emissions of other air pollutants • about 1,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 370 pounds of nitrogen oxide per year.

“This project addresses many EPA regional priorities including cleanup and redevelopment of Brownfield sites, and the development of cleaner and renewable energy supplies,” said US Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Robert Varney.

“This is a proud day for the city of Brockton and the Commonwealth as we begin building the state's largest solar array,” said Renewable Energy Trust Director Warren Leon. “Making a commitment to use cleaner energy is not just good for our environment, it also leads to new job creation at companies across the state. We congratulate everyone involved in this project for their efforts to harness solar energy in Brockton.”

Brightfield construction is slated to begin on May 1, 2006. Global Solar Energy, Inc. and its local partners will design, install, operate and maintain a 425 kWDCSTC photovoltaic system. The system will use 1,395 ASE300 (310kW) modules from Billerica-based SCHOTT Solar, Inc. that could generate over 535MWh of electricity the first year. This is enough to power City Hall and a fraction of the police station load.

“The road to this groundbreaking has been challenging, with many twists and turns,” said Brockton Brownfields Coordinator Lori Ribeiro. “But it is a testament to the power of teamwork that we are here today. The project required two pieces of special state legislation, countless City Council approvals, and about ten separate grants for feasibility studies, predevelopment, installation and educational activities. We were only able to achieve this through public and private partnerships involving numerous partners at the local, state and Federal level.”

The design and installation contract with Global Solar is for $3.037 million, which will be paid through $2.1 million in city funds and grant funds from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust and the US Department of Energy (these agencies also supported feasibility studies and predevelopment costs). Additional grants were provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support experimentation with an innovative model for marketing the green attributes of the project and by NiSource for developing educational displays.

Bay State Gas Company, the property owner, is contributing to the project through its clean up activities, land acquisition, and by adding attractive landscaping and fencing around the property. The company will lease the property to the City for 30 years.