The Commission held a highly informative and productive meeting with our Grid Modernization working group on May 22 at the Museum of Science. The City solicited input on its pending updates to the Climate Action Plan. Several members encouraged municipal leaders to incorporate members’ lived experience alongside modeling and analysis, paying particular attention to the costs of large building decarbonization.
Many said that Alternative Compliance Payments are likely to remain for years to come far more economical than major building upgrades to comply with BERDO. This is especially true of buildings that have years or decades of potential service remaining before they would require the kinds of major capital upgrades into which energy upgrades like heat pumps and geothermal heating can be cost-effectively incorporated.
Eversource also updated us on the ongoing need for additional and expanded electrical substations and other electric infrastructure within the CIty of Boston to accommodate growth in demand, particularly to replace natural gas, oil, and steam with electric-powered heating. The GRC will continue to request updates from Eversource and the City on substation siting in Boston, including community engagement related to siting.
We are keeping an eye on the area of Integrated Energy Planning, as well as understanding the mix of technologies that might impact the large energy users, especially thermal energy from sources in Boston.