Energy Shift

The Problem

Why rebuild last century’s infrastructure?

1/3rd of natural gas pipes under MA streets are aging and leak-prone.
At current rates, replacing all leak-prone pipes will cost $9.5 billion.*
Ratepayers (gas customers) are paying for this, raising gas prices.
The work will continue for the next 17 years, damaging our streets and disrupting traffic.
The new pipes last 60 years, long past when we will have primarily moved to electricity, becoming ‘stranded assets’.

The Opportunity

Why rebuild last century’s infrastructure?
Instead let’s offer customers the choice of using the funding to transition to modern micro district heating powered by geothermal.
The cost of the install per linear foot of low temp hot water pipe is less than the current average install cost per foot of the gas pipes here.
The result would prune the “tree” of the gas infrastructure, while growing a new tree made of interconnected heating districts, a more resilient, renewable, cleaner tree. A better investment.
Utility-reported data pinpoints good locations for the pilot.

The Pilot Study

One short street or cul-de-sac will have the opportunity to demonstrate this transition, winning insulation and state of the art electric appliances for all participants if 100% of gas customers sign on.
Designed and overseen by a collaborative team of renowned experts, this pilot aims to match or beat the cost of replacing the aging gas pipes and delivering gas.

The Outcomes

The gas utility is handed a viable business model that can fuel market growth and stabilize costs.
We unlock ratepayer funding for electrification and renewable thermal by persuading the Dept. of Public Utilities to enact regulations allowing groups of customers to choose how the gas-main-replacement funding is spent.
We help educate the public on long term benefits (health, environment, economic) of transitioning off fossil fuels.
We demonstrate a path to a carbon free future NOW.

Regulatory/State Level

Passed law providing a waiver of regulations for innovative greenhouse gas reduction pilots.
Assembled working group to oversee pilot at regulatory/state level: Includes AGO office, DOER, and Conservation Law Foundation.
Pursuing long-term regulatory change and reform together with Gas Leak Allies and Conservation Law Foundation.

Technical/Utility Level

Columbia Gas and Eversource interested.
BuroHappold Engineering will perform the feasibility study to investigate the engineering and economic aspects of the pilot study and a potential scaling up of the project.
How to use an efficient electric induction stove. Credit Colleen Brannen photographer

Community/Household Level

Several municipalities engaged and supportive.
Designed and tested the ‘Taste the Future’ events: cooking parties demonstrating that electric induction cooking is faster, safer and more precise than gas.

Merrimack Valley Gas Disaster

We are working to place the pilot in Merrimack Valley if possible to allow affected families the option of transiting off of gas.

*Using publicly available utility-supplied Gas System Enhancement Program data