Energy Project to Save Massachusetts over $30 Million

Framingham, MA — The Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) awarded Ameresco, Inc., a 20-year, $18.5 million energy infrastructure renewal project for the state’s Norfolk/Walpole Correctional Complex. When construction is complete in the fall of 2006, this project will yield over $1.5 million in annual savings for the Commonwealth, enabling DOC to maintain correctional services required by the Commonwealth while reducing the cost of providing those services to taxpayers.

The project includes the implementation of many facility upgrades, including two new power plants with dual-fuel boilers and cogeneration equipment, computerized temperature control and monitoring systems, new high-security windows, new lighting to meet American Correctional Association standards, as well as water and sewer plant improvements to accommodate future facility expansion. Energy Savings Performance Contracts are structured so that there is no capital outlay required by the customer and the improvements are generally paid for from the energy cost savings alone.

“The Department of Correction began an energy savings initiative in 2002. This Chapter 25A energy savings project is a natural progression of this initiative. With the infrastructure improvements realized by this project, this complex will recoup the benefits in energy savings and staff man hours utilized to maintain outdated equipment,” said Jeffrey J. Quick, Director of Resource Management, DOC.

“Ameresco assessed the condition of the existing energy infrastructure at the facility and developed a customized, comprehensive operational cost saving solution that maximized the economic and infrastructure renewal impact for the DOC, including their most critical objectives. We employed a development strategy that incorporated a significant number of energy reduction and cost saving measures to fully support the inclusion of capital intensive infrastructure improvements. In addition, we designed the central plant facilities with dual-fuel capability, which will afford the DOC greater flexibility in managing fuel procurement costs during this period of volatile prices,” said David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President of Ameresco.

The Norfolk/Walpole facility consists of level 2 through level 6 security facilities for male offenders. The Norfolk facility originally opened as the first ‘community-based’ prison in the United States. The first of the Norfolk inmates were transferred from the state prison in Charlestown, MA, in 1927.

In its early years of operation, a major portion of the present institution, including the prison wall, was constructed by inmates who lived in the State Prison Colony. The Walpole facility was constructed in 1955, and officially opened less than a year later.

The Norfolk/Walpole Correctional Complex also includes the Bay State and Pondville Correctional Centers. Bay State is a newer facility operating as a small, general population, level four security facility, housing both long and short term inmates, including many inmates who are elderly. Pondville is a level 2/3 security facility with no perimeter security.

The entire complex and its facilities are accredited by the American Correctional Association signifying an adherence to National Standards and a striving for professional excellence.

The Massachusetts Department of Correction’s mission is to promote public safety by incarcerating offenders while providing opportunities for participation in effective programs designed to reduce recidivism.

Ameresco, Inc., is the largest independent comprehensive energy solutions provider in North America. Headquartered in Framingham Massachusetts, Ameresco utilizes innovative strategies, systems, and technologies for renewable and sustainable energy generation and infrastructure renewal, thereby reducing operating expenses, increasing energy reliability and enhancing the environment.

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