Presentation at 2016 Massachusetts Sustainable Campuses and Communities Conference

1. HOLYOKE
SUSTAINABILITY IN

2. LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
▸ Power Generation and Energy Efficiency
▸ 94% carbon-neutral power for retail
▸ 21% reduction in municipal power draw since 2009
▸ Policies and Ordinances
▸ Green Communities
▸ Adaptive Reuse of Historic Properties
▸ Neighborhoods go Green
▸ Stormwater Management
▸ Transit
▸ Multi-modal hub
▸ Complete Streets
▸ Fostering Green Economy
▸ Recruiting and supporting green businesses (MGHPCC, Aegis)
▸ Funding for green investment
OVERVIEW

3. POWER - GENERATION
▸ Hadley Falls Dam & Associated Canal System
▸ Acquired system & distribution lines from Northeast
Utilities in 2001
▸ Mix of Solar and Hydro = 94% of retail consumption with
carbon-free power
▸ Upstream and downstream fish migration system as of
2015
▸ Solar has been the fastest growing category with 9 MW of
constructed and permitted capacity in the pipeline
POWER

4. POWER - RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
▸ HG&E and the City are working to identify test locations for pilot
projects for micro-hydro in the canal system
▸ UMass - Amherst and HG&E deploying smart meters to manage grid
▸ UMass - Amherst and Economic Development Dept are developing a
guide for retrofitting existing mill buildings for rooftop solar
▸ UMass - Amherst and City to develop longitudinal study of effects of
reforesting the City using micro climate data
POWER

5. POWER AT A FRACTION OF THE
CARBON FOOTPRINT
▸ HG&E’s Carbon Footprint is less than one tenth of that of an
average utility in New England.
▸ 53.82 lbs of carbon dioxide per MWh produced (New
England avg. = 830 lbs)
POWER

6. SUSTAINABLE POLICIES
▸ Holyoke became a Green Community in 2010
๏ Since 2010 → 21% reduction in energy consumption
within the municipal sector
๏ Stretch Code, Fuel Efficient Vehicles, 20% reduction
commitment
▸ Stormwater Management
๏ Holyoke stormwater ordinance incentivizes innovation
๏ Ordinance requires 25% reduction in PEAK FLOW runoff
POLICIES

7. SUSTAINABLE POLICIES
▸ Adaptive Reuse
๏ Preserving historic buildings
๏ Flexible Zoning to facilitate reuse
๏ Retrofitting existing structures to cut carbon emissions
▸ Neighborhoods
๏ Streetscape Improvements
๏ Tree Planting
๏ Park renovations
๏ Public art
POLICIES

8. PROJECTS - GREEN COMMUNITIES
▸ 21% Reduction in Municipal Power Consumption
๏ LED Conversions for Street, Traffic, and Parking Lot
Lights
๏ Electric vehicle charging stations
๏ Fuel efficient vehicle purchasing policy for fleet
๏ Mechanical upgrades to HVAC to reduce fuel use
PROJECTS

9. PROJECTS - STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT
▸ Raingardens requirement with all new projects
▸ Conway School of Landscape Design’s “Holyoke Green
Streets Guidebook” → incorporation of green infrastructure
into street redesigns [2014 BSLA Merit Award]
▸ Addressed 500 million gallons of CSO overflows through hard
infrastructure upgrades
▸ Exploring option of eliminating remaining overflows w/
combination of green infrastructure and targeted upgrades
PROJECTS

10. PROJECTS - ADAPTIVE REUSE
▸ Redevelopment of Existing Buildings as a matter of policy
๏ Holyoke Catholic conversion to Chestnut Park Apartments
๏ Holyoke Creative Arts Center
๏ Open Square
๏ Gateway City Arts
▸ Thousands of square feet of existing buildings reused
▸ Stretch Code → efficient alternative to standard building code
PROJECTS

11. PROJECTS - NEIGHBORHOODS
▸ Since 2010, parks have served as a major
component of neighborhood revitalization
▸ 2011 - Holyoke Canal Walk Phase I
▸ 2012 - Community Field - 3.1 Million Dollar
rehab
▸ 2013 - Veterans’ Park - 1.4 Million Dollar
rehab
▸ 2013 - Holyoke Skate Park - 500K renovation
of Pulaski Park*
▸ 2013 - Carlos Vega Park
▸ 2014 - Avery Field Renovation
▸ 2014 - Pina Park
▸ 2015 - Canal Walk Phase II
PROJECTS

12. PROJECTS - NEIGHBORHOODS
▸ Reforesting Holyoke
▸ Goal is to plant 5,300 Trees
▸ Halfway there!
PROJECTS

13. PROJECTS - PUBLIC ART
▸ Encourages Walking and Begins
Conversations
▸ Street Furniture
▸ Murals
▸ Creative Re-use of public space
PROJECTS

14. PROJECTS - COMPLETE STREETS
▸ 1st Community in Western Massachusetts to Adopt
๏ Canal Walk
๏ Pedestrian Crossing Improvements
๏ Streetscape Enhancements
๏ Bike Lanes
๏ Pioneer Valley Bike Share
PROJECTS

15. TRANSIT NETWORKED FOR MULTIPLE
PATHWAYS
▸ Multi-Modal Transit Hub
▸ Holyoke Rail Platform
(2015) - Northeast
connection
▸ Holyoke Transportation
Center (2010) - Regional
Hub
▸ Zip Car (2014) -
decentralized shared use
▸ Pioneer Valley Bike Share
(2017 est.) - decentralized
shared use
PROJECTS

16. RECRUITING GREEN INDUSTRY
▸ Small Carbon Footprint
resulted in the MGHPCC
choosing Holyoke as its home
▸ Internationally significant
facility with five major research
institutions involved in
managing the site
▸ Partnerships with local school
system to increase interest in
programming as a career
INDUSTRY

17. REGAINING INDUSTRIAL JOBS
▸ Renewable Energy Development Fund
▸ Partnership between HG&E and City to leverage grant funding to incentivize
economic development
▸ Parsons Paper Redevelopment with Aegis Energy is a prime example
INDUSTRY

18. THANK YOU