In this interview with Boston Neighborhood News Network host Faith Imafidon, Vicinity’s Chief Sustainability Officer Matt O’Malley discusses how eSteam™ is revolutionizing district energy by providing steam with heat pumps and electric boilers, rather than cogeneration or gas boilers.
Tag: Philadelphia
Vicinity Energy Names Bill Fahey as Chief Operating Officer
Boston, July 10, 2023 – Vicinity Energy, a national decarbonization leader with an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States, announced that Bill Fahey has joined the company as its new chief operating officer. Fahey joins Vicinity with over 35 years of experience in the energy industry. Previously Fahey served as the executive vice president and chief technical officer for Veolia North America, where he led many operations-focused initiatives and has been instrumental to its long-term success in North America.
Vicinity maintains the largest district energy portfolio in the nation, and recently signed an agreement with MAN Energy Solutions to build a low-temperature source heat pump complex at Vicinity’s facility in Cambridge, MA to produce carbon-free steam, eSteam™, utilizing water from the Charles River.
“Vicinity is leading the way to a decarbonized future with our carbon-free eSteam™ solution for heating and cooling,” said Bill DiCroce, president and CEO of Vicinity Energy. “Bill’s expertise and ability to produce creative, result-driven solutions will accelerate our decarbonization mission and allow us to offer our customers reliable, efficient, carbon-free technologies and services to meet sustainability goals.”
Fahey is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and earned his MBA from the University of Massachusetts Boston.
The race to net zero
In 2022, the company kicked off its electrification strategy by deconstructing a steam turbine at its Kendall Facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In its place, Vicinity is installing an industrial-scale electric boiler that will begin supplying carbon-free eSteam™ to customers in 2024 and a heat pump complex, the largest in the nation, in 2026.
The company’s other 11 locations in major cities nationwide will undergo similar electrification processes in the coming years to achieve its goal of net zero by 2050.
About Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy is a clean energy company that owns and operates an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States. Vicinity produces and distributes reliable, clean steam, hot water, and chilled water to over 250 million square feet of building space nationwide. Vicinity continuously invests in its infrastructure and the latest technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial and institutional buildings in city centers. Vicinity is committed to achieving net zero carbon across its portfolio by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.vicinityenergy.us or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Media Contacts
Vicinity Energy
Sara DeMille
Marketing and Communications
857-955-5073
sara.demille@vicinityenergy.us
Clean Energy Future: Breaking Down Vicinity Energy’s Net Zero Carbon Plan with Matt O’Malley
Clean Energy Future: Breaking Down Vicinity Energy’s Net Zero Carbon Plan
On season 3, episode 1 of the Build Better podcast, Anastasia talks with Matt O’Malley, the first-ever chief sustainability officer for Vicinity Energy. He discusses Vicinity’s Clean Energy Future, Net Zero Carbon plan, and how the company is working with its customers, communities, and local government to decarbonize its operations across the country and reduce the impact of the energy sector on the earth’s atmosphere.
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Renders Decision Regarding Vicinity Energy and PGW Rate Dispute
Philadelphia, April 24, 2023 – Vicinity Energy, a national decarbonization leader with an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States, announces today that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has made its decision regarding Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) efforts to increase Vicinity’s gas transportation rates. The decision requires PGW to conduct a full rate case to determine the appropriate rates and will ensure fair and legal pricing for gas transportation. This decision will allow Vicinity customers an affordable and sustainable path forward to achieve net zero emissions goals with district energy.
In February 2021, PGW provided Vicinity with proposed new rates that drastically increased Vicinity’s gas transportation costs by up to 1,000% and presented a radical change in contract terms. Read the October 2021 formal complaint filed by Vicinity with the Pennsylvania PUC, contesting the cost increase and unacceptable contract terms. PGW also falsely claimed that Vicinity was receiving a subsidized rate, which the PUC states directly contradicts PGW’s position in every prior PGW base rate proceeding.
As a long-standing community member, Vicinity remains committed to Philadelphia. Vicinity will continue delivering affordable, sustainable energy solutions to decarbonize the City, its customers, and neighborhoods where its employees and families live and work. Vicinity is leading the energy transition with its electrification plans and will continue to pursue alternatives to PGW’s gas transportation service.
“Philadelphia deserves a clean, fossil-free future,” states Bill DiCroce, president and CEO of Vicinity Energy. “We are grateful to the Pennsylvania PUC commissioners and staff for their thorough and thoughtful deliberation and are pleased with the decision. While the decision does not fully conclude our dispute with PGW, the PUC’s direction and observations regarding PGW’s deviation from its prior practices support our commitment to obtaining fair and legal pricing for the gas transportation services provided by PGW. We continue to make our customers our top priority and will continue to offer a decarbonized path forward to meet their sustainability goals.”
PGW is responsible for contributing 4.6 million tons of carbon equivalent emissions to the region’s carbon budget and has admitted that its antiquated low-pressure distribution system leaks 1 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. PGW conducted a diversification study launched by Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability, and the City has publicly stated that it can only reach its decarbonization targets by reducing the carbon emissions from thermal energy. As a fossil fuel-supplying entity, PGW’s future is uncertain.
In Philadelphia, Vicinity’s district energy steam system avoids over 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually compared to individual onsite gas boilers. Vicinity’s combined heat and power (CHP) technology, also known as cogeneration, at its Grays Ferry facility in South Philadelphia is 20% more efficient than even the most advanced combined-cycle gas turbine power plants. Vicinity’s steam is a low-carbon, clean option for customers to lower their carbon footprint today. Vicinity’s path to decarbonizing its operations using renewable energy sources to power electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and thermal storage is underway. In 2022, Vicinity launched its renewable carbon-free eSteamTMproduct to meet the needs of customers and cities to achieve sustainability goals.
About Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy is a clean energy company that owns and operates an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States. Vicinity produces and distributes reliable, clean steam, hot water, and chilled water to over 250 million square feet of building space nationwide. Vicinity continuously invests in its infrastructure and the latest technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial and institutional buildings in city centers. Vicinity is committed to achieving net zero carbon across its portfolio by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.vicinityenergy.us or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Media Contact
Vicinity Energy
Sara DeMille
Marketing and Communications
857-955-5073
sara.demille@vicinityenergy.us
Decarbonizing building heating
In this panel with the New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC), Vicinity’s Chief Customer Officer Jackie Bliss joined experts to discuss how big buildings, campus installations and whole neighborhoods can migrate to clean forms of heating.
White paper: Revolutionizing urban sustainability
FREE DOWNLOAD
White paper: Revolutionizing urban sustainability
We’re amid an energy transformation driven by a mounting global crisis: climate change. Across the world, we are experiencing more extreme weather events due to accelerating levels of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigating carbon in the production and distribution of energy is now just as critically important as our society’s ever-growing need for energy itself. It’s clear that we need resilient, reliable and agile energy solutions…now.
District energy systems, like Vicinity’s, are uniquely positioned to take advantage of existing infrastructure in conjunction with critical technological advancements to cost-effectively decarbonize quickly. This white paper highlights the benefits of district energy in a decarbonizing world, specifically how electrifying district energy can help urban centers rapidly and affordably achieve city and state carbon reduction goals.
Learn more about how the electrification of district energy systems can help U.S. cities achieve building decarbonization.
Fill in the details below for immediate access to the white paper.
In this white paper, you'll learn:
Our plan
Details on Vicinity’s multi-pronged strategy and execution plan, including our specific electrification plans and how this strategy will be applied to Vicinity’s systems nationwide.
Leading examples
Examples from other European cities that are leading the way in district energy electrification and driving carbon emissions reductions.
How we can work together
Why public-private partnership is so critical to achieving expeditious and successful decarbonization outcomes.
Electrification progress in action
The electrification of our Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts is well underway, with the installation of our first 42MW electric boiler.
Our customers
We help organizations of all sizes—from hospitals to hotels to municipalities—use and manage energy more efficiently, sustainably, and strategically.
Could steam heat, long used by cities and colleges, be a solution to climate change?
Could steam heat be a solution to climate change?
Beneath the streets of hundreds of North America’s oldest cities lies a network of pipes delivering steam heat to office buildings and hospitals. These steam loops could be a clean energy solution.
The Morning Edition of NPR Radio discusses Vicinity Energy’s district systems as a valuable tool to decarbonize cities at scale. Susan Phillips of NPR member station WHYY in Philadelphia reports these steam loop systems could be a climate change solution.
About NPR
NPR is an independent, nonprofit media organization that was founded on a mission to create a more informed public. Every day, NPR connects with millions of Americans on the air, online, and in person to explore the news, ideas, and what it means to be human. Through its network of member stations, NPR makes local stories national, national stories local, and global stories personal.
‘Steam loops’ under many cities could be a climate change solution
Now is the time to triple down on renewables
Vicinity Energy Incorporates Green Loan Principles to Support Investment Funding in Green Districts
August 9, 2022 – Vicinity Energy, a decarbonization leader with the nation’s largest portfolio of district energy systems, has recently incorporated Green Loan Principles into its existing credit facilities. Vicinity will use funds from new Green Loan borrowings to support investments into eligible green projects across its district energy systems using renewable energy, waste heat, cogenerated heat, or a combination. The Green Loan Principles, initially introduced by the LSTA, APLMA, and LMA, provide a general framework of market standards and guidelines to promote the development and integrity of the Green Loan product. Vicinity intends to use the funds of the Green Loan for investments that are consistent with the EU Taxonomy technical criteria for District Energy and the Energy Efficiency category of the Green Loan Principles.
Vicinity’s lender group includes many leading global financial institutions for sustainable financing. BNP Paribas served as Green Loan Coordinator.
With a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Vicinity is electrifying its district energy systems in Boston and Cambridge, with its other locations to follow. The company’s multi-pronged decarbonization and electrification plan includes installing innovative technologies such as electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and thermal storage. As a key part of this strategy, Vicinity announced the launch of eSteam™, the first-ever carbon-free thermal energy product powered by renewable energy.
“Vicinity is on the forefront of building decarbonization. We are investing in our existing infrastructure today to provide our customers with a resilient and cost-effective option to cleanly heat and cool their buildings. Our new Green Loan financing is closely aligned with our corporate ESG objectives,” said Bill DiCroce, Vicinity’s president and chief executive officer.
“Vicinity is working collaboratively with our communities to help achieve their net zero goals. We are excited to have the partnership of financial institutions who share our commitment to sustainability,” added Matt O’Malley, chief sustainability officer of Vicinity.
“BNP Paribas is proud to support Vicinity Energy in its program to decarbonize infrastructure and invest in energy-efficient assets as a key part of the firm’s journey to net zero,” said Anne van Riel, head of sustainable finance capital markets at BNP Paribas for the Americas region.
About Vicinity Energy
Vicinity Energy is a clean energy company that owns and operates an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States. Vicinity produces and distributes reliable, clean steam, hot water, and chilled water to over 250 million square feet of building space nationwide. Vicinity continuously invests in its infrastructure and the latest technologies to accelerate the decarbonization of commercial and institutional buildings in city centers. Vicinity is committed to achieving net zero carbon across its portfolio by 2050. To learn more, visit https://www.vicinityenergy.us or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Media Contact
Vicinity Energy
Sara DeMille
Marketing and Communications
857-955-5073
sara.demille@vicinityenergy.us
