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Slide Show MWRA RENEWABLE ENERGY INITIATIVES View Slide Show

Today, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority received the Leading By Example Award from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs at a ceremony at the State House in Boston.

Richard K. Sullivan, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Chairman of the MWRA Board of Directors, presented the award to MWRA staff. The agency was recognized for completing a number of new renewable energy projects across its service area, including three wind turbines totaling 3.1 megawatts, four solar installations totaling 1.28 megawatts, a 200 kilowatt hyrdroelectric generator, and a 5.5 megawatt back press turbine to upgrade an existing 18-megawatt steam turbine.

MWRA’s Executive Director, Frederick A. Laskey, noted that $18 million of the agency’s $38 million annual energy needs now comes from clean, renewable energy.

MWRA has also aggressively sought out funding opportunities for many of its renewable projects from a variety of sources, including over $10 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The Leading by Example Program was established in April 2007 by Governor Deval Patrick’s Executive Order No. 484, "Leading by Example - Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings.” The program is overseen by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and the Executive Office for Administration and Finance.

This marks the second time MWRA has received this award. In 2007, MWRA was recognized recognition for its renewable energy generation on Deer Island, the exploration of other opportunities for solar, wind, and hydroelectric power at a number of facilities, recycling efforts, and its alternative fuel vehicles and diesel retrofits.

MWRA has also received awards for its renewable programs from the Massachusetts Energy Consumers Alliance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

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Posted October 26, 2011