HOLYOKE – The Paper City is unique in that for well over a century it has been a clean energy mecca given its water-powered economy – and the mayor is being showered praise for his work continuing and expanding clean energy access in the city as he works to clean up the waterways and expand access to affordable, clean energy.
Last week, Mayor Joshua Garcia was listed as the first Massachusetts mayor to be named a finalist for the prestigious Mayor of the Year Award by the Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition (NREC), in recognition of his leadership and innovation in clean energy and community development.
“We are changing the narrative; our once nationally known industrial city has a new energy. We are reinventing and revitalizing our Holyoke,” stated Garcia in a statement.
He went on to say, “I am overwhelmed and honored to receive this recognition on behalf of Holyoke. This award is for all of us in Holyoke, not just me. Our residents, business owners, neighborhood and community activists who love our city and work so hard to move us forward in the effort to harness our clean energy resources to continue to bring clean energy environmental and economic benefits to our city.”
The award will be presented during Massachusetts Clean Energy Week, taking place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4. The Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition will visit Holyoke in early August to tour the city and learn more about these projects and initiatives.
Among Garcia’s accomplishments in the realm of clean energy include leveraging state and federal funds to tackle sewer overflows to improve water quality, and ongoing efforts to maximize energy output by Holyoke Gas and Electric (HG&E).
Low energy costs in the city can be linked to HG&E’s clean energy portfolio, with over 80% of its annual electricity supply coming from sources like hydro, solar, and other carbon-free system purchases.
HG&E has employed a strategy to overestimate future demand, an approach that led the utility to upgrade infrastructure and install one of Massachusetts’ largest utility batteries, at 6-megawatts per hour, to handle the demand.
According to HG&E’s website, the company produces its energy primarily through a mix of renewable hydroelectric and solar sources, along with carbon-free system power purchases and some natural gas.
A significant portion of their electricity comes from the extensive Holyoke canal and dam system which they own and operate. Additionally, HG&E has solar projects and participates in community solar programs. For natural gas, they utilize both pipeline capacity and liquefied natural gas stored at their West Holyoke facility.
Affordable clean energy also impacted the city’s economy, attracting Massachusetts Institute of Technology-backed ventures like Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center and Sublime Systems to Holyoke.
The NREC is engaged in several states, most notably in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and has recognized Rhode Island’s U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Gov. Dan McKee, and Connecticut’s U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
“Your leadership in Holyoke has caught our attention as truly exceptional,” said NREC Executive Director Kristin Rode in a letter to Garcia.
“We understand that Western Massachusetts is often left out of the spotlight when it comes to statewide recognition, and we want to change that narrative. From what we have learned about your innovative approaches to municipal leadership and community development, you represent exactly the kind of community centered leadership that deserves to be celebrated and shared with mayors across the Commonwealth,” Rode wrote.
Garcia responded saying that the clean energy efforts have been a community effort.
Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.
