Pittsfield Power

A look at alternatives �to Pittsfield Generating’s

fossil fuel operations

Possibilities

Pittsfield Generating �Pollution Stats:��– Owned by Hull Street Energy based in MD�

– Most recent emissions, annual

CO2 equiv. 34,812 tons

CO2 34,777.0 tons

NOx 5.7 tons� SOx 1.5 tons� Methane 0.6 tons�

– Emissions per MW generated

CO2 equiv. 1,092 lb. MWh��– Actual MW supplied annually

63,751 MWh at 4% capacity factor in 2021

(emissions can rise to top of AQ permit if demand shifts)�

– Nameplate power potential 175 MW

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*Climate impacts, but also public health�

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Health Impacts of Fossil Fuel Emissions

Burning fossil fuels produces PM 2.5, �NOx and SOx:�

• Effects are: �reduced lung function, asthma, �cardiovascular disease, �preterm birth, and premature death.�Children and elderly most vulnerable.�
• Cellular damage and inflammation throughout the body linked to �higher rates of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, asthma and higher incidence of severe COVID 19 cases.�
• Pittsfield Board of Health Letter of Concern sent to Hull St., 8-21-2021

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MA Clean Peak Coalition commissioned study of health impacts of �Pittsfield Generating, in final stages to be released in the coming weeks.

Pittsfield Generating �Economic Stats:��– Currently employs only 2 crew members � approx. 98% of the time. 6 when running.�

– Currently pays $693K in taxes to city. �

– Appealed to state board to lower tax bill � because of depreciation. New payment moving

forward will be around $350K�

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Is a huge tax cut appropriate for a major source of pollution to City neighborhoods, especially �as it ages and emissions are likely to increase?

�Should we instead be incentivizing non-emitting alternatives like battery energy storage?

Possible decarbonization scenarios (least to best):

1. Simply add BESS to operations
1. Could effectively replace fossil fuel generation, stopping emissions while extending lifespan of its operation / preserving existing tax base
2. Could run into space limitations; small lot, not much room for two sets of power supply, unless extra space is negotiated with City or GE�
2. Retire fossil fuel plant, convert to BESS
• Could completely replace fossil fuel generation, stopping emissions while extending lifespan of its operation / preserving tax base
• More space would be available either inside existing plant structure �or if demolished

Possible decarbonization scenarios (least to best):�

3. Retire fossil fuel turbines, convert to BESS & solar

• Adding solar generation to BESS would ensure that power generation for charging is also zero-emission�
• MA Clean Peak Standard allows generation to be off-site and/or�owned by another party with whom storage operator �has power purchase agreement�

Pittsfield Generating plant footprint - 5 acres

Electrical Substation 1

Electrical Substation 2

North of Sabic - 19.8 acres

South of Sabic - 6.7 acres

East of Pittsfield Generating - 2.75 acres

West of Woodland / South of Kellogg (not pictured) - 6.6 acres

19.8 acres

6.7 acres

2.75 �acres

5 �acres

SS�1

SS�2

Parcels of interest for power redevelopment scenarios

SCENARIO 1 �- Add BESS to existing operations

— BESS on 2.75 acre site� Low density - 5.5 MW

Higher density - 8.25 MW

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SCENARIO 2 - Retire plant, BESS only

— BESS on 5 acre site

Low density - 10 MW

Higher density - 30 MW

— BESS on 2.75 acre site� Low density - 5.5 MW

Higher density - 8.25 MW

— or Solar on 2.75 acre site -

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SCENARIO 3�Solar on lots north & south of Sabic�— North - 99 MW - or mix with BESS�— South - 33.5 MW - or mix with BESS

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Potential power generation of alternative scenarios

2.75 �acres

5 �acres

SS�1

SS�2

Benefits of converting fossil fuel peaker plants �to Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and renewables:�

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• Keeps plant on the tax rolls for longer, rather than just retiring �it when no longer allowed for climate compliance or just dies�
• Keeps tax base higher with new tech rather than an old, depreciated plant

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• Ideal location: converting an already industrial zone with existing interconnection infrastructure (no additional land acquisition, forest destruction or new interconnection needed)�
• Improves local health outcomes for the community

Could decarbonizing this giant, iconic piece of infrastructure be a selling point for clean tech development?��

• Updates City image as more green�
• Upholds the values of clean �tech and renewable energy companies�
• Possible 4th alternative:�Could possibly provide steam service,�a desirable asset for manufacturing,

pharmaceutical or research development.�This is currently happening in Cambridge.

How can we make this happen?�Can the City work with Hull Street Energy �to help facilitate a transition?��We are willing to work with City officials and/or PEDA to understand options. �We have transition experts we work with in the MA Clean Peak Coalition and access to energy analysts who are already studying possible paths to and public health benefits of transitioning Pittsfield Generating off fossil fuels. ��Hull Street is willing to talk with City officials �about transition options for Pittsfield Generating.

We are willing to introduce interested officials to �Hull Street Energy staff to start the discussion.

How could the City help make a transition away from fossil fuel operation happen?

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Is there room to develop solar to supply the plant?

Could the City or PEDA help Hull St. negotiate land use with GE?

�Community-owned solar?�Could solar development and purchase agreement with �Hull Street be a community-based endeavor?�Could this be a springboard for municipal microgrid?*

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Can a new steam loop be constructed similar to �former GE steam supply?�(similar to Vicinity Energy eSteam™ conversion of Kendall Station)

Funding Opportunities�

• Inflation Reduction Act Clean Energy Incentives for Municipalities

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�PAST OPPORTUNITIES:

• EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program - Help communities improve community health, �including removal of emissions sources.�
• Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program - enhance grid flexibility and improve the resilience of the power system against growing threats of extreme weather and climate change�

There may be similar grant programs in the future. �- We are in contact with Sen. Markey’s office for spotting opportunities.

- FFIO is managing payout of IRA funds already procured by the state.�

We need to start exploring possibilities to be ready for opportunities.

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Hull Street in Pittsfield Jan. 14�

Office of Energy Transformation Decarbonizing the Peak �Focus Area Working Group Meeting �Berkshire Innovation Center�11:00 - 2:00

Hybrid - online participation will be available option.

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There may be a tour of the power plant afterward.��OET Director is interested in hosting a local listening session �at another date. Especially interested in having �local officials and public attend.

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Hull Street officials regularly visit Pittsfield a few times a year.

EXTRA SLIDES�Current BESS safety and chemistries

Since 2018,

the failure rate per GW of BESS has dropped by 97%.

Lithium Ion

• 4 hour duration max.
• 1 to 3 MW per acre

Lithium Iron Phosphate

• 4 hour duration max.
• 1 to 3 MW per acre
• increased protection from fire/thermal runaway

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Iron Flow

• Far less toxic than lithium based
• 4-12 hour duration
• Up to 6 MW per acre (ESS)

Iron Air

• Far less toxic than lithium based
• 100 hour duration
• 2-3+ MW per acre (Form Energy)

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BESS chemistries

Community Opposition

Concerns for public health and environment are what compelled over 300 people to sign a petition, and dozens to stand out in protest, pressing peaker owners to come to the table to speak with us.�

tinyurl.com/PittsfieldPeakerPetition��They’re also what compelled Pittsfield’s Board of Health to send their letter of concern to Hull Street.�

Community Concern

Who can make this happen?

�Contact your City Council members �and the Mayor and let the know you want�them to work with Pittsfield Generating �to transition off fossil fuels.����And sign the petition - tinyurl.com/PittsfieldPeakerPetition

Contact:

�Rosemary Wessel, Program Director, Put Peakers in the Past�an initiative of BEAT’s No Fracked Gas in Mass program

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rose@thebeatnews.org�nofrackedgasinmass.com/put-peakers-in-the-past �����BEAT is a member of the MA Clean Peak Coalition�Working statewide to transition peakers off fossil fuels�cleanthepeakma.org

Benefits to City

Pittsfield’s Legacy �of Innovation

Long history of technological innovation and job creation. In the past century, Pittsfield was at the cutting edge of development in new technologies that helped shape the industrial age.�

Transformer unit on lift in Bldg 12Y, 1950 ©GE

Pittsfield’s Future of Innovation

Berkshire County and Pittsfield are pursuing a future in clean tech development.

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It’s in the interest of the City to leave behind yesterday’s technology and embrace a clean energy future.

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Decarbonizing our last large peaker power plant would show that Pittsfield is a forward looking, environmentally minded center, friendly to its �natural surroundings while embracing its �legacy of technological innovation.�

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Declining conditions at Berkshire Co’s last large fossil fuel peaker power plant.

Public health impacts

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• Directly adjacent to Environmental Justice neighborhoods��

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• Allendale and east side of Morningside within 3 mi. West Side within 5 mi.�
• Less than 1,000 ft. from Allendale�Elementary School�

Pittsfield �Generating

What are Peakers?�Power market info

What Are Peaker Plants?

Peaker power plants are the ones that our grid operator, ISO New England, asks to �fire up when demand is high.

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• Highest amount of pollution per MW �
• They only run for a few hours, very few days a year (5% of the time or less)��This short term demand can be met by Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) charged during non-peak hours, ideally using renewable energy.�

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Charging Battery Energy Storage Systems during off-peak hours can replace fossil fueled peaker plants

Source: Green Energy Consumers Alliance

Decarbonized CHP

Alternative possible decarbonization scenario:

Retire fossil fuel turbines, repower combined heat and power (CHP)�steam capacity using zero emissions electrified technology�(similar to Vicinity Energy eSteam™ conversion of Kendall Station)�

a. Could supply district steam to � development on former � GE properties or nearby�

b. Could still provide power to grid � during peak events with sufficient� storage capacity

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Vicinity-style transition

Combined heat & power, very similar to Pittsfield Generating.��Gas / Oil co-generation plant generates steam to supply district heat and electric �to go to the grid.��Transitioning to zero emissions eSteam™�

NEWS:�• WBUR • Business Wire • NEREJ

Vicinity-style transition

• Electrode-based electric boiler uses electricity to turn water into high-pressure steam. �Water is injected across two opposingly charged plates creating flash steam. The result will be the generation and distribution of electrified steam — renewable thermal energy.�
• Industrial-scale heat pump preheats water for the new electric boiler.

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• 80+ MW molten salt thermal battery for thermal storage.

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Pittsfield Generating capable of 1,208 MMbtu CHP

Can be run on standard grid power but best if supplied by renewable power.�Can also add BESS to store excess electric for peak supply.�

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Financing / Grants

Direct Pay incentives are available in MA

Funding Opportunities through Direct Pay

Direct Pay (also known as Elective Pay) is a program that allows cities, towns, and other tax-exempt organizations to receive federal tax credits for completing certain clean energy projects or investments.

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Section 45 - Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit�Section 48 - Energy Investment Tax Credit

Can include community solar and/or storage deployed at distribution level.��The IRS requires that eligible entities own the asset for which they are seeking credits��New funding review from Wood Mackenzie - 11/20/24 » Download�