Eversource announces the commissioning of its first-in-the-nation networked geothermal neighborhood in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Over the course of two heating and cooling seasons, this innovative, community-focused, and eco-friendly pilot project will evaluate whether utility-scale geothermal networks can feasibly and affordably heat and cool homes and businesses in densely populated and mixed-use areas of New England. With the networked geothermal system now up and running, customer conversions will continue through the summer with the official pilot start date for data collection beginning in July.
“Massachusetts is on the cutting edge of leading an unprecedented clean energy transition in New England, and our networked geothermal pilot exemplifies the collaboration that is essential to achieving decarbonization goals,” said Eversource Chairman President and CEO Joe Nolan. “We’re incredibly excited to commission this first-in-the-nation utility-scale networked geothermal project, which was made possible by state and local government, environmental stakeholders, and the private sector working together.
"Over the next two years, we look forward to closely evaluating how this technology can be cost-effectively leveraged in other communities as part of a comprehensive approach to combatting the climate crisis."
Approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities in 2020, this project —which is a finalist for the Environmental Business Council of New England Community Choice Award — broke ground in June 2023 and connects 31 residential and five commercial buildings, serving approximately 135 customers with an innovative heating and cooling system that harnesses renewable energy from the earth. Each customer will be connected to an approximately one-mile loop that utilizes the earth's consistent underground temperature to deliver the most efficient heating and cooling available. Additionally, this system will enable customers to reduce their carbon footprint and lower costs compared to using alternative fuels such as oil, propane, and natural gas.
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