The state of Massachusetts is set to begin its first pilot program aimed at shifting gas utilities to clean heat. The pilot, which is being launched in the city of Framingham, will see the creation of a new underground thermal energy network. The goal of the $14 Million project is to demonstrate how gas utilities can be repurposed to deliver clean energy as part of the state’s broader efforts to reduce fossil fuel usage.

The pilot is being spearheaded by utility company Eversource and is the first of its kind in the United States. The project will involve the construction of a one-mile loop of pipes that will be used to deliver thermal energy to a mix of residential and commercial buildings. The pipes will be connected to an array of boreholes that are several hundred feet deep. A water-and-glycol solution will be circulated through the pipes, capturing the heat from the earth’s underground and delivering it to the buildings above.

One of the key advantages of the geothermal system is that the temperature underground remains relatively constant, around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, throughout the year. This allows the system to provide both heating and cooling to buildings in a highly efficient manner. Eversource plans to install ground source heat pumps in the participating buildings, which can capture the geothermal heat and be used to warm the buildings in the winter. 

The new system will enable the buildings to reduce their reliance on natural gas for heating, which is a major source of carbon emissions. In addition to the environmental benefits, the use of ground source heat pumps is also expected to result in cost savings for building owners over the long term.

The launch of the pilot comes as Massachusetts and other states are looking for ways to decarbonize their building sectors, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings account for nearly 10% of total US carbon emissions, with the vast majority of those emissions coming from the combustion of natural gas and heating oil. In order to meet its long-term climate goals, the state will need to transition to cleaner sources of heat and implement energy efficiency measures.

The success of the pilot in Framingham could have broader implications for the rest of the state. If the pilot is successful, it could pave the way for the expansion of geothermal systems to other communities in Massachusetts. It could also help to inform the state’s broader efforts to transition to clean heating sources and reduce its carbon footprint.

Other states are also closely watching the outcome of the pilot. A handful of other states, including New York and California, have already launched similar efforts to promote the use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling. However, the concept is still relatively new in the United States and there are a number of regulatory and financial barriers that are hindering its widespread adoption.

In recent years, the cost of geothermal systems has declined, thanks in part to federal and state incentives. However, the high upfront cost remains a major barrier for many building owners. The pilot in Framingham will help to demonstrate the potential for utility-led geothermal projects to overcome some of these financial barriers.

In addition to the pilot in Framingham, Eversource is also exploring the potential to expand the use of geothermal energy in other parts of its service territory. The company is in the process of developing a long-term clean energy plan, which will outline its strategy for reducing its carbon footprint over the next several decades.