News Release

City of Springfield Seeks to Significantly Cut Energy Use;
Seals 3-Year Partnership with WMECo

Saving Money, Energy & the Environment is Triple-Win for City’s Students, Workforce & Taxpayers


Springfield, Mass. (June 19, 2013) —Signing a three-year partnership agreement inside Springfield City Hall, which is slated for an energy efficiency overhaul this year, WMECo and the City of Springfield have taken a giant step forward in reducing energy consumption. It’s all part of an ongoing, aggressive strategy to reduce energy use by more than 4 million kilowatt-hours and save taxpayers close to $625,000. The resulting cut in greenhouse gas emissions will be equivalent to taking nearly 600 cars off the road.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated; “Energy costs have traditionally been a budget buster for cities and towns. However, over the past several years we have seen significant savings in our energy cost through aggressive energy bidding and conservation efforts.” Mayor Sarno went on to say; “The City’s partnership with WMECo has produced substantial savings for tax payers while improving the quality of life in our City. I am proud to stand here today to further cement our relationship and to move forward towards a more sustainable future.”

Taking advantage of WMECo’s energy efficiency expertise and incentive programs that pump money back into the City, Springfield has inked a three-year energy efficiency agreement to significantly lower electricity use by as much as 12 percent over the life of the MOU. The effort involves major energy efficiency upgrades slated for schools and municipal buildings.

“This long-range agreement helps solidify an important partnership between WMECo’s energy efficiency team and the City of Springfield,” said David McHale, Executive Vice President and CAO for Northeast Utilities, WMECo’s parent company. “For the past 3 years our partnership has already saved hundreds-of-thousands of taxpayer dollars, and we’re committed to working with the City well into the future to help meet its aggressive energy-saving goals.”

WMECo has been working with Springfield to identify more than 40 energy efficiency projects. In the first year, nine schools from neighborhoods across Springfield including Indian Orchard, Pine Point, Upper Hill, Forest Park, Six Corners and Metro Center, will be getting major energy saving upgrades. The improvements include energy-efficient lighting, HVAC equipment, controls and boiler upgrades, as well as state-of-the art lighting using the latest LED technology for both internal and external applications.

The Indian Orchard Fire Station and Pine Point Library are also scheduled for similar energy efficiency improvements.

Just last year the city and WMECo completed more than 50 projects, saving well over two million annual kilowatt hours and more than $300,000. A dozen schools received energy efficiency overhauls, the highlight being the completion of the Roger L Putnam Vocational Technical Academy with an annual savings of over one million kilowatt hours. When it was finished, WMECo presented the city with an incentive check for $190,000.

Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo), a Northeast Utilities company (NYSE:NU), transmits and delivers electricity to 210,000 customers in 59 cities and towns. For more information, please visit our website:
www.wmeco.com, like us on Facebook (facebook.com/WMECo) and follow us on Twitter @wmeco.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Priscilla Ress
413-787-1055
priscilla.ress@nu.com
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