The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced a new partnership to build solar arrays at Worcester Regional Airport.
Massport will partner with Kearsarge Solar to construct and operate the 20-megawatt solar field. Once complete, the project is expected to generate an estimated 22.3M kw hours annually.
The clean energy project will be built on 44 acres on the Leicester side of the airport, which is not close to aviation operations.
“This project underscores Massport’s strong commitment to sustainability and reinforces our responsibility to minimize our environmental footprint across all of our facilities as we work toward achieving our net zero goal,” said Massport CEO Rich Davey in a statement. “Transforming this underutilized land at Worcester Regional Airport into one of the largest solar fields in the state is a win for the environment, a win for the community, and a smart step toward a more resilient future.”
Massport will benefit from approximately $21 million of Alternative On-Bill Credits (AOBC) over a 20-year term. The solar panels will reduce the need for electricity from the grid and cut associated GHG emissions while helping generate the extra electricity needed as Massport electrifies buildings and transportation systems.
Massport currently has over 1 megawatt (MW) of solar PV installed across facilities, generating more than 500 megawatt-hours (MWh) of power annually. The Authority envisions adding up to 38 MW of solar capacity at various locations, including a recently completed project at Hanscom Field, the Worcester Regional Airport project, and planned projects at Framingham Logan Express and Piers Park II.
By scaling up on-site solar PV capacity, Massport estimates a reduction of GHG emissions by over 20,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO₂e).
Massport has committed over $500 million in investments to net zero projects over the next five years, which will set the groundwork for future reductions. In November, the Authority announced an additional $60 million project in South Boston to bring shore power to two berths at Flynn Cruiseport Boston.