Mar 29, 2007 5:44 pm US/Eastern
Gov. Patrick Unveils 'Cambridge Energy Alliance'
by Kate Merrill
CAMBRIDGE, Mass (WBZ) ―
Gov. Deval Patrick announced a new state-funded energy efficiency program designed to help Massachusetts cities duplicate a model unveiled Thursday by Cambridge officials.
Cambridge is hoping to become the first city in the nation to adopt energy efficiency measures across the entire community.
The goal of the Cambridge Energy Alliance is to reduce electrical demand by 15 percent at peak times, reduce annual electricity and water consumption citywide by 10 percent and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions from the city by 10 percent by 2011.
The $100 million effort will be financed in large part from private sources.
In most cases, new energy efficiency devices -- from refrigerators to air conditioning systems -- will be paid for by the project's financing, with future energy savings funneled back into the fund. No upfront costs will be required for energy-saving devices and the program won't use Cambridge or state tax dollars.
Patrick said the $2 million state program will help other cities adopt similar programs. The money will initially go to Boston and four other, yet-to-be-named cities.
"The solution to our energy crisis is not just conservation, but innovation," Patrick said.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
