Help Somerville Explore New Clean Energy Technology by Joining Upcoming Community Meetings

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Somerville’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) are inviting community members to help the City assess the feasibility of a networked geothermal loop in Somerville. 

“Somerville is committed to exploring innovative solutions to achieve our climate goals, and networked geothermal technology offers an exciting opportunity to transition to cleaner, safer, and more efficient energy," said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. "We invite residents to join us at these meetings to learn more, share their insights, and help us assess how this cutting-edge technology could benefit our community.”

Networked Geothermal is an emerging utility-scale technology that can help communities transition to efficient renewable energy by using the stable temperatures of the bedrock beneath the earth’s surface. 

In networked geothermal systems, geothermal wells and ground source heat pumps are linked together to serve a collection of connected buildings, including residential and businesses, on a neighborhood scale. The technology can help Somerville reach its greenhouse gas reduction goals by providing a cleaner and safer alternative to fossil fuels.
 

Learn More at Upcoming Community Meetings

All residents are invited to attend either of two community meetings where City staff will educate constituents about the opportunities of networked geothermal and provide information on how residents can support the feasibility study. 

Meeting Details:

• Dates: Monday, December 9 and Wednesday, January 8 
• Time: 6-7:30 p.m.  
• Register: Sign up to attend the meetings at somervillema.gov/geothermal.

This work is made possible through a Kickstart Mass grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Energy Center (MassCEC) and HEET,  which was awarded to help Massachusetts communities that have displayed interest in implementing geothermal networks begin to study the feasibility of the technology. 
 

More About This Initiative
The City’s Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE) through a competitive procurement process selected engineering and design firm Buro Happold to help assess feasibility of networked geothermal in Somerville. As part of this feasibility assessment they have identified three neighborhoods where there is potential to install a system. 

Residents in these neighborhoods may receive postcards and door hangers with more information about the program, and instructions on how to help the City and Buro Happold evaluate the site’s potential by volunteering to provide utility data.  

The City will continue gathering information through early January 2025. A final study outlining the potential application of this technology in Somerville will be published March 2025.

For more information, go to somervillema.gov/geothermal or contact Garrett Anderson at ganderson@somervillema.gov or (857) 270-4403. 

 

Efforts to secure interpretation into any language will be made upon advance request (at least seven days in advance) by contacting the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs at somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva or calling 311 at 617-666-3311.

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Adrienne Pomeroy, at 617-625-6600 x2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.