This document summarizes Holyoke, Massachusetts' efforts towards sustainability across several areas: power generation and efficiency, policies and ordinances, projects, and industry recruitment. Some key points are that Holyoke generates 94% of its retail power from carbon-neutral sources, has reduced municipal power usage by 21% since 2009, adopted green community policies and stormwater management ordinances, redeveloped and adapted historic buildings, renovated neighborhoods and parks, expanded transit options, and recruited green businesses like the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center.

1. HOLYOKE
SUSTAINABILITY IN

2. LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
▸ Power Generation and Energy Efficiency
▸ 94% carbon-neutral power for retail
▸ 21% reduction in municipal power draw since 2009
▸ Policies and Ordinances
▸ Green Communities
▸ Adaptive Reuse of Historic Properties
▸ Neighborhoods go Green
▸ Stormwater Management
▸ Transit
▸ Multi-modal hub
▸ Complete Streets
▸ Fostering Green Economy
▸ Recruiting and supporting green businesses (MGHPCC, Aegis)
▸ Funding for green investment
OVERVIEW

3. POWER - GENERATION
▸ Hadley Falls Dam & Associated Canal System
▸ Acquired system & distribution lines from Northeast
Utilities in 2001
▸ Mix of Solar and Hydro = 94% of retail consumption with
carbon-free power
▸ Upstream and downstream fish migration system as of
2015
▸ Solar has been the fastest growing category with 9 MW of
constructed and permitted capacity in the pipeline
POWER

4. POWER - RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
▸ HG&E and the City are working to identify test locations for pilot
projects for micro-hydro in the canal system
▸ UMass - Amherst and HG&E deploying smart meters to manage grid
▸ UMass - Amherst and Economic Development Dept are developing a
guide for retrofitting existing mill buildings for rooftop solar
▸ UMass - Amherst and City to develop longitudinal study of effects of
reforesting the City using micro climate data
POWER

5. POWER AT A FRACTION OF THE
CARBON FOOTPRINT
▸ HG&E’s Carbon Footprint is less than one tenth of that of an
average utility in New England.
▸ 53.82 lbs of carbon dioxide per MWh produced (New
England avg. = 830 lbs)
POWER

6. SUSTAINABLE POLICIES
▸ Holyoke became a Green Community in 2010
๏ Since 2010 → 21% reduction in energy consumption
within the municipal sector
๏ Stretch Code, Fuel Efficient Vehicles, 20% reduction
commitment
▸ Stormwater Management
๏ Holyoke stormwater ordinance incentivizes innovation
๏ Ordinance requires 25% reduction in PEAK FLOW runoff
POLICIES

7. SUSTAINABLE POLICIES
▸ Adaptive Reuse
๏ Preserving historic buildings
๏ Flexible Zoning to facilitate reuse
๏ Retrofitting existing structures to cut carbon emissions
▸ Neighborhoods
๏ Streetscape Improvements
๏ Tree Planting
๏ Park renovations
๏ Public art
POLICIES

8. PROJECTS - GREEN COMMUNITIES
▸ 21% Reduction in Municipal Power Consumption
๏ LED Conversions for Street, Traffic, and Parking Lot
Lights
๏ Electric vehicle charging stations
๏ Fuel efficient vehicle purchasing policy for fleet
๏ Mechanical upgrades to HVAC to reduce fuel use
PROJECTS

9. PROJECTS - STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT
▸ Raingardens requirement with all new projects
▸ Conway School of Landscape Design’s “Holyoke Green
Streets Guidebook” → incorporation of green infrastructure
into street redesigns [2014 BSLA Merit Award]
▸ Addressed 500 million gallons of CSO overflows through hard
infrastructure upgrades
▸ Exploring option of eliminating remaining overflows w/
combination of green infrastructure and targeted upgrades
PROJECTS

10. PROJECTS - ADAPTIVE REUSE
▸ Redevelopment of Existing Buildings as a matter of policy
๏ Holyoke Catholic conversion to Chestnut Park Apartments
๏ Holyoke Creative Arts Center
๏ Open Square
๏ Gateway City Arts
▸ Thousands of square feet of existing buildings reused
▸ Stretch Code → efficient alternative to standard building code
PROJECTS

11. PROJECTS - NEIGHBORHOODS
▸ Since 2010, parks have served as a major
component of neighborhood revitalization
▸ 2011 - Holyoke Canal Walk Phase I
▸ 2012 - Community Field - 3.1 Million Dollar
rehab
▸ 2013 - Veterans’ Park - 1.4 Million Dollar
rehab
▸ 2013 - Holyoke Skate Park - 500K renovation
of Pulaski Park*
▸ 2013 - Carlos Vega Park
▸ 2014 - Avery Field Renovation
▸ 2014 - Pina Park
▸ 2015 - Canal Walk Phase II
PROJECTS

12. PROJECTS - NEIGHBORHOODS
▸ Reforesting Holyoke
▸ Goal is to plant 5,300 Trees
▸ Halfway there!
PROJECTS

13. PROJECTS - PUBLIC ART
▸ Encourages Walking and Begins
Conversations
▸ Street Furniture
▸ Murals
▸ Creative Re-use of public space
PROJECTS

14. PROJECTS - COMPLETE STREETS
▸ 1st Community in Western Massachusetts to Adopt
๏ Canal Walk
๏ Pedestrian Crossing Improvements
๏ Streetscape Enhancements
๏ Bike Lanes
๏ Pioneer Valley Bike Share
PROJECTS

15. TRANSIT NETWORKED FOR MULTIPLE
PATHWAYS
▸ Multi-Modal Transit Hub
▸ Holyoke Rail Platform
(2015) - Northeast
connection
▸ Holyoke Transportation
Center (2010) - Regional
Hub
▸ Zip Car (2014) -
decentralized shared use
▸ Pioneer Valley Bike Share
(2017 est.) - decentralized
shared use
PROJECTS

16. RECRUITING GREEN INDUSTRY
▸ Small Carbon Footprint
resulted in the MGHPCC
choosing Holyoke as its home
▸ Internationally significant
facility with five major research
institutions involved in
managing the site
▸ Partnerships with local school
system to increase interest in
programming as a career
INDUSTRY

17. REGAINING INDUSTRIAL JOBS
▸ Renewable Energy Development Fund
▸ Partnership between HG&E and City to leverage grant funding to incentivize
economic development
▸ Parsons Paper Redevelopment with Aegis Energy is a prime example
INDUSTRY

18. THANK YOU