|
Year
|
Process Step
|
|
2000-Spring
|
Project
concept development
|
|
Summer
|
Presentation
to and acceptance by City Planner
|
|
September
|
Presentation
to and acceptance by Mayor
|
|
October
|
Participation
in Brownfields 2000 national conference, meeting with stakeholders to first
Brightfield in Chicago (Spire Corporation and DOE)
|
|
November
|
Inquiry made
to "Responsible Party", Bay State Gas Company -- Project concept
well-received
|
|
|
Inquiries
made to US DOE regarding support, discussions with contacts in Boston and DC HQ,
meetings with Spire Corporation
|
|
|
Mayor
requests study of PV applications at Brockton High School,
Wastewater Treatment Plant, Baseball Stadium, and Desalination Plant
|
|
December
|
DOE issues
Brightfields solicitation for Brightfields; $100,000 available nationwide
for 1 or 2 projects -- competition expected to include at least 10
projects, including one from NYC "with all the bells and
whistles"
|
|
2001-January
|
More stakeholder
meetings and research
|
|
February
|
Proposal
submitted for requesting $30,000 DOE Brightfields Funds (through MA DOER
since funds are through State Energy Program). Project is to perform
feasibility analysis on Brightfield concept -- PV array, PV on four
rooftops, attracting a PV manufacturing plant to Brockton.
|
|
|
Ongoing
research and meetings, communications from DOE that technical support will
be limited
|
|
April
|
Brockton meets with Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
(MTC), administrator of the Renewable Energy Trust, works with project
partners to submit proposal for $128,415 to perform a detailed technical
and financial feasibility study for PV array on Grove Street.
|
|
June
|
Brockton receives notice of DOE Brightfields
funding award-- one of three communities selected nationwide
|
|
|
Brockton receives notice of MTC "Green
Power Predevelopment" funding award-- one of seven communities
selected statewide -- among the first facilities in the state to receive
funding from the Trust.
|
|
|
Brockton
Mayor Jack Yunits provides comments on US DOE's National Energy Policy at
public meeting held in Boston.
He is the only elected official in the state to appear in one of seven regional
meetings held nationwide regarding funding and performance of DOE's Office
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
|
|
July
|
DOE and MTC
Project agreements negotiated
|
|
Fall
|
Projects
commence
|
|
|
Stakeholder
outreach
|
|
November
|
First public
meeting regarding project concept
|
|
December
|
Technical
Feasibility Study for PV array completed http://www.ci.brockton.ma.us/Section_News/Bids.cfm?BidID=16
|
|
2002
|
Technical
feasibility report revised, completed in February
|
|
April
|
Pre-Tax
Financial Feasibility Study completed http://www.ci.brockton.ma.us/Admin/File_Manager/stored/FinancialFeasibilityFinalReport%2Epdf
|
|
May
|
Brockton submits proposal to North American
for Environmental Cooperation. Proposal was not funded.
|
|
July
|
Ownership
and Partnership Options Study Completed
|
|
August
|
Preliminary
Design and Engineering Report Completed http://www.ci.brockton.ma.us/Admin/File_Manager/stored/BrocktonTask5Final021106%2Epdf
|
|
September
|
Second
public meeting held -- Community supports the project provided aesthetic
considerations are addressed.
|
|
October
|
Community
Outreach Plan and Summary of Results completed
|
|
|
Energy and
Attribute Marketing Study completed
|
|
|
Brightfield
Financing Study completed, in consideration of final design
|
|
|
Project team
meets with Mayor and CFO, given approval to proceed to next step provided
grant funds of $1.5 million can be raised
|
|
|
Conceptual Development
Plan submitted to MTC.
|
|
|
Dialogue
with MTC for Final Pre-development Funding Initiated
|
|
November
|
Brockton submits proposal to US EPA for
$10,000 to "Innovations Working Group" financing to test Innovative
Marketing Plan for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
|
|
|
Brockton initiates discussions with MTC for
additional predevelopment funding to complete financing plan, marketing,
and procurement documents for turnkey system installation
|
|
December
|
Brockton submits proposal to MTC for $79,550
in additional development funding
|
|
2003-February
|
MTC awards Brockton $79,550
|
|
Spring-Summer
|
Brockton conducts market research on innovative
model for marketing RECs -- meets with potential brokers and end customers.
|
|
|
Brockton seeks additonal funding sources --
discussions and meetings with are held US EPA, US EDA, and DOE
|
|
June
|
Mayor Yunits
meets with DOE Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy David Garman to request project financing
|
|
June
|
Brockton submits proposal to US Economic
Development Administration seeking up to $750,000
|
|
June
|
Brockton asks Federal Congressional delegation
for assistance in securing $1 million appropriate for Brightfield
development
|
|
July
|
Brockton forms "Brockton Solar Champions
Partnership" and applies to become a DOE Million Solar Roofs"
partnership with a Phase I grant of $50,000.
|
|
August
|
Brockton obtains verbal commitment for REC
and electricity purchase from private company
|
|
September
|
Brockton appliest to MTC for "Green
Power Partnership", a revenue guarantee program for Renewable Energy
Certificates.
|
|
|
Brockton receives DOE Million Solar Roofs
award
|
|
October
|
Brockton submits draft proposal to MTC
seeking $1 million in predevelopment financing. Discussions ensue,
additional data is provided, and revisions are made.
|
|
November
|
Brockton submits final proposal to MTC
seeking $1 million in predevelopment financing.
|
|
December
|
Proposal to
MTC is supposed to undergo Board vote. Project removed from the docket just
before the meeting.
|
|
|
Bay State
Gas Company completes significant landscaping and fencing work surrounding
the properties.
|
|
2004. January
|
Brockton project received Board
resistance. Clarification is sought.
|
|
|
Mayor
writes to Secretary of Administration and Finance seeking support.
|
|
|
Brockton project again removed from
MTC docket.
|
|
February.
|
Mayor
Yunits meets with key officials in State House to confront institutional
resistance to $1 million MTC grant.
|
|
|
Mayor
Yunits meets with Chairman of MTC Board's Renewable Energy Trust Chairman
to provide project overview and merits.
|
|
|
Brockton
Brightfield project approved by MTC Board for development funding and MGPP.
|
|
|
Brockton seeks and obtains City Council approval
to sell parcel of land to Bay State Gas Company, lease the land for
Brightfield development, and establish an Enterprise Fund for the project.
Aesthetic improvements at the site key to winning support.
|
|
March
|
Official MTC
award announcements and significant media coverage
|
|
|
Brockton fields dozens of calls from PV
manufacturers, installers, component manufacturers, other interested
stakeholders.
|
|
|
Brockton applies to US DOE for "Solar
Technology on Brightfields", seeks $150,000 of $250,000 available
nationwide for 2-3 grants.
|
|
April
|
Brockton
Chief Financial Officer contacts bond counsel to discuss project financing.
Bond counsel raises concerns and requests a meeting.
|
|
|
Bond
counsel at Palmer & Dodge raise three issues posed by the Brightfield
that are not allowable under Massachusetts General Laws (MGL): legal
authority to finance, develop and operate the facility, length of debt
financing, uncertainty regarding procurement. Special legislation ("Home
Rule Petition) is required to overcome these barriers.
|
|
May
|
Bond counsel
drafts Home Rule Petition, it is filed to City Council
|
|
June
|
City Council
approves Home Rule Petition
|
|
|
Home Rule Petition
filed at State House by Reprentative Tom Kennedy.
|
|
|
Brockton meets with Federal delegation to
seek appropriation for Brightfield.
|
|
August
|
House Energy
Committee holds public hearing on Home Rule Petition. It is recommended
favorably.
|
|
September
|
House
Committee on Long-Term Debt and Public Expenditures holds public hearing on
Home Rule Petition. It is recommended favorably with amendments.
|
|
|
Brockton learns it will receive $59,400 from
US DOE for Brightfield development.
|
|
October
|
Amended Home
Rule Petition referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
|
|
December
|
House
Counsel rules amended home rule must be approved by City Council. Measure
passes under suspension of the rules. Bill is referred to the Senate.
Senate passes home rule petition with an amendment, referred back to the
House.
|
|
2005 January
|
House
votes to concur with amendment, but does not vote to pass the legislation.
The Bill is dead.
|
|
|
City and State
delegation initiate intensive lobbying effort to get measure passed under
suspension of the rules. Must obtain approval from House Speaker, Senate
President, and minority leaders in House and Senate.
|
|
February
|
Legislation
passes under suspension of the rules. Legislation requires Governor's
signature.
|
|
|
Governor
signs the legislation, Chapter 5 of the Acts of 2005. http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw05/sl050005.htm
|
|
|
Brockton applies to Massachusetts Community
Development Action Grant (CDAG) for $400,000.
|
|
|
Brockton obtains $25,000 grant commitment
from Sheehan Family Foundation as a match for CDAG.
|
|
|
Brockton must renew City Council authorizations
of land transaction and Enterprise Fund following passage of Home Rule
petition.
|
|
|
Brockton releases request for proposals for
disposition of property on Grove
Street
|
|
March
|
Brockton begins discussions with MTC regarding
updating / renegotiating specific terms of grant contracts and MGPP
|
|
|
Brockton enters into negotiations with
Constellation New Energy (CNE) for 1) city to extend its electricity supply
contract with CNE and for 2) CNE to purchase RECs generated by the
Brightfield and 3) to manage the power purchase for Brightfield electricity
for City Hall load.
|
|
|
Bay State
Gas Company seeks to close on the land transaction and lease agreement.
|
|
April
|
City
Solicitor decides that Brockton
should not sole source with CNE, decides the contracts must be put out to
bid through another consultant
|
|
|
City begins
to draft Request for Proposals for Turnkey System Design, Installation,
Operations and Maintenance
|
|
May
|
Brockton receives proposal from Bay State Gas
Company for purchase of land
|
|
|
Land
transaction negotiations continue, require approval of City Council
|
|
|
Bay State Consultants begins procurement
process for electricity and RECs
|
|
|
Brockton
CDAG proposal is rejected.
|
|
June
|
City Council
votes to authorize sale of property to Bay State Gas Company and lease
agreement
|
|
|
City Council
approves $26,000 appropriate to Enterprise Fund for consulting expenses
|
|
|
BayState Consultants
establishes contract terms for Electricity and REC bids, establishes
uniform requirements with two for bids to be submitted on July 14
|
|
|
MTC reduces
grant commitment due to City's failure to meet entire match requirement
|
|
July
|
Electricity
and REC bids submitted and rejected due to unfavorable terms
|
|
|
Request for
Proposal documents finalized, advertised and released
|
|
August
|
Pre-bid
meeting for Turnkey Brightfield installer
|
|
|
Electricity and
REC bids sought, submitted and rejected due to unfavorable terms
|
|
|
Sheehan
Family Foundation rescinds grant pledge of $25,000.
|
|
September
|
Brightfields
Proposals submitted -- only one proposal is submitted timely, the other is submitted
20 minutes past the timeline and must be rejected
|
|
|
Electricity
and REC bids sought, submitted and failed twice due to unfavorable terms --
hurricanes Katrina and Rita drove prices up
|
|
|
Rejected
vendor initiates potential protest
|
|
|
Land
transaction falters -- the land had been deeded as conservation, open space
or recreation land and may not be able to be conveyed. Legal research
required.
|
|
October
|
Electricity
and REC bids sought and accepted, though terms are not favorable. Prices
perceived to be only increasing. REC deal diminished in this round from 20
years to 10. Rather than being revenue-neutral, the project may have
negative cash flow through 18 of 20 years.
|
|
|
Land
transaction discovered to be prohibited by Article 97 of the Massachusetts
constitution. Issue can be resolved only through 2/3 vote of the state
legislature. The legislature adjourns on November 16, if the legislation
does not pass, it will not be considered until Spring 2006.
|
|
|
Second Home
Rule Petition drafted and filed to City Council. Passed under suspension of
the rules.
|
|
|
Home Rule
Petition filed in the House.
|
|
November
|
Joint Committee
on Municipalities and Regional Government holds public hearing on Home Rule
Petition, recommends it favorably.
|
|
|
Home Rule
Petition passes the House and Senate at 4:20 PM on the final day of the
legislative session , Chapter 151 of the Acts of 2005. http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw05/sl050151.htm
|
|
|
Land
transaction nearly closed -- the mylars for the property subdivision were
signed by a firm other than the one cited in City Council and Home Rule
Petition. Site survey documents must be redone.
|
|
|
Land
transaction closed.
|
|
|
Project size
renegotiated with MTC.
|
|
|
Brockton obtains $700,000 appropriate from US
DOE
|
|
|
Mayor seeks debt
authorization of $1.6 million from City Council
|
|
December
|
City
Council approves $1.6 million bond request
|
|
|
Negotiation
with turnkey system vendor underway
|
|
|
Negotiation
of REC and electricity contracts underway
|
|
|
Negotiation of
final grant terms with MTC underway
|
|
|
Negotiation
of grant terms with DOE scheduled for January 2006
|
