Brockton Brightfields Steps and Timeline
The Brightfield project began in November 2000 with a concept paper presented to Mayor John T. Yunits, Jr. for approval. With his support, we embarked on a process that has spanned five years and involved stakeholders at the local, state and Federal levels. It is truly a team effort. Brockton's Brightfield project is complex and will ultimately require about five and a half years of feasibility studies and predevelopment work. It will take about six months to design, install and commission the facility. The key steps and timeline are described below. Numerous sub-steps and transactions are not shown here, but were implemented throughout the project. These include internal project management meetings, ongoing communications with the Ward Councilor and other stakeholders, quarterly grant reports, reimbursement requests, and participation in annual regional and national meetings and conferences. A red font is an indicator of a barrier that either threatened to derail the project or caused significant time delays. A green font is an indicator that the barrier was addressed and the project could proceed. The yellow font indicates a barrier that caused delays, but was not a major threat.
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| 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 |
Barriers Encountered and Methods for Overcoming Barriers
Phase I Proposal from Global Solar Team