Town of Wayland Officials, Representatives from DOER Green Communities and MAPC, and Ameresco Join to Celebrate Completion of Solar Facilities in Town

The solar arrays contribute to Wayland’s continuing efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and generate electricity to offset 25% of the Town’s municipal electric needs

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. & WAYLAND, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Town of Wayland officials and Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE: AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, hosted an event on Friday, December 2, at the Wayland High School to dedicate the Town’s four recently completed solar facilities. Local Wayland residents participated in the celebration. Speakers included: Eileen McHugh, MCPPO, Senior Program Coordinator Energy Management Services, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER); Cherry Karslon, Chair, Board of Selectman, Wayland; Allyson Mizoguchi, Principal, Wayland High School; and Jim Walker, P.E., Vice President, Solar, Ameresco.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161205005880/en/

PV Solar installations at Wayland High School, Wayland, MA. Photographer: Andrew Bakinowski Photo: Courtesy of Ameresco

Wayland’s solar arrays are comprised of a total of 4,214 photovoltaic panels totaling 1,289 kW, and designed to generate over 1.5 million kWh of renewable electricity each year. Collectively, the three solar canopies at the High School, Middle School and Town Building, in addition to a roof top system at the Department of Public Works building are expected to generate enough electricity to offset roughly twenty five percent of the town’s municipal electric needs and generate a financial savings of over $100,000 per year for Wayland. In addition, the solar arrays represent an important contribution to Wayland’s continuing efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon offset by the renewable power is equivalent to the annual electricity usage in more than 113 homes annually.

“We are thrilled that the solar systems are up and running. The community has watched the construction with great anticipation,” remarked Cherry Karslon, Chair, Board of Selectman.

“The energy efficiency work in our town buildings and solar project allowed Wayland to both reduce our carbon footprint and save the town money on its operating expenses. The solar projects will help provide roughly 25% of our municipal electric needs. It has been a win-win for Wayland,” said Ellen Tohn, Co-Chair Energy Initiatives Advisory Committee.

"With the passage of the Green Communities Act of 2008, the Commonwealth established an opportunity for municipalities to blaze a new path in the clean energy field. Wayland was one of our earliest designations as a Green Community and I am pleased to see the town utilize the powerful opportunity provided by an energy management services program,” said Dan Knapik, Director of the Green Communities Division at the Department of Energy Resources. “With their partner, Ameresco, the Town will not only be generating clean renewable solar energy from an innovative project, they will also experience a significant guaranteed financial savings."

“Municipalities across Massachusetts have been reaping the financial and environmental benefits that come with incorporating renewable energy into their fuel mix,” said Ani Krishnan, Interim Manager of Clean Energy, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). ”We are pleased to have provided Wayland with the mechanism to partner with Ameresco through our regional procurement program and build these exceptional projects.”

“We are delighted to have worked with the Town of Wayland and its dedicated volunteers on the Energy Committee to realize their vision for creating a sustainable community,” said Jim Walker, Vice President, Solar, Ameresco. “Our solar photovoltaic projects on schools, municipal buildings and parking lot canopies are a source of pride within the community. Even better, the sustainable energy projects deliver electricity cost savings to support other municipal and school budget priorities.”

About the Town of Wayland, MA
Wayland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts with a population of nearly 13,500 residents. The Town is a designated Green Community, and is committed to delivering the highest quality municipal services in a fiscally responsible and an operationally responsive manner to its citizens. Wayland’s solar projects compliment a range of other green initiatives that include: promoting residential solar installations under the Solarize program, undertaking substantial energy efficiency measures in town and school buildings, upgrading streetlights to use more energy efficient equipment, and resident driven “Transition Wayland” initiative that supports community efforts to address climate change and resiliency. Wayland residents enjoy a full-array of local services including: police and fire protection; award-winning schools (three elementary, one middle, and a senior high school); a full-service library; a public beach; and a number of recreational facilities and programs. The Town operates its own water supply, purification, and distribution system and provides a solid waste transfer station and recycling facility for residents on a fee-for-service basis. Wayland offers its residents many educational, recreational and cultural opportunities, both within the community and as part of the greater Boston metropolitan region. For more information, visit http://www.wayland.ma.us.

About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for businesses and organizations throughout North America and Europe. Ameresco’s sustainability services include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,000 employees providing local expertise in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

The announcement of a customer’s entry into a project contract is not necessarily indicative of the timing or amount of revenue from such contract, of the company’s overall revenue for any particular period or of trends in the company’s overall total construction backlog. This project was included in our previously reported assets in development as of September 30, 2016.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161205005880/en/

Energy Initiatives Advisory Committee
Ellen Tohn, 508-358-7770,
etohn@tohnenvironmental.com
or
Ameresco, Inc.
CarolAnn Hibbard, 508-661-2264
news@ameresco.com

Source: Ameresco, Inc.

Released December 5, 2016