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MAPC-led thermal-energy study will model three systems; Marblehead to lead regional effort with MLP participation options
Summary
Committee members heard that MAPC plans a two-year conceptual study of three thermal-energy network models (MLP-denser center, anchor-tenant, new development); Marblehead will lead and Concord's light plant has been invited to participate in steering or check-in roles. The MAPC deliverable will be conceptual designs and financing/cost-recovery considerations, not a site-specific feasibility study.
Committee members received an update on a regional thermal-energy-network project being advanced through MAPC.
Laura Scott (speaker 11) said the MAPC team intends to produce conceptual designs for three system models: one that assumes a denser municipal-light-plant (MLP) town-center mixed-use area, one built around a large anchor tenant such as a school, and a third for new development. "They're planning to come up with sort of a high level, not a feasibility study, but a conceptual design of 3 different systems," Laura Scott said, and emphasized the study will explore financing, cost recovery and modeling approaches rather than produce site-level feasibility for any single MLP.
Scott said Marblehead will lead the MAPC study and that Concord's light plant has been engaged in early conversations and invited either a steering-committee role or a lighter check-in role. Committee members asked whether Concord could be an early adopter and were told the MAPC product is intended to be broadly applicable to multiple MLPs rather than a Concord-specific feasibility report. The MAPC work is expected to run about two years and use a new modeling tool (referred to in the meeting as 'heat nets').
Members expressed interest in following the MAPC work and exploring how the decarbonization road map's recommendations (including school-centered projects) might align with MAPC models. Staff and members noted that, while the MAPC work is conceptual, the study may still identify ways Concord could be involved in pilots or identify opportunities for follow-up feasibility work.
