QCC to Provide Energy Support to Local Community

WORCESTER, Ma – Quinsigamond Community College has entered into an agreement with EnerNOC to provide energy support to the Worcester community in times of need.

EnerNOC is a leading developer and provider of intelligent energy solutions to commercial, institutional, and industrial customers, as well as electric power grid operators and utilities. Through its Consumption Curtailment Program, EnerNOC evaluated Quinsigamond’s energy capacity for its ability to generate surplus electricity, which, in turn, can be made available to a local grid should the need arise. In return, QCC will receive payment reflecting its surplus capacity, whether the capacity was used or not.

Should the need to provide energy arise, QCC will be notified in advance to cool its facility at peak capacity, and then begin curtailing its energy output, which would include turning off air conditioners in summer months, lights, and appliances. Such “sharing” of energy will help reduce rolling brown outs or black outs and has proven more cost effective than building new energy plants.

“By providing energy to the community we will be able to offset the impact that would be caused by peak demand events,” stated Todd Emmons, Vice President of Administrative Services at Quinsigamond. “We will attempt to minimize the impact on our College, but make sure that our neighboring community has the power it needs to cool their homes, heat their water, and refrigerate their food.”