Massport to Build One of the Largest Solar Fields in MA

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) is proud to announce a new partnership with Kearsarge Solar to construct and operate a 20-megawatt solar field at Worcester Regional Airport. The major clean energy project will be built on 44 acres on the Leicester side of the airport, well away from aviation operations. Once completed, the installation will rank among the largest solar fields being built in Massachusetts. It is expected to generate an estimated 22.3M kw hours annually, roughly equivalent to Massport’s overall electricity use, excluding tenant usage. 

“This project underscores Massport’s strong commitment to sustainability and reinforces our responsibility to minimize our environmental footprint across all of our facilities as we work toward achieving our Net Zero goal,” said Massport CEO Rich Davey. “Transforming this underutilized land at Worcester Regional Airport into one of the largest solar fields in the state is a win for the environment, a win for the community, and a smart step toward a more resilient future.”

In 2019, Massport issued an RFP for solar energy management services and chose Kearsarge Solar. The project has since received DPU approval to move forward. Kearsarge is a local company that has completed successful solar projects across New England. Massport will benefit from approximately $21 million of Alternative On-Bill Credits (AOBC) over a 20-year term. The solar panels will reduce the need for electricity from the grid and cut associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They will also help generate the extra electricity needed as Massport electrifies buildings and transportation systems.

“The race is on to build the renewable generation we need to meet demand for clean electricity to power the transition to electric vehicles, clean heat, and new investments in AI and data centers,” said Climate Chief of Massachusetts Melissa Hoffer. “With this project, Massport is again demonstrating that not only is it possible to grow our economy and build clean energy, it’s actually cheaper— once that solar is built, it’s generating free electrons, reducing emissions and air pollution, and making our grid more resilient.  That saves ratepayers money and yields health cost savings. I’m proud to support Massport’s national leadership!”

Massport currently has over 1 megawatt (MW) of solar PV installed across facilities, generating more than 500 megawatt-hours (MWh) of power each year—enough for nearly 190 average Massachusetts homes. The Authority envisions adding up to 38 MW of solar capacity at various locations, including a recently completed project at Hanscom Field, the Worcester Regional Airport project and planned projects at Framingham Logan Express and Piers Park II. Massport is evaluating other sites and expects to be able to install even more solar panels across its properties in the future.

Massport’s Active Solar PV Systems by Capacity
•    Logan Airport Terminal A: 277 kW
•    Logan Airport Terminal A Satellite: 93 kW
•    Logan Airport Terminal B Parking Garage: 200 kW
•    Logan Airport Terminal C Canopy: 178 kW
•    Logan Airport Terminal E Solar Glass: 20 kW
•    Logan Airport Economy Parking Garage: 81 kW
•    Logan Airport Rental Car Center: 121 kW
•    Hanscom Field Civil Air Terminal: 51 kW
•    South Boston Waterfront Transportation Center: 59 kW

By scaling up on-site solar PV capacity, Massport estimates a reduction of GHG emissions by over 20,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO₂e), while boosting economic development and promoting environmental sustainability.

Since announcing a goal to achieve Net Zero in 2022, Massport has made significant progress, paving the way for continued advancements in sustainability. Massport has committed over $500M in investments to Net Zero projects over the next five years, which will set the groundwork for future reductions. These investments allow the Authority to lay the groundwork for the “big ticket” items coming in the years ahead – by working to secure renewable energy sources, expand its capacity to support electric vehicle charging, and bring large scale sustainable infrastructure from plan to building. In November, the Authority announced an additional $60 million project in South Boston to bring shore power to two berths at Flynn Cruiseport Boston, which will make Boston the first port in New England to have it.