🔒Editorial: Keep the Central Mass. clean energy momentum moving forward

One of the many impressive aspects of the new $316-million Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester is the installation of nearly $3 million worth of rooftop solar panels, designed to offset the energy costs of the new building. The late April unveiling of the Doherty solar panels came less than two weeks after Massport announced plans to build a 44-acre solar field near Worcester Regional Airport, part of Massport’s $500-million commitment to net-zero energy projects over the next five years.

While large solar installations have become more common, the need for clean energy projects like these feels more important than ever, along with homegrown companies and technology to support them.

Central Massachusetts is home to dozens of companies set to play a major role in transitioning the world away from fossil fuels. Among the major players leading the charge is Commonwealth Fusion Systems in Devens, which plans to build the first grid-scale commercial fusion power plant in Virginia in the early 2030s. Another relative newcomer is Ascend Elements in Westborough, which is making deals all over the world to recycle and produce minerals for large batteries, like those in electric vehicles, including the construction of a $43-million plant in Georgia. Other cleantech companies like AMSC in Ayer have been around for decades. Founded in 1987 and once largely focused on wind turbines, AMSC endured the theft of its trade secrets by a Chinese company, won its court battle, and reported a 56% increase in its revenues last year, in addition to pulling off an acquisition.

The strength of these homegrown companies reflects the strength of the innovation ecosystem in the region, particularly at institutes of higher education. Ascend is a direct spin-off of technology developed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, while Commonwealth Fusion has its research roots at MIT. The commercialization of raw research into well capitalized companies looking to solve big challenges is all the more reason to support research and funding at colleges and universities. The kind of raw research that produces such innovative enterprises comes from a long, slow trickle of experimentation, and it’s widely recognized that paradigm-shifting innovations would not be possible in the private sector without government-university research partnerships.

While federal funding for cleantech initiatives such remains an open question, Mass. has maintained a strong commitment to making the state a climatetech hub for the future. To that end, the state’s economic development bill signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey in November includes $400 million for climatetech initiatives and tax incentives, which includes supporting the manufacturing of cleantech in Massachusetts.

The state’s strategy to provide long-term funding for the life sciences industry more than a decade ago was a game changer, turning the state into a world leader. With life sciences facing a lull in its growth, it is more important than ever to extend our investment to expand cleantech throughout the state.

High energy costs remain a challenge, and investing in a clean energy future should not only produce company expansions and more jobs, but help us become more efficient energy producers. Worcester Business Journal is hosting its annual Mass Energy Summit on June 11; if you want to stay up with the latest in best practices, incentives and innovations, please join us.

This editorial is the opinion of the WBJ Editorial Board.