Holden Municipal Light Department, Lightshift Energy and MMWEC Unveil Battery Storage Project in Holden, MA to Strengthen Community Energy Resilience.
Holden Municipal Light Department (HMLD) and Lightshift Energy, a leading energy storage project developer, owner and operator, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday to celebrate the completion of Lightshift’s newest battery storage project in Holden, Massachusetts, which will serve HMLD and its customers. Developed in partnership with the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC), the 5MW/22MWh battery project will charge during low-cost periods of low energy demand, and discharge during higher-cost peak demand periods. This peak-shaving approach enables significant energy savings and environmental benefits for HMLD customers.
In recognition of the project’s commencement of operations, the day’s events included an on-site press conference featuring Massachusetts Undersecretary of Energy Michael Judge, State Representative Kimberly Ferguson, State Senator Peter Durant and other local representatives.
Barry Tupper, General Manager at HMLD, said:
We are proud to be able to provide the citizens of Holden reliable energy at competitive rates, while staying ahead of state goals to advance non-carbon-emitting power generation.
“We see battery storage as a key solution to mitigating the impacts of rising capacity and transmission costs for our community. Thanks to Lightshift and MMWEC, we are projected to save our customers at least $10 million throughout the lifecycle of the battery energy storage facility at the Chaffins Substation.”
The Town of Holden began as a farming region before becoming home to more developed villages built around the available hydropower in the form of local streams and rivers. Today, it is carving a path for the community to benefit from another form of low carbon energy technology: battery energy storage.
This project is a result of a first-of-its-kind program by Lightshift and MMWEC, deployed in May 2024, to bring energy storage systems to several of the joint action agency’s member utilities. Holden marks the first project commencing operations within the program, which Lightshift estimates will provide more than $200 million in energy savings across Massachusetts.
Jason Viadero, MMWEC’s Director of Energy Assets, said:
The municipal light plants in Massachusetts have been out in front on energy storage — starting with the Sterling Municipal Light Department energy storage project in 2016, followed by several additional projects as part of MassCEC’s Advancing Commonwealth Energy Storage (ACES) grant program.
“The HMLD project kicks off a broader 50-megawatt effort with Lightshift, and further demonstrates that MMWEC and the municipal light plants are committed to peak demand management and renewable integration to meet the demands of electrification and net zero emissions by 2050.”
Representative Kimberly Ferguson:
Massachusetts leaders including myself are optimistic about the opportunities renewable infrastructure is unlocking to accelerate the Commonwealth’s path toward net-zero by 2050.
“I am inspired by the collaboration and technological execution the Holden Municipal Light Department, MMWEC and Lightshift demonstrated.”
Rory Jones, Lightshift Co-founder and Managing Partner, said:
Holden deserves a lot of credit for its leadership in embracing new energy technology to drive major cost savings and environmental benefits for the community.
“This project is a win for everyone. Not only is it a financial resource for the community, it’s an environmental resource for the planet and a pressure release valve for an increasingly strained electric grid. Our team is proud to bring another impactful project online with another great partner in Holden.”
Lightshift also announced a $10,000 donation to the Holden Fire Department to support its Drone Program, which is introducing high-tech drones with advanced thermal imaging into its emergency efforts across the community. This is the latest example of Lightshift’s “Giving Back” program to shore up local resources for critical community organizations.
The MMWEC and Lightshift program also includes projects already underway in the towns of Groton and Paxton, with early and mid-stage development activities moving forward in other communities across the state.
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Holden Municipal Light Department, Lightshift Energy and MMWEC Unveil Battery Storage Project in Holden, MA to Strengthen Community Energy Resilience. source
