Presentation for 2019 Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and Campuses Conference on March 29, 2019 in Cambridge, MA

1. Shaping the Future of Sustainability
Buildings & Cities
Learn about leading efforts in solar roofs, better building efficiencies,
net zero energy communities, green electricity aggregation and more.
• Ed Lewis – Energy Manager, Watertown
• Nikhil Nadkarni - Energy Planner, Cambridge Community Development
• Meghan Shaw – Outreach Director, Cambridge Energy Alliance

2. Town of Watertown
Zoning Ordinance to Require
Solar Installations
Edward Lewis, BSME, MBA, CEM
Energy / Project Manager
elewis@watertown-ma.gov

3. Climate Change is
not coming….

4. Climate Change
is here!

5. Watertown Solar Ordinance
Watertown – 4 square miles, population 35K
• Proud history of Sustainability
• 2010 – became a Green Community
• 2013 – entered into an ESCO Performance Contract
• 2015 – hired an Energy Manager
• 2015 – implemented Comprehensive Development Plan
• Solar assessment & LEED requirements
• 2018 – passed 100% Renewable Resolution
• 2018 – passed Solar Requirement Ordinance

6. Watertown Solar Ordinance
Good solar deployment in Town
232 arrays, just under 3 MW DC
• 218 Residential – 1,169 KW, Avg 5.3 KW
• 14 Commercial – 1,823 KW, Avg 130 KW
Comprehensive Development Plan 2015
• Required in depth Solar Assessments
• Commercial buildings that required site plan review
• Did not increase solar deployment as much as expected

7. Watertown Solar Ordinance - Timeline
2015 - Solar Assessments Required
• Commercial buildings that required site review
2016 - Solar Requirement Ordinance first proposed
• Resident working with Town Councilor
• Sent to committee for further study
2018 - New State building / energy code requires solar zone
on certain commercial and residential buildings
2018 - Solar Requirement Ordinance reintroduced & passed

8. Watertown Solar Ordinance - Reintroduced
Community Development and Planning drafted ordinance
Positive legal opinion obtained
Public notifications of Meetings / Public Hearings
Town Council reading, referral to Planning Board
Planning Board review and Public Hearing
• Unanimously recommended approval to Town Council
Town Council Public Hearing
• Unanimously approved by Town Council

9. Watertown Solar Ordinance – Overview
New & renovated commercial buildings larger than 10,000 ft2 or
containing 10 or more residential units
Exemptions for buildings that cannot structurally or location-wise
utilize solar effectively
Target Solar Zone - 50% of the applicable rooftop area
Parking garages will require solar installation over 90% of roof area
Can be rooftop or equivalent ground mount area
Ground mount does not increase building lot coverage
Owned, leased, PPA all ok, Community Shared Solar encouraged
Solar thermal can be considered

10. Watertown Solar Ordinance – Benefits
•Decreases Watertown’s carbon footprint
•Reduces pollution
•Provides local economic benefits
•Reduces dependence on fossil fuels
•Provides marketing advantage for sustainable
properties
• Encouraged to install Community Shared Solar
• Give residents access to roof panel production

11. Watertown Solar Ordinance
Needed to pass ordinance:
• 2+ years of your life
• Strong advocates / champions in community
• Strong & active Sustainability Committee
• Sustainability focused, forward thinking Town
Management
• Thick skin & lots of antacids

12. Watertown Solar Ordinance
To view the ordinance:
https://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/26434/2018_89
_2711_Solar-Installations
To see the Planning Board Report and the ordinance:
Go to the Watertown, MA website and search for: Solar Zoning Ordinance
2018-11-27 Zoning - Solar Assessments

13. Shaping the Future of Sustainability
Buildings & Cities