GE-Lynn may get energy cleanup

LYNN – General Electric’s aircraft engine manufacturing plant in Lynn is on a short list of industrial sites that could receive federal stimulus funding for clean power and energy efficiency projects.Gov. Deval Patrick has asked the U.S. Department of Energy for more than $100 million in federal stimulus dollars “to jump start an array of innovative clean power and energy efficient projects proposed by Massachusetts companies, municipalities and public agencies statewide,” said Lisa Capone, a spokeswoman for the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.Patrick applied for the financial assistance through the state Department of Energy Resources (DOER) as part of his Massachusetts Recovery Plan.”Partnering with companies and municipalities to reduce fossil fuel use and decrease greenhouse gas emissions is a key component of our clean energy agenda,” said Patrick. “We’re hopeful that the Department of Energy will look favorably upon these projects, which promise to lower the bottom line for Bay State companies and cities and towns through investment in innovative energy technology and expanded energy efficiency.”The state’s application includes 31 specific projects, including two at GE Lynn – one involving district energy and another industrial efficiency.District energy systems produce steam, hot water or chilled water at a central plant and then pipe that energy out to municipal buildings in the district for space heating, domestic hot water heating or air conditioning. The strategy eliminates the need for boilers, furnaces, chillers or air conditioning in individual buildings.Industrial efficiency projects typically involve equipment that improves industrial efficiency by at least 25 percent.”We’re collaborating with the state on a comprehensive plan to drive a much-needed transformation of our GE-Lynn facility from a century-old plant to an aerospace center of excellence, and the energy initiatives are two key components,” said Richard Gorham, a GE spokesman in Lynn. “This plan is critical to enhancing the site’s competitiveness and positioning the North Shore as a hub for future engine development and production.”Gorham noted that the governor, state Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles and the legislators who represent Lynn at the State House “have been strong partners in this effort to date and we look forward to their continued support and involvement.”GE has an on-site power plant in Lynn that generates power to run the manufacturing facility. Additional power is sold to the power company.”Our on-site plant makes the power to run the machines in operation here, but it’s 75 years old and not anywhere near as efficient as the equipment that’s out there today,” he said.As part of GE’s move toward becoming a cleaner, greener company, the project proposals address the need to upgrade the century-old plant. “The plant has several large manufacturing and office structures that would benefit significantly from new air conditioning and heating systems windows, roofs, doors and insulation,” he said. “Our power plant is a major resource here at GE-Lynn as it generates steam that we use directly. We use the bulk of it in our operation and provide the surplus to the power company, but our powerhouse is outdated and requires steady maintenance.”Gorham estimated the present powerhouse is more than 50 years sold.Two other project categories contained in Patrick’s application for federal funding are combined heat-and-power technology and waste energy recovery.The projects, selected by the DOER after an analysis of each proposal, will be get under way at 38 sites in Massachusetts, if the funding request is approved.Under the terms of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, clean energy and industrial efficiency projects must be “shovel-ready” within 120 days of receiving federal funding and include job creation or retention as well as energy benefits. The federal funding would pay for 50 percent of the total c