Energy efficiency plan will create 4,000 jobs, state officials say

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - State leaders gathered at Springfield Technical Community College late Tuesday morning to announce a new Accelerated Energy Program.

The program will focus on 700 state facilities, including more than 4,000 buildings, where they will make energy-efficient upgrades.

STCC is one of the facilities chosen.  The school has struggled in the past with heating and cooling issues.  Those issues have forced the college to cancel classes at times.

"This project means we'll have boilers that work all the time. We don't have to cancel school anymore, and just improving our students' experience," STCC Director of Facilities Maura Socha said.

The project is expected to cost $470 million, and will be funded through the state’s Clean Energy Investment Program, general obligation bonds, and the Mass Save Program.

"Everyone wins with this, employees, taxpayers big time so we think it's a win, win, win all the way around," said Carole Cornelison, Commissioner of the Division of Capital Asset Management.

It is expected to create jobs for 4,000 people and save taxpayers $43 million annually.