WAKEFIELD — Work is progressing on the Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (WMGLD) Energy Park on Hemlock Rd. with much of the land cleared, the retaining wall built and the cornerstone laid. The Energy Park which will be interconnected to the WMGLD electric system as well as both the new Northeast Metro Tech High School and new Wakefield Memorial High School is expected to provide beneficial opportunities for the schools, Wakefield residents, WMGLD rate payers and the environment. The Energy Park is expected to be completed and online in early 2026.
The Energy Park will enable Northeast Metro Tech and Wakefield Memorial High School to have all electric and cooling systems with energy harvested from two roof mounted PV solar arrays totaling 900 kilowatts DC of locally generated electricity. The Energy Park will serve as backup power and will include a 5 MW Battery Storage system and a 2.5 MW natural gas generator. Any excess solar energy not used by the schools will be stored at the Energy Park’s battery storage unit and supplement the energy needs of WMGLD ratepayers. The battery storage system will enable the schools and the ratepayers to reap the benefits provided by peak shaving and effectively manage energy costs, not only at the schools, but throughout the community reducing Wakefield’s peak demand on the electric grid.
This innovative and modern project will reduce construction costs for the schools while promoting electrification, reducing carbon emissions, maintaining low electric rates and support moving the WMGLD forward to meet the state’s net-zero goal. Each school will also have electric vehicle charging stations capable of powering 10 vehicles each.
For more information about the project as well as other WMGLD programs and to view the progress of the Energy Park, visit wmgld.com/energy-park.