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Project Background
For a number of years, the City of Montpelier and the State of Vermont investigated district heating as an option for downtown Montpelier. Most of the buildings in the Montpelier Capitol Complex were heated by a district energy system, which transmits steam through pipes to the state buildings from the central boilers, located in the plant behind the Department of Motor Vehicles on State Street.
This approach replaces the need for individual, building-based boilers, furnaces, and cooling systems. In a district energy system, underground pipelines from the source of energy to each of the connected buildings distribute thermal energy - in the form of hot water, steam, or chilled water. Energy is then extracted at the buildings and the water is brought back to the energy source, through return pipes, to be heated or cooled again.
District Heating Interest
Interest in district heating for the Montpelier community was propelled by the desire to provide:
In 2009, the City of Montpelier contracted with Veolia Energy to complete a feasibility study for creating a district energy system in the city. In September of 2009, the city, State of Vermont, and Veolia submitted a grant application to the U.S. Department of Energy for funding the implementation of the plant. In January of 2010, we were awarded a grant of $8 million to construct the District Energy Plant as a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility, and to establish an energy district that enables residents throughout the community to make efficiency and renewable energy improvements to their buildings. On August 5, 2010, the city issued an RFP for the design, permitting, and construction of the plant. Responses were due September 22, 2010.
On September 2, 2010, a Technical Amendment and Time Extension was issued to the RFP. This amendment clarified some questions, added some requirements and extended the due date for responses to October 20, 2010 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
RFP Responses
The due date for responses to the RFP has passed. Responses were received from DEW Construction Corporation, The MacMillin Company, Inc. and Pizzagalli Construction Corporation. All 3 respondents provided proposals responsive to the ‘base bid’ specification. Two respondents availed themselves of the additional opportunity to provide alternatives proposals.
On November 15, 16 and 17, the bidders made ‘orientation presentations’ on their proposals to the review team and members of the community who choose to attend the presentations. The purpose of these presentations was to provide a general orientation to the bidder’s submittal so that reviewers had an understanding of the approach of the bidding team and what interoperations they may have made in responding to the RFP. The presentations were recorded and are available for viewing (Scroll to the bottom of the page for 'Other Recorded Events').
Review Team
The review team is made up of:
This approach replaces the need for individual, building-based boilers, furnaces, and cooling systems. In a district energy system, underground pipelines from the source of energy to each of the connected buildings distribute thermal energy - in the form of hot water, steam, or chilled water. Energy is then extracted at the buildings and the water is brought back to the energy source, through return pipes, to be heated or cooled again.
District Heating Interest
Interest in district heating for the Montpelier community was propelled by the desire to provide:
- A reliable and affordable heating solution for city buildings
- An additional economic development tool for Montpelier's downtown
- The security and economic benefits of increasing reliance on locally-harvested wood rather than fossil fuels
- The environmental benefits of a professionally-managed central heating plant
In 2009, the City of Montpelier contracted with Veolia Energy to complete a feasibility study for creating a district energy system in the city. In September of 2009, the city, State of Vermont, and Veolia submitted a grant application to the U.S. Department of Energy for funding the implementation of the plant. In January of 2010, we were awarded a grant of $8 million to construct the District Energy Plant as a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility, and to establish an energy district that enables residents throughout the community to make efficiency and renewable energy improvements to their buildings. On August 5, 2010, the city issued an RFP for the design, permitting, and construction of the plant. Responses were due September 22, 2010.
On September 2, 2010, a Technical Amendment and Time Extension was issued to the RFP. This amendment clarified some questions, added some requirements and extended the due date for responses to October 20, 2010 3 p.m. Eastern Time.
RFP Responses
The due date for responses to the RFP has passed. Responses were received from DEW Construction Corporation, The MacMillin Company, Inc. and Pizzagalli Construction Corporation. All 3 respondents provided proposals responsive to the ‘base bid’ specification. Two respondents availed themselves of the additional opportunity to provide alternatives proposals.
On November 15, 16 and 17, the bidders made ‘orientation presentations’ on their proposals to the review team and members of the community who choose to attend the presentations. The purpose of these presentations was to provide a general orientation to the bidder’s submittal so that reviewers had an understanding of the approach of the bidding team and what interoperations they may have made in responding to the RFP. The presentations were recorded and are available for viewing (Scroll to the bottom of the page for 'Other Recorded Events').
Review Team
The review team is made up of:
- 1 representative from the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC)
- 1 representative from the City of Montpelier’s Department of Public Works
- 1 representative from the City of Montpelier’s Finance Department
- 1 representative from the State of Vermont/Buildings and General Services Division (Bob Rae)
- 2 members of the Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee (Ken Jones and Justin McCabe), a committee established by the Montpelier City Council to advise the council on energy matters within the city
- 2 representatives from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Boulder Colorado (Phil Voss and Scott Huffman)
- Gwen Hallsmith, Director of Planning and Community Development
- Harold Garabedian, Project Manager
- Richard Saudek, Legal Counsel