Bedford Library Going Green with Geothermal!

The Bedford Town Council and Bedford Public Library are pleased to announce the Governor and Executive Council’s award of a $387,842 Renewable Energy Fund grant. In combination with Town funds previously appropriated for an in-kind oil fired HVAC replacement system, the $387,842 grant makes it possible to instead install a state of the art closed loop geothermal heating and cooling system at the Bedford Public Library. The Renewable Energy Fund grant was one of six grants awarded by the Governor and Executive Council on June 24, 2015.

The Bedford geothermal proposal underwent rigorous evaluation locally, at the Public Utilities Commission which administers the Renewable Energy Fund grant program, and at the Executive Council. At every level of scrutiny, the superiority of the geothermal solution became clear. The energy efficiencies and cost savings achieved are projected to offset in ten years or less the entire amount that would have otherwise been spent on an oil or propane HVAC system.

The investment payback and energy savings achieved by the closed loop geothermal system are compelling; and the Bedford Public Library is committed to welcoming visitors and periodically making information available about its experience in the construction and performance of the geothermal system so that other public and commercial institutions can better consider and evaluate whether a closed loop geothermal system is their best choice for a new or replacement HVAC system.

The Bedford Town Council and Bedford Public Library express their thanks and appreciation to Governor Hassan, Executive Councilor Chris Pappas, Executive Council Chairman Christopher Sununu, and Executive Councilors Van Ostern, Wheeler and Kenney for their unanimous support, with thanks as well to the Public Utilities Commission grant evaluation team that saw the merit in Bedford’s Renewable Energy Fund grant proposal, special thanks to Karen Crampton, Director of the Sustainable Energy Division, who compiled and provided vital information to the Executive Council, and special thanks to Bedford’s grant writing team including Keith McBrien and Scott Albert from GDS Associates.

The Bedford Public Library looks forward to the next steps in this endeavor, and welcomes the opportunity to share its experiences.