Supporting affordable low-carbon energy solutions for large entities like colleges and universities was the focus of a gathering held at Tufts on July 17. Among those participating were Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper, Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, and Tufts University President Sunil Kumar.

The focus was on new legislation in the Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act proposed by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. The legislation’s provisions to advance geothermal energy and utility connection reform would help both universities and all ratepayers save on their energy bills, while also supporting local housing affordability, said its proponents.

Many colleges and universities across the state are exploring geothermal loops, but face challenges in financing the upfront costs and operating the systems. Geothermal loops bring heat from underground in cooler weather, and, conversely, act as heat sinks in warmer weather, yielding cooler buildings. The loops are a very efficient form of heating and cooling technology, and well-suited to large campuses, hospitals, industrial parks, and housing developments.

The new legislation would allow gas companies to own and operate geothermal loops for individual large customers, such as universities and hospitals. Customers could pay for the geothermal loops over time, without subsidies from other ratepayers. Using geothermal loops also would reduce demand on the grid and gas system.

Tufts hosted the convening at Joyce Cumming Center on its Medford/Somerville campus. Also present were representatives from MIT, UMass Lowell, nonprofit climate solutions incubator HEET, and nonprofit energy-buying consortium PowerOptions.

“As some of our state’s largest employers and energy users, Massachusetts colleges and universities have been on the frontlines of energy innovation, but current law is costing them,” said Tepper. “Allowing large institutions like Tufts to work with their local utility to build geothermal heating and cooling, as well as connect to the grid efficiently, will take significant strain off the grid. This means lower bills for Tufts and all ratepayers who will not need to subsidize additional energy and infrastructure.”

“The need for climate action is urgent and colleges and universities want to lead by example,” said Dano Weisbord, chief sustainability officer and executive director of campus planning at Tufts. “To do so, we need modern laws and regulatory frameworks that foster cost-effective implementation, and we need access to capital that will allow us to continue to dedicate our resources to researchers who are devising climate solutions and developing the next generation of leaders.”

“The legislation would require electric utilities to provide flexible interconnection solutions to reduce customer costs and timelines for interconnection, at no cost to other customers,” said Lungo-Koehn. “This would have the added benefit of allowing new development—including new dorms and residence halls—to interconnect faster, getting new housing online and reducing demand for limited affordable housing supply.