As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, Fenway Forward has secured funding to help safeguard 75 elderly and disabled residents from dangerous power outages by installing a backup battery system in one of the nonprofit’s West Fenway buildings.
As part of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resource’s Advancing Massachusetts Power (AMP) initiative, Fenway Forward has received more than $500,000 to install a battery backup system at 110 Peterborough St., providing reliable power for the older adults and people with disabilities who live there. During an outage, the battery system will keep critical building operations running, including elevators and lighting, heating and cooling, refrigeration for food and medication, and outlets for charging phones and home medical equipment.
The backup battery will likely be supported by a solar array that will be installed as part of the project. The battery will enable residents to shelter safely in place and avoid the risks of relocating during extreme weather. This is especially important for older adults and people with disabilities, who are more likely to be medically vulnerable or have limited mobility. Residents of the building are supported entirely by federal Section 8 vouchers.
Additionally, Fenway Forward received a $50,000 award from the MAPC Accelerating Climate Resilience program. The funds from this award will support resident engagement to perform a resilience audit of the site’s risks and opportunities, which will ultimately be used to inform the planning of a Resilience Hub at the site for the building’s residents. Resilience Hubs are community facilities equipped to provide shelter, electricity, and essential services during emergencies. A Resilience Hub at 110 Peterborough would mark a significant milestone for climate resilience in the region.
“Fenway Forward is committed to preserving affordable housing while making our properties more sustainable, resilient, and responsive to the needs of our residents,” Suneeth John, deputy director and head of real estate, said in a press release. “This critical funding will allow us to install a battery energy storage system at our West Fenway Apartments, providing reliable backup power for 75 elderly and disabled residents, as well as conduct research into creating Resilience Hub for our community.”
Clean Energy Group, a national nonprofit advancing equitable deployment of clean energy technologies, provided Fenway Forward with technical and grant assistance for the AMP grant.