Eversource Starts Construction on Greater Cambridge Energy Program, Including Only Underground Substation of its Kind in the U.S.

January 28, 2025 at 16:53 PM EST

Eversource breaks ground on first-of-its-kind transmission program with infrastructure that will be completely underground, more resilient to the effects of climate change, and help support electrification and decarbonization goals.

Eversource, along with representatives from BXP, community partners and state and local officials, today broke ground on construction of the Greater Cambridge Energy Program (GCEP), a first-of-its-kind transmission initiative to address the increased electric demand in the region, enhance the resiliency of the transmission system, and ensure a flexible grid to reliably serve customers while supporting electrification and decarbonization goals. The innovative project will also enable the interconnection of more new clean energy resources to support additional electric supply and increase the grid’s capacity as electrification continues to grow and more customers adopt clean technologies like EVs and heat pumps in the coming years.

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Eversource and project partners celebrate the groundbreaking for the Greater Cambridge Energy Program (Photo: Business Wire)

Innovatively designed to place a significant amount of needed infrastructure underground, GCEP includes Eversource's first underground substation — the largest in the country at 35,000 square feet. The substation will be located 105 feet underground beneath new public green space between Broadway and Binney Street and integrated into BXP's Life Sciences Center at the former Kendall Center Blue Garage site. As energy demand continues to increase in Cambridge and surrounding areas, the output from GCEP’s underground substation enables far-reaching electrification of heating systems in the city, providing capacity to address 100% of residential heating electrification as well as the ability to displace 50% of the commercial sector’s gas demand through electrification.

“Working with our partners at BXP, the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority and the City of Cambridge, the Greater Cambridge Energy Program is a creative solution that helps shape a more sustainable and resilient energy future for our customers in the region,” said Eversource Chairman, President and CEO Joe Nolan. “By taking a collaborative approach with the community and local leaders, this critical energy infrastructure meets several needs for our customers and the region’s energy supply while helping to enable the clean energy transition.”

“The GCEP is a true example of public and private partnership created to solve a critical community challenge. BXP is incredibly proud and fortunate to partner with Eversource, the CRA, and the City of Cambridge to provide a below-grade space for the substation which will power the future of Cambridge,” said Bryan Koop, Executive Vice President for BXP’s Boston region.

As part of GCEP, Eversource will also construct eight new 115 kV underground transmission lines spanning 8.3 miles through portions of Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston. Additional work includes upgrades to five substations, or clean energy hubs, in Cambridge, Somerville, and Allston/Brighton, and the construction of 48 new distribution lines.

“Making the transition to a clean energy economy requires creative, tenacious partnerships like the Greater Cambridge Energy Program,” said Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. “This region is experiencing a surge of new residential and commercial development, while at the same time moving away from fossil fuels. This generates a growing demand for a reliable electrical grid. The Greater Cambridge Energy Program helps address the increased energy needs in the region, enhance the resiliency and reliability of the grid to reliably serve customers in our community, and support the decarbonization goals of both Cambridge and the Commonwealth. Today is a very exciting milestone for our shared goals.”

“The CRA and the City of Cambridge successfully leveraged the value of Kendall Square’s development rights to turn a planning challenge into a groundbreaking opportunity. Through a public-private partnership with Eversource and BXP, we are transforming a parking garage into vital utility infrastructure, cutting-edge lab space for life sciences research, and vibrant open space that enhances the neighborhood,” said Tom Evans, Executive Director of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority.

Eversource anticipates to begin putting GCEP into service in 2029 with the energization of the substation and the first transmission line. As construction proceeds, the energy company expects that the remaining transmission lines will be put into service through 2031. Throughout the duration of the project, approximately 500 full-time jobs will be supported.

More information about the Greater Cambridge Energy Program is available here, and the livestream of the groundbreaking celebration is available to watch on Eversource’s MA Facebook page. Keeping the lines of communication open is an essential part of Eversource’s work in the community, and residents and others who are interested in the project’s progress are encouraged to sign up for project updates.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is recognized as the #1 U.S. utility on TIME’s List of World’s Best Companies for 2024. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.47 million electric customers in 140 communities, 639,000 gas customers in 117 communities, and 11,500 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of more than 10,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.