History of District Heating in the United States

| Chronological List of District Heating Systems in the United States |

District Heating in Springfield, Massachusetts

The Springfield Gas Light Company built two separate district heating systems. The first operated from 1878 to 1902 and the second from 1929 to 1963.

The 1963 service discontinuance was due to the construction of I-91 through the heating plant site.

Substantial efforts were made in the 1980s to develop a new district heating network, championed by Mayor (Later congressman) Richard P. Neal, but nothing came of them.

References
1878 "The Holly Steam Heating System," The Springfield Daily Republican, July 22, 1878, Page 5.
To be Tried in Springfield by the Gas Company this winter

1878 "The Holly Steam-Heating System Successfully at Work," The Springfield Daily Republican, October 29, 1878, Page 5.

1899 "To Improve Maple Street and Widen Central Street," The Springfield Daily Republican, July 13, 1899, Page 4.
Plans now being considered by supervisors--Holly steam pipes discontinuance.

1900 "The Holly Steam Problem," The Springfield Daily Republican, May 9, 1900, Page 10.
Effects of increasing price--What will the City Do?

1901 Richmond Dispatch, May 26, 1901, Page 4.
The has proved a failure and is to be abandoned.

1902 Springfield Sunday Republican, April 6, 1902, Page 2.
The cessation of the Holly steam..
The Holly steam has great advantages, apparently, at its installation, in the way of economy and convenience. It achieved the latter result, but missed the former, and in addition made itself a nuisance on the streets.

1929 "Gas Company Will Lay Larger Pipe at Columbus Ave," Springfield Daily News, Jul 17, 1929, Page 2.
The 12-inch pipe will replace one of six inches now there. The larger size of pipe is wanted to enable the company to furnish heat to a group of buildings other than those owned by the company.

1963 "County Faces Heating Problem in Buildings," Springfield Daily News, July 22, 1963, Page 20.
In the immediate future, the Springfield Gas Light Co. will discontinue live steam, which has been furnished to many buildings along lower State St.
Reconstruction of Rte.91 in the section of the gas plant has brought about this change which eliminates live steam service for approximately 35 large buildings.

1982 Technical and Economic Feasibility Study for District Heating in Springfield, December, 1982 | also here | No copy of this has been found.

1985 Assessment of district heating for Springfield, Massachusetts, February, 1985

1987 "Mass. city to get district heating, cogen (Springfield, Massachusetts)," Energy User News, March 9, 1987
ANR Venture Management Co. here has announced plans to develop a $40 million, dual-fuel cogeneration-fired district heating system for Springfield, Mass.
The project is expected to heat and cool more than 40 buildings and generate 22.5 megawatts of electricity.
For the initial phase, the developers have preliminary commitments to connect the system to roughly 15 buildings.
The system, scheduled to begin operating in July 1989, will use nearly 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas, Stallwood said. No. 2 oil will be used as a backup, to be purchased from Belcher New England Inc. in Revere, he added.