Bill DiCroce, the former CEO of Vicinity, a crucial player in Boston’s energy landscape, had a vision for transforming how the city approaches heating and cooling emissions. He believed that with Vicinity’s centralized thermal source, there was a significant opportunity to decrease carbon emissions across many of Boston’s most energy-intensive buildings. As officials in Boston implement stricter emissions regulations, DiCroce’s company stands to play an essential role in both addressing climate challenges and capturing new business opportunities.
Kevin Hagerty, DiCroce’s successor as chief executive at Vicinity, noted DiCroce’s unwavering dedication to his vision. “He was steadfast in his vision about where he wanted to take the company and he was relentless in his drive to get there,” Hagerty commented. DiCroce was known for his bluntness and fervor regarding the relative ease of decarbonizing multiple buildings through a shared system, contrasting it with the tedious process of retrofitting individual structures one by one.
Vicinity’s innovative solutions include last year’s installation of an electric-powered boiler at its Kendall plant in Cambridge. Dubbed “eSteam,” this product allows building owners to purchase steam to meet their environmental goals. Although initially met with skepticism, DiCroce and his team have advocated effectively within the Boston business community, asserting the viability of eSteam as a credible energy option.
Despite the fact that approximately half of New England’s power grid relies on natural gas, a fossil fuel, Vicinity is taking steps to mitigate its carbon footprint. The company buys energy credits from renewable energy producers to offset eSteam’s environmental impact. Its first eSteam customers include Emerson College and lab developer IQHQ, with plans to directly source energy from impending offshore wind farms in New England.
DiCroce’s ambitions did not stop there; he aimed to harness the thermal energy of the Charles River to develop a new source of eSteam. In 2023, he announced a collaboration with Volkswagen subsidiary MAN Energy Solutions to implement a large heat pump system that will pull water from the Charles River and return it cooler after extracting thermal energy. This project is designed to function similarly to ground-source heat pump systems, like the one heating Boston University’s new computing and data sciences center. However, as Hagerty explained, extracting too much thermal energy from ground sources can render them inefficient, leading DiCroce to explore the river’s potential instead. The installation of this massive heat pump at Kendall is projected for completion in 2028.
Antin Infrastructure Partners, Vicinity’s private equity owners, have fully supported DiCroce’s forward-thinking plans. With an engineering background from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, DiCroce’s career spans significant roles in notable energy firms, including GE, Entergy, and Eversource. His expertise culminated in running Veolia’s North American businesses and leading the spinout of Vicinity with assistance from Antin’s financial backing.
Beyond his corporate endeavors, DiCroce was active in promoting climate resiliency as a member of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, which fosters public-private collaboration aimed at enhancing the city’s sustainability. Amy Longsworth, the Commission’s executive director, reflected on DiCroce’s determination when he encountered skepticism about the eSteam concept. “He wasn’t very well known to the Boston power-broker crowd [when he joined],” Longsworth acknowledged, “but he was fierce in his advocacy and his point of view.”
Over time, acceptance of DiCroce’s vision broadened, aided by his persistent efforts in the energy transition sector. As news of his passing spread, industry leaders celebrated DiCroce’s pioneering contributions to environmental sustainability. Joe Curtatone from the Alliance for Climate Transition described DiCroce as a “pioneer,” while Casey Bowers of the Environmental League of Massachusetts recognized his ability to anticipate future developments in the energy landscape.
Kevin Slein, a senior vice president at lab landlord BioMed Realty, emphasized the transformative potential of Vicinity’s electric-powered boiler and planned heat pump system. Slein, a long-time acquaintance of DiCroce, noted that these initiatives could significantly aid building owners in transitioning away from fossil fuel heating sources. Inspired by similar regional projects in Europe, DiCroce’s strategy to exploit the thermal energy of the Charles River may be replicated in urban centers throughout the United States.
As the quest to green large-scale heating and cooling systems continues, Bill DiCroce’s innovative ideas hold promise for reducing our overall carbon footprint. His legacy underscores one of the most pressing challenges in the fight against climate change — finding novel solutions to energy consumption and emissions.
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