Vicinity Energy partners with IQHQ to power fully carbon-neutral development in Fenway

Boston, MA Vicinity Energy, a national decarbonization leader with an extensive portfolio of district energy systems across the United States, has formed a long-term partnership with IQHQ, Inc., a premier life sciences real estate development company focused on leadership in sustainability. Vicinity will provide eSteam, its new carbon-free, renewable thermal energy offering to IQHQ to rapidly decarbonize IQHQ’s developments in the Fenway neighborhood.

Under the agreement, IQHQ’s development at 109 Brookline Ave. will use 100% eSteam for heating–making it one of the city’s first entirely carbon-neutral buildings. The 305,000 s/f office and laboratory space is part of IQHQ’s FWD district, a growing life science cluster connecting Kenmore Sq. with the Longwood Medical Academic Area.

IQHQ is also pursuing eSteam at its Fenway Center development, a mixed-use, transit-oriented life science campus located at the western gateway to the city. Fenway Center will include nearly 1 million s/f of commercial office and lab space built over the Mass Pike, and will become the anchor of IQHQ’s FWD district.

Vicinity will begin delivering carbon-free eSteam in 2024.

“At IQHQ, we have a commitment to developing class-A life science districts that provide our tenant, visitors, and communities at large with healthy, resilient, and responsible spaces,” said Jenny Whitson, director, sustainability & ESG for IQHQ. “We are excited to partner with Vicinity Energy to decarbonize the steam serving our projects.”

Vicinity’s expansion into the city’s Fenway neighborhood marks a significant milestone in Vicinity’s Clean Energy Future plans, and paves the way for more building owners and property managers to leverage eSteam for rapid building decarbonization to combat climate change and meet sustainability goals.

Vicinity is the first district energy company in the U.S. to commit to fully decarbonizing its operations, offering renewable thermal energy by installing electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and thermal storage at its central facilities starting in Boston and Cambridge, with its other districts to follow. eSteam is the nation’s first 100% carbon-free renewable energy product, providing a one-stop-shop for Greater Boston businesses and institutions grappling with enforceable emissions performance standards and cities tackling the highest source of emissions.

“We are proud to partner with IQHQ as our first carbon-free eSteam customer to reduce their buildings’ carbon emissions and enable IQHQ to achieve their ESG goals while complying with the city’s BERDO 2.0 regulations,” said Bill DiCroce, president and CEO of Vicinity Energy. “This eSteam partnership not only signifies our commitment to a clean energy future, but it also demonstrates the commitment from progressive, innovative industry leaders, like IQHQ, who are committed to lower carbon emissions and to combat climate change.”