Posted on January 19, 2016
By Tony Giunta, PG, Director of Project Development
Nobis has partnered with NH Solar Garden in the development of 15 solar projects throughout central and southern New Hampshire. Nobis is at the forefront of the escalating solar industry in the State of New Hampshire and is considered the leading consulting firm in the renewable energy field providing comprehensive public relations, regulatory negotiations, land planning, engineering design, and permitting services. Nobis has provided designs for a wide range of solar installations from small scale (less than 1 Megawatt) to large scale (greater than 1 Megawatt) systems, both as ground-based and rooftop mount type systems. Solar arrays such as these are being developed on municipal and privately-owned properties that are currently being transformed from underutilized assets to sustainable, renewable energy resources.
Nobis successfully designed and permitted the largest multi-site solar installation in the State of New Hampshire for the City of Franklin. At roughly 10 megawatts, the system is designed to supplement current electricity demand and to transfer power directly to the energy grid. The project allows the City of Franklin to transform underutilized land into sources of clean energy while reducing its overall electricity costs.
Solar projects Nobis is currently working on in New Hampshire include:
• LL&S, Inc. Landfill, Salem (1.3 MW)
• ERRCO Facility, Epping (778 KW)
• Cunningham Lane, Chester (1 MW)
• Evergreen, Lisbon (750 KW)
• Concord Road, Lee (100 KW)
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Posted on January 18, 2016
By Tony Giunta, PG, Director of Project Development
Nobis Engineering, Inc. (Nobis) is proud to be at the forefront of the escalating solar industry in the State of New Hampshire. Currently partnering with NH Solar Garden, Nobis has permitted or is currently in the process of permitting 15 solar projects located throughout central and southern New Hampshire. Nobis is providing designs for a variety of small (less than 1 Megawatt) and large scale (greater than 1 Megawatt) projects including ground-based, rooftop, and car-port type systems. Solar arrays such as these are being developed on municipal and privately-owned properties that are currently being transformed from underutilized assets to sustainable, renewable energy resources. With this number and diversity of solar projects, Nobis has been recognized as New Hampshire’s leading consulting firm in the solar renewable energy field providing comprehensive public relations, regulatory negotiations, land planning, engineering design, and permitting services.
SOLAR PROJECT OF HISTORIC PROPORTION:
Nobis Engineering successfully designed and permitted the largest multi-site solar installation in New Hampshire history. Located in the City of Franklin, this nearly 10 Megawatt system is designed to supplement the city’s electricity demand and transfer excess power directly to the energy grid. The project allows the City of Franklin to transform underutilized land into sources of clean energy while reducing their overall electricity costs.
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Posted on January 11, 2016
Nobis is pleased to announce the addition of a new staff member:
Ting Chang, PE, joined our Massachusetts office as a Project Manager. Ms. Chang received her M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, Massachusetts. She is a registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Ms. Chang has nearly 20 years of experience in civil engineering, including commercial, institutional, industrial, and residential civil/site development.
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Posted on June 25, 2015
The Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) announced the winner of their James D.P. Farrell Award for Brownfields Project of the Year as the General Services Administration (GSA) Property Remedial Action project in Watertown, Massachusetts (MA). Charter Contracting Company, LLC (Charter) of Boston, MA, was the prime contractor responsible for design, engineering, and construction on this Performance Based Contract. Nobis Engineering, Inc. (Nobis) as a team member to Charter provided civil engineering, soil cover and wetland design, and was among the award recipient project stakeholders which also included: the GSA; the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR); the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
The GSA Property Remedial Action in Watertown, MA, was a multi-faceted, collaborative project that transformed a 13-acre contaminated, unused, urban brownfield site into an essential community greenspace and wetlands habitat. The property was impacted by historical waste management storage and the burning of scrap. As the first Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) to transition from federal to local ownership, the success of the remediation project exemplified brownfields revitalization and stakeholder collaboration. After 94 years of federal ownership and 35 years of pressure from Watertown officials on behalf of their constituents, the political and financial conditions aligned for cleanup and redevelopment of the U.S. Army’s former Watertown Arsenal site. The project was successfully funded, achieved remediation goals, and returned the site to DCR ownership, where it would “fit into the DCR’s Charles River unit” and create a greenspace corridor in the heart of the city, according to Michael Misslin, Chief Engineer with the DCR. The land now provides recreational areas, flood mitigation, and wildlife conservation.
Between 2012 and 2014, Nobis provided environmental engineering services to Charter in support of site remedial actions, including:
• development of remedial action work plans;
• drainage analyses;
• soil delineation investigations;
• the engineering design of a 2-acre cover over polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) impacted soil (<50ppm); • design of a 2-acre wetland replication area featuring an emergent island and 620 wetland plantings; off-site disposal of 950 tons of PCB soil (>50ppm);
• and remedial action closure reporting.
The EBC’s Annual EBEE awards are given for “outstanding environmental / energy accomplishments in the promotion of a sustainable, clean environment” and the Brownfields Project of the Year is awarded to a Brownfields project “that serves as an example of excellence notwithstanding the social, economic, technical and institutional challenges imposed.” The EBEE Awards were presented at the EBC’s 2015 Annual Meeting and EBEE Awards Celebration held on Thursday June 18, 2015 at the Newton Marriott Hotel with former Massachusetts’ Governor William F. Weld as the scheduled keynote speaker.
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Posted on June 24, 2015
By Tony Giunta, PG, Director of Project Development
For those of us who live in New England, driving by blighted mill buildings and vacant downtowns is an all too common experience. Of course, it wasn’t always that way. During the Industrial Revolution, New England’s abundant rivers and streams powered those once mighty mills which during their heyday led the country and the world in industrial output.
Then, beginning in the 1970’s and continuing into the early 21st century, cheap labor and fewer regulations drove New England manufacturers overseas-leaving those quintessential rural mill towns with a lot of open lots, empty buildings, and broken hearts. Well, the sun may once again be rising (literally) for “mill towns”.
Solar energy has long been touted as the planets saving grace. After all, as long as the sun keeps shining, solar cells keep pumping out energy. But to capitalize on this virtually inexhaustible power source, there are two critical factors that must be present: large plots of land to allow for sufficient solar panel deployment and three phase power lines to allow the generated solar energy to flow into the electric grid.
Although to many those dilapidated mill buildings may appear an embarrassing legacy, it was their mighty power requirements that drove the construction of existing electrical infrastructure crucial for today’s solar arrays. And by design many New England communities have maintained their rural nature-thus satisfying the need for large tracts of land. Combine the two, and you have an attractive environment for very large very productive solar power installations vis-a-vis a Solar Revolution.
To give you an example of how the Solar Revolution has already begun, let me share with you the story of my home City of Franklin, NH. Franklin is located in central NH and is very much a mill City. Like others, this once industrial powerhouse was staggered by the closing of its iconic mills and has since struggled to seize upon the next great opportunity. Although eyesores, those mighty mills left a vast electrical infrastructure. That, combined with the city’s rural setting has attracted the attention of a major solar developer-NH Solar Garden.
Teaming with Nobis Engineering, a major land development and environmental permitting firm, NH Solar Garden approached Franklin municipal officials to discuss developing solar arrays on large tracts of unproductive city-owned properties all located adjacent to vital electrical infrastructure. As a result of those initial talks, NH Solar Garden is moving forward with nearly 9 megawatts of proposed solar installations. Upon completion this will be the largest single solar installation in the history of the State thus earning Franklin the title “New Hampshire’s Solar Capital”.
Throughout its thirty year life expectancy, the solar arrays will generate thousands of megawatt hours of carbon free energy, hundreds of thousands of dollars in lease payments to the City, and residual property tax payments for land that was virtually worthless in its present state. The City of Franklin will also have access to stable predictable power rates with the potential to save tens of thousands of dollars in electricity costs over the life of the arrays. And most importantly, the City will be able to reverse a pervasive perception from one of a struggling 19th century old mill city to one of an advanced modern 21st century environmentally conscious low carbon green energy mecca. I can hear our Mayor now, “Apple, Microsoft, Google, you should relocate some of your operations to a truly sustainable city, Franklin-the Solar Capital of NH!” Now that’s going to raise some eyebrows!
Just as water power had propelled Franklin to “powerhouse” status in the 19th and 20th centuries, it may be among the first of many New England “mill towns” to regain its illustrious status by capitalizing upon the Solar Power Revolution.
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Posted on June 16, 2015
The Greater Concord (NH) Chamber of Commerce honored Nobis Engineering, Inc. as Business of the Year at the 10th Annual Pinnacle Awards luncheon on May 28, 2015 at the Grappone Center in Concord, NH. The Greater Concord Chamber’s Pinnacle Awards recognize businesses that “have demonstrated professional excellence and commitment to the Chamber and the Community.” Nobis’ President, Kenneth Koornneef, PE, accepted the Business of the Year award on behalf of the company.
Nobis was recognized at the event along with the Small Business of the Year, Cimo’s South End Market; Business Leader of the Year, David Fries, Esq., of Cleveland, Waters & Bass, PA; Non Profit of the Year, Concord Area Trust for Community Housing (CATCH); the 2015 W. Grant McIntosh Volunteer of the Year Award given to Ryan Taylor of Fairpoint Communications; and Concord’s Young Professional of the Year presented to Charlie Cole of Cole Gardens.
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Posted on June 16, 2015
U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) visited and toured Nobis Engineering in its Concord, New Hampshire headquarters on June 5, 2015. Nobis is a NH-based business that provides environmental, civil, and geotechnical engineering services to federal, state, municipal, and commercial clients throughout the Northeast. During her visit, Senator Ayotte met with Nobis’ employee-owners about the firm’s services; learned of its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) which provides the company’s workforce with an ownership interest in the firm; and fielded questions during a Question and Answer (Q&A) session. Q&A topics ranged from future funding for Brownfields, municipal water supply, and transportation projects to national security and identity theft concerns.
As an expression of gratitude for the Senator’s work on behalf of ESOPs, Nobis’ President Kenneth Koornneef, PE, presented Senator Ayotte with a granite rock core sample taken as part of the firm’s work at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The core boasted the quote, “Thank you for your rock solid support for ESOPs. The Nobis employee-owners don’t take it for ‘Granite’.”
A native of New Hampshire, Senator Ayotte is a former NH Attorney General and has served as NH’s Senator since 2011. Senator Ayotte serves on the Armed Services; Budget; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committees in the 113th U.S. Congress.
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Posted on February 17, 2015
By Tony Giunta, PG, Director of Project Development
I’m sure by now you’ve had the sobering experience of opening your electric bill and thinking “there must be some mistake!” Nope, no mistake. Prices have gone up… way up. In my case, I saw a 35% increase. It appears I was one of the lucky ones as a close friend said his monthly bill increased by nearly double that amount. Ouch!
Knowing I’m in the energy field, many people ask me “What’s driving these staggering increases?” and “Will prices ever come down again?” To answer these questions, let’s first take a closer look at how New England has achieved the dubious distinction of having the highest electric rates in the country and then address what it will take to lower those rates.
First, we all need to realize that it takes energy to make electricity. The major forms of energy are derived from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), nuclear fuel, and renewable fuels such as water, wind, biomass, and the sun. Because consumers demand reliability (available power 24-7) as well as low costs, electrical producers satisfy those consumer demands by choosing fuels that are least expensive and produce the most reliable sources of electricity.
In the post-World War II era, we all believed there were limitless supplies of cheap fossil fuels. We were also in the dawn of the “atomic age” and had successfully harnessed energy from splitting the atom. And the intricate connection between industrialization and environmental degradation had yet to be understood. As a result, fossil (mainly coal and oil) along with nuclear were the dominant sources of energy for producing cheap reliable electricity.
Then came the 70’s-the 1973 oil embargo, the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear plant incident, the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and their promulgation of tighter restrictions on air, water, and soil pollution. These events, combined with a modern era focus on fossil fuel emissions and their contribution to global warming, have completely changed the “fuel of choice” dynamics for 21st century electrical producers.
Taking all this into consideration, if you were going to build a power plant in New England today you would want to power it with a fuel source that is abundant, allows you to run reliably at low cost and with relatively low emissions. As you look for this “Goldilocks” fuel, the first piece of good news is power plants located in New England are less than a day’s drive from the Marcellus shale formation-one of the largest natural gas reserves in the entire world. Even better news is with advancements in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal directional drilling those reserves are now abundantly available and cheap. And possibly the best news of all is natural gas is one of the cleanest burning lowest emission fossil fuels available.
Based on this information, the logical fuel choice for your new power plant would be natural gas. And as you would expect over the past ten years statistics have shown that New England power plants have chosen natural gas as their fuel of choice.
So now the question becomes, “if the majority of our electricity is coming from low emission cheap plentiful domestic sources, why are my electric bills going through the roof?”
Well, the short answer is electrical producers weren’t the only ones who chose their fuel based on all those good characteristics associated with natural gas. Manufacturers, businesses, industries, and homeowners want that same cheap reliable low emission fuel for their use, too! With so many consumers choosing natural gas, there’s now a shortage of that fuel during times of peak demand.
Although demand for natural gas has grown dramatically, the pipeline capacity to deliver that gas has not kept pace. Pipeline demand has exceeded pipeline supply. To complicate matters even further, when it comes to a hierarchy of usage, power plants are last on the totem pole to receive their due. Only after business, industry, and residential demand is met will any remaining gas supply be sold to power plants.
So on the coldest days of winter-those days when both electricity usage and heating requirements are at their highest-electricity producers are restricted from accessing natural gas and must find other sources of fuel to meet demand.
Here in lies the crux of the “high cost” dilemma. When natural gas producing plants turn off because they lack gas supply, other plants that typically use higher cost fuels and whose cost of electrical production are often much higher turn on. As those higher cost electrons flow onto the grid, someone has to pay for them… and that someone is you and me.
In the Northeast, this scenario has been occurring more and more frequently and for longer durations. In fact, it has become so predictable that the electrical markets have reacted by factoring those higher costs of production into their rates. As a result, we, the consumers, are not only paying more money for that electricity, we are also paying higher environmental costs as those plants that must supplement the market in the absence of natural gas typically use much “dirtier” fuels such as coal, heavy oils, and jet fuel.
So, how do we lower rates? Simply stated, we must increase natural gas pipeline capacity into New England. Again, the largest lowest cost natural gas fields in the world are a couple of hundred miles away. Lowering the cost of electricity is not a question of if we can find more natural gas supply, it’s merely a function of getting enough gas into New England such that we no longer have to rely upon producers who use high priced high emission fuels to meet peak demands.
Bottom line, having ample quantities of domestic natural gas available to meet New England’s peak demands will not only lower electric rates, it will also improve air quality throughout the region, a true win-win for all concerned.
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Posted on January 19, 2015
Nobis is pleased to announce that Senior Hydrogeologist Dr. James Vernon received the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA) Volunteer of the Year Award for his outstanding service throughout the year to NEWWA. Dr. Vernon also received an award for his 10 years of service as Chair of the NEWWA Groundwater Committee. He frequently presents at seminars offered by NEWWA. In 2014, Dr. Vernon and the Groundwater Committee offered a pre-Conference Workshop at the American Water Works Association national convention in Boston, MA.
Dr. Vernon leads Nobis’ water supply practice, which includes planning and assessment services from a water resources perspective and technical services focused on groundwater sources for water supply (i.e., wells). A particular focus of Dr. Vernon’s is the development and permitting of new water supply wells, including wells tapping both overburden and bedrock aquifers. Dr. Vernon is active, professionally, within the water supply field, serving on technical advisory committees, teaching professional seminars, and serving on committees for professional organizations. “Jim is a terrific resource of knowledge and has extensive hands-on experience to help our clients with their water supply needs and concerns.” stated Nobis’ President, Kenneth Koornneef, P.E.
Dr. James Vernon has been a consulting hydrogeologist/geologist since 1990. He has located, developed, permitted, and protected groundwater supplies (wells and springs) for federal, state, municipal, and private clients in eight states, including all New England states as well as New York. He has conducted groundwater studies in a variety of geologic settings including glacial deposits, weathered rock, crystalline bedrock, and sedimentary bedrock. He has worked successfully with regulators and regulations in all of the above states to permit new wells and bottled water sources.
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Posted on September 30, 2014
The Elizabeth Mine Superfund site remediation project has received the Green Dream Team Award as part of the 2014 United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Sustainability Team Award program. The award was presented at the USACE Senior Leadership Conference in August of 2014. The Green Dream Team Award recognizes interagency teams for extraordinary leadership in sustainability.
Located in South Strafford, VT, Elizabeth Mine was an abandoned copper and iron-sulfate mine that ceased operations in 1958. The $20 million remediation project involved the removal of hazardous waste that had developed during the mine’s more than 150-year lifespan. The New England District USACE teamed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a consultant team including Nobis Engineering, Inc., to remediate the 43-acre site, a project which was completed ahead of schedule and more than $600,000 under budget.
Nobis Engineering has been involved with the project since 2011; we were awarded the American Council of Engineering Companies/Vermont Section 2013 Engineering Excellence Award. More information about Nobis’ services on the project may be found here.
Detailed information about the award may be found here.
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Posted on June 16, 2014
As part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations, Nobis Engineering, Inc. (Nobis) in Lowell, MA has partnered with local non-profit organization Mill City Grows (MCG) in assisting them with the launch of MCG’s Mobile Market. A farmers’ market on wheels, MCG’s truck and Mobile Market trailer will travel the City of Lowell beginning the summer of 2014. The Mobile Market will make stops in six locations around the city allowing Lowell residents easy access to organic, locally-grown produce from MCG gardens. On Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 9am, Nobis is proud to host a ribbon cutting for the new Mobile Market in the parking lot of its Lowell office at 585 Middlesex Street. Community members and staff will have the opportunity to shop for produce and support MCG.
The Mobile Market has also been made possible in large part due to an investment by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). Graphic design services for the trailer were provided by graphic designer Shawna Dermer of New York City, NY; printing of the trailer graphics SGI Graphics Inc. of Belmont, MA; installation of the trailer graphics were supplied by Dylan & Pete’s of Lowell, MA.
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Posted on May 19, 2014
Nobis Engineering, Inc. (Nobis) has been selected as the:
• 2014 National Small Business Administration 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year
• 2014 Massachusetts Small Business Administration 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year
The Small Business Administration has selected Nobis Engineering as their Massachusetts and National 2014 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year, recognizing Nobis for their business growth, success in the Federal marketplace, and commitment to their customers and community since their April 2004 graduation from the SBA 8(a) program.
Nobis’ Senior Vice President Peter Delano comments,
These two SBA awards are a testament to SBA’s critical assistance as well as Nobis’ commitment to and success in competing and winning as a small business Federal contractor since our SBA 8(a) graduation.
SBA’s 8(a) Business Development program is a nine-year assistance program which “provides socially and economically disadvantaged firms access to government contracting opportunities and specialized business training and counseling to help them become viable competitors in the Federal marketplace.” SBA makes the 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year Award to a formerly certified 8(a) Business Development Program participant that has been a graduate from the 8(a) program for at least one year.
Since graduating from the SBA 8(a) program over ten years ago, Nobis’ revenues have more than doubled, the firm has grown significantly to 100+ employees and six offices.
Both awards were presented by the SBA to Nobis CEO Abhijit “Nannu” Nobis during National Small Business Week held May 12-16, 2014.
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Posted on July 23, 2013
Nobis was the American Council of Engineering Companies of Vermont (ACEC/VT), Engineering Excellence Grand Award winner for its work at the Elizabeth Mine Superfund in South Stafford, Vermont.
The Elizabeth Mine Site, one of the largest and most intact historic mining sites in New England, operated for 100+ years producing over 50,000 tons of copper. After the mine closed in 1957, mine tailings, waste rock, and smelter waste remained. These wastes discharge acid rock drainage (ARD) and dissolved metals, resulting in surface water impacts as far downstream as the West Branch of the Ompompanoosuc River. To mitigate these impacts, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed a site closure remedy requiring the construction of a 45-acre geosynthetic waste containment system to reduce ARD discharges from over 3 million cubic yards of waste located within two tailing piles. In 2010, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers selected Nobis to perform closure to the tailing piles.
The ACEC/VT annually sponsors an Engineering Excellence Awards Program to showcase exemplary engineering projects completed in Vermont. A panel of judges comprised of distinguished planners, engineers and construction professionals selects award winners from entries submitted. The winners of this competition were announced at the Annual EWeek Banquet which was held in February, 2013. The winners of the Engineering Excellence Award Competition was honored at ACEC/VT’s Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet in June, 2013.
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Posted on March 23, 2012
Nobis Engineering, Inc., a multi-disciplinary consulting firm providing diversified environmental, geotechnical, and civil engineering services, announced today that their CEO, Mr. Nannu Nobis, has been selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the 2012 New Hampshire Small Business Person of the Year. Mr. Nobis was recognized for his leadership, dedication to his community, and innovative business solutions that have driven Nobis’ business growth and contributed to the nation’s overall economic growth.
Each year, the Small Business Administration recognizes outstanding business owners for their success and contributions as part of National Small Business Week. Nannu will be recognized by SBA at their May celebration. “We’re thrilled to hear that Nannu has been selected by the SBA for his leadership, community commitments, and the success of our firm. We’re very proud of our growing small business and being a part of the SBA community,” said Pete Delano, Senior Vice President.
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