Local company FireFlower Alternative Energy has partnered with First Highland Management and Development to develop the largest rooftop solar array in the City of Boston. The project is located in the Boston/Dedham Commerce Park at 65 Sprague Street. The solar array covers 120,000 square feet of rooftop and has a 974-kilowatt capacity.

FireFlower Alternative Energy was founded in 2008 by entrepreneur Kathleen C. Doyle. Ms. Doyle has extensive expertise in solar, wind, and biofuel development, combined with over 20 years' experience in commercial real estate.

A business leader with a passion for sustainable living, Ms. Doyle fuels her own vehicle with waste vegetable oil. In order to confirm for clients the promise and effectiveness of solar, a photovoltaic (PV) system has been powering the entire electric demand at her family's home for over 6 years.

Of the 65 Sprague Street project, Ms. Doyle said, "This is an important milestone for the City of Boston. Large scale solar installations such as this benefit the environment by providing clean, renewable power at no additional cost to the tenants while helping the property owner's bottom line. It's a win-win for the tenants and owners and our local economy."

First Highland's 65 Sprague Street facility is a 450,000 SF multi-use building currently home to a diverse group of tenants, including RR Donnelly, the Dancing Deer Baking Company, and the nonprofit Hyde Park Open Studios

Broadway Electrical Company, Inc., one of the Northeast's largest electrical contractors, completed the installation. Financing was provided by Commerce Bank.

The 65 Sprague Street solar array is net metered and interconnected to the NSTAR grid, generating renewable power with an estimated annual market value of over $180,000.

Additionally, the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) created by the state to help incentivize solar development in MA helped make the project possible. The project will produce almost 65% of the electricity consumed in the building.