Page 24 - BusinessWest September 1, 2025

Changing the Narrative
Holyoke Mayor Recognized for Leadership in Clean Energy
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia was named a finalist for the Mayor
of the Year Award, presented by the Northeast Renewable
Energy Coalition (NREC), in recognition of his leadership and
innovation in clean energy and community development.
Garcia is the first mayor in Massachusetts to be recognized by the
NREC. The award will be presented during Massachusetts Clean
Energy Week, taking place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4.
“I am overwhelmed and honored to receive this recognition on
behalf of Holyoke,” Garcia said. “This award is for all of us in Holy-
oke, not just me — our residents, business owners, and neighborhood
and community activists who love our city and work so hard to move
us forward in the effort to harness our clean energy resources to con-
tinue to bring environmental and economic benefits to our city.”
Holyoke has become a leader in hydroelectric and renewable ener-
gy. Through community partnerships and long-term planning, Holyoke
Gas & Electric (HG&E) has built a sustainable clean energy portfolio.
Its core strategy is to overestimate future demand, an approach that
led the utility to upgrade infrastructure and install one of Massachu-
setts’ largest utility batteries to handle peak demand.
Affordable clean energy has also helped to attract ventures like the
Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center and Sub-
lime Systems to Holyoke.
In a letter to the mayor, NREC Executive Director Kristin Rode
praised Holyoke’s progress and Garcia’s community-centered
approach.
“Your dedication to your community and the innovative solutions
you’re implementing make you a natural fit for recognition during
Massachusetts Clean Energy Week. Your leadership in Holyoke has
caught our attention as truly exceptional,” she wrote.
“We understand that Western Massachusetts is often left out of
“This award is for all of us in Holyoke, not just me —
our residents, business owners, and neighborhood
and community activists who love our city and work
so hard to move us forward in the effort to harness
our clean energy resources to continue to bring
environmental and economic benefits to our city.”
MAYOR JOSHUA GARCIA
the spotlight when it comes to statewide recognition, and we want to
change that narrative. From what we have learned about your innova-
tive approaches to municipal leadership and community development,
you represent exactly the kind of community-centered leadership
that deserves to be celebrated and shared with mayors across the
Commonwealth.”
Garcia has also negotiated upgrades to Holyoke’s wastewater treat-
ment system, replacing outdated infrastructure with energy-efficient,
environmentally sound technology.
One of these separates the existing combined sewer flows within
Holyoke’s River Terrace area. By leveraging clean energy savings
and working closely with state and federal agencies, his administra-
tion secured funding to reduce
long-term operating costs and
improve water quality. These
improvements not only align
Energy
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SEPTEMBER 1, 2025
Business W est