National Grid Sponsoring Cleantech Open

The utility company recently announced its support for the group in hopes of helping develop green technology.

National Grid recently announced it will become a platinum sponsor of the 2013 Cleantech Open Northeast Business Competition and Accelerator Program, an initiative designed to help the development of innovative clean energy solutions. The program is run by the Northeast division of the Cleantech Open, a not-for-profit group that has helped 727 green energy startups raise over $800 million in capital since its founding in 2005. "The Cleantech Open has a very successful track record in helping companies develop their innovations through to investment and we’re thrilled to have a partner on board as dedicated to clean technology as National Grid is,” said  Alexandra Adler, Northeast Regional Director, Cleantech Open.  “This partnership will …

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Around Town: Foxborough Emergency Response Groups Seeking Volunteers; National Grid Approved for Work on Belcher Road

The following roundup of Foxborough news and information was gathered from the March 19th Board of Selectmen meeting.

Foxborough Citizen Corps is seeking volunteers to be part of the town’s emergency preparedness response groups. “You do not have to be a medical professional to be involved,” said Foxborough Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis. “Two free classes are coming up. The first one is Monday, April 1 and the second one is Monday, April 8. Both classes are at 6:30 p.m. in the McGinty Room of the Foxborough Public Safety Building.” To register for Foxborough’s Medical Reserve Corps or CERT teams, visit Foxborough Citizen Corps’ website at www.foxboroughcitizencorps.org or call the Foxborough Health Department at (508) 543-1207. “It’s one group that was very instrumental in working with the police and fire chiefs, town manager, selectmen and …

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5 Things You Need To Know Today

5 Things: National Grid Warns Customers About Recent Phone Scam; Planning Board Public Hearing & More

Here's five things you need to know in Foxborough for today, Feb. 28.

For more town news and instant updates on stories like this (and more!), follow Foxborough Patch on Facebook and Twitter, or sign-up for our e-mail newsletter. Editor's note: Five Things You Need To Know Today is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. If you know of something happening in town that did not make our list, please add it in the comment section! Today’s weather in Foxborough, according to the National Weather Service based in Taunton, calls for a chance of rain and snow showers before 8 a.m., then rain showers likely. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 48. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. …

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Foxborough Officials Tell Residents to Stay Off Roads Saturday

Town is in good shape overall but roads remain unsafe to travel on.

As residents wake up to over two feet of snow in Foxborough, officials are urging everyone to stay inside Saturday while plows work to clear roads. “The roads in some areas aren’t safe,” said Foxborough Police Chief Edward O’Leary. “The Governor hasn’t lifted the driving ban yet and people should stay home.” O’Leary told Foxborough officials Saturday that his four-wheel drive vehicle got stuck for a period of time on Chestnut Street as he was making his way back to the Public Safety Building. “I got stuck on Chestnut Saturday morning with a four-wheel drive vehicle and a reasonably sane driver,” O’Leary said. “It’s just the drifts. You pull over and you’re in 12 inches of snow. Crucial thing is to limit traffic.” Even with the snow winding…

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Paicos on Blizzard: ‘So Far, So Good’ in Foxborough (Video)

Foxborough officials received an update via conference call just after 5 p.m. Friday on how the town is managing Blizzard 2013.

As Foxborough Town Manager heard updates from Police Chief Edward O’Leary, Deputy Fire Chief Steven Bagley and National Grid Liaison Tom Coughlin regarding Friday’s blizzard, the message was clear: “So far, so good,” Paicos said. Over a dozen town officials and department heads were on the conference call just after 5 p.m. Friday. Here’s the most recent update of the town’s condition provided by public safety officials and department heads: Foxborough Police Say ‘Not Much Happening’ “There haven’t been any real significant calls,” O’Leary said. “The bulk of the community is paying attention to the Governor’s order about the 4 p.m. shutdown [and staying off the roads]. We have extra people still on patrol to be able to respond to calls. …

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State Fines National Grid Millions for 2011 Storm Responses

National Grid was fined nearly $19 million, the highest fine levied against utilities in Massachusetts.

The state on Tuesday ordered a total of $24.8 million in penalties to utility companies for their response to storms in 2011. Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan joined Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Chairman Ann Berwick and DPU commissioners Tuesday to announce the findings of the DPU’s investigation into responses to Tropical Storm Irene and the October 2011 snowstorm. Provided the penalties hold up, customers should see a reduction in their bill, though it is unclear how much, officials said. National Grid faces the steepest penalty, at $18.725 million. NSTAR has been ordered to pay $4.075 million, while the Western Massachusetts Electric Company faces a $2 million penalty. National Grid told the…

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Foxborough Officials Hear National Grid’s Plan to Address Union Loop

Foxborough officials left Wednesday’s meeting with National Grid encouraged that the town’s issues with the Union Loop will be properly addressed.

Several Foxborough officials met with nearly a dozen National Grid representatives, including president Marcy Reed, Wednesday to discuss the town’s ongoing issue with the Union Loop. “We discussed National Grid’s one-to-four-year plan to immediately address the Union Loop and their five-plus-year-plan to address adding a 115KV source to Foxborough, which would give our residents and businesses a much higher level of service and redundancy when we encounter more storms,” said Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis. Details of National Grid's plan were not immediately released but DeVellis said town officials will be working with Foxboro Cable Access TV to put together a summary presentation of Wednesday's meeting. Foxborough Patch will …

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Town Officials to Meet with National Grid, DPU Wednesday

Foxborough officials are holding a "small meeting" with National Grid and DPU to discuss the issue with the union loop after its failure during Hurricane Sandy caused mass power outages in town for the third time in one year.

Several Foxborough town officials are sitting down with National Grid and the Department of Public Utilities Wednesday to discuss issues with the town's powersource - the union loop. "It’s a small meeting with the president of National Grid, Marcy Reed and DPU," said Foxborough Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis at Tuesday's BOS meeting. In addition to DeVellis, Foxborough Board of Selectmen vice chair Mark Sullivan, Town Manager Kevin Paicos and Foxborough Fire Chief Roger Hatfield are expected to attend Wednesday's meeting.  "Basically [we are meeting] to discuss what is happening with the union loop and how we can work together to address the issue," DeVellis said. The union loop is the powersource that has failed during Tropical …

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