Client: New Leaf Energy, Inc.
Authors: Joshua R. Castigliego and Jordan Burt, PhD
November 2025
On behalf of New Leaf Energy, Inc., Senior Researcher Joshua R. Castigliego and Researcher Jordan Burt, PhD conducted an analysis estimating the net change in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with New Leaf Energy’s two proposed clean energy facilities on High Street in Rochester, Massachusetts. Each proposed facility will house solar photovoltaics (PV) and an energy storage system (ESS) (collectively referred to as a “PV+ESS facility”). Development of Site A requires clearing approximately 23.5 acres of forested land, while Site B requires clearing of approximately 20.6 acres.
AEC estimated the net emission impact of the Site A and Site B PV+ESS facilities by combining (1) “positive” CO2 emissions savings (i.e., reduced emissions) from the electric grid due to renewable energy generation and (2) “negative” CO2 emissions (i.e., increased emissions) due to land-use conversion from forestland to grassland. When these two factors are considered together, the proposed facilities yield substantial net emissions savings (i.e., reduced emissions). AEC’s analysis indicates that the facilities’ grid emissions reductions would outweigh added, by a factor 4.9 times greater for Site A and 4.3 times greater for Site B.