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Cambridge Savings Bank Partners with Rivermoor Energy to Finance Industry-leading Solar Asset on Roof of the new LEED Platinum Bentley University Arena

CONTACT: Lisa Rodericks
Senior Vice President 
Chief Marketing Officer 
617.520.5356

As the first community bank to finance a solar project back in 2010, Cambridge Savings Bank (CSB) is recognized as an industry leader in the alternative energy space, making them an easy choice for leading solar development and investment company, Rivermoor Energy, to partner with to finance an industryleading solar energy system on the roof of the new Bentley University Arena.

“At CSB, we like to think of ourselves as having a unique niche in the renewable energy space, financing 53 solar projects totaling approximately 75 megawatts since 2010, we were excited when Rivermoor approached us about the Bentley University project,” said Michael Kuhn, Senior Vice President, Cambridge Savings Bank.

Kuhn’s deal with solar asset owner Rivermoor Energy provides the long-term debt financing of the solar asset on the roof of the new, state-of-the-art arena, which serves as home ice to the university’s NCAA Division 1 men’s hockey team, concerts, student life events, alumni gatherings and career fairs. “Hockey arenas really are a great match with an on-site renewable energy system, in this case solar, because you can generate a huge amount of the electricity needed on an annual basis, through the asset right on the roof,” said John Tourtelotte, Founder & Managing Director at Rivermoor Energy, which is providing a ten-year power purchase agreement to Bentley University.

The 1,400 panel, 504 kilowatt solar array, which is designed, developed installed, owned and managed by Rivermoor at no cost to Bentley, is a building-integrated system on the roof of the 76,000 square foot arena. The solar asset generates 40 percent of the building’s annual energy needs.

The arena has been named the most environmentally sustainable in the nation, and the first standalone ice arena to earn the LEED Platinum certification, a well-deserved recognition backed by Bentley’s longstanding commitment to the sustainability, and according to Tourtelotte and Kuhn, an impressive project powered by collaborative leadership, strong partnerships and creative thinking.

“Bentley’s thoughtful use of solar technology to power a modern, energy efficient arena demonstrates leadership in building design and a model for other universities and companies to follow,“ Tourtelotte continued, “From Rivermoor’s perspective, as the solar asset owner, we were able to match the objectives that Bentley University had as our client with the underlying financing strategy and solution as a result of all the great work and creative thinking done by Mike Kuhn and his team at Cambridge Savings Bank.” 

Kuhn agreed, “At CSB, we are always trying to think outside the box and find creative and innovative solutions, and that’s the same innovative mindset I saw from Rivermoor and Bentley as well,” he continued, “The project is financially impactful in reducing the lifecycle operating costs of the Arena, and the outcome is an incredible, environmentally sustainable arena that Bentley students will continue to enjoy for the next twenty-five or more years.”

About Cambridge Savings Bank

Cambridge Savings Bank is a full-service financial institution with approximately $3.7 billion in assets that is committed to improving the quality of life in the communities it serves. One of the oldest and largest community banks in Massachusetts, Cambridge Savings Bank offers a full line of individual and business banking services and has branches located in Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Burlington, Cambridge, Charlestown, Concord, Lexington, Newton, and Watertown. www.cambridgesavings.com.

About Rivermoor Energy

Rivermoor Energy is an industry-leading solar, energy storage, resiliency and advanced energy development and investment company focused on the success of its commercial, utility, institutional, higher education, and governmental clients in Massachusetts and throughout New England. Rivermoor Energy is based in Newton, MA. To learn more, visit www.rivermoorenergy.com.

About Bentley University

Bentley University is one of the nation's leading business schools, dedicated to preparing a new kind of business leader with the technical skills, global perspective and ethical standards required to make a difference in an ever-changing world. Bentley's diverse arts and sciences program combined with an advanced business curriculum prepares graduates to make an impact in their chosen fields. The university enrolls approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 1,000 graduate students. For more information, visit www.bentley.edu.