The state has decided to move ahead with two of the three zero net energy projects recommended last week by the Zero Net Energy Task Force.

I reported previously that the governor had asked for one such recommendation, and that the task force had recommended three, in Westborough, Danvers, and Lowell, so this step is both a doubling of the state's original commitment and short of the panel's recommendation. 

The Westborough project is the headquarters of the Department of Fish and Game's Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. It is about 34,000 gross square feet.

The Danvers project is North Shore Community College’s Health and Student Services Building, and is about 58,700 gross square feet.

The project not chosen was a court building in Lowell, which is planned to be almost a quarter-million gross square feet, well more than twice the space of the other two, combined. 

Robert Keough, assistant secretary for communications and public affairs at the state Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said Lowell "is still under review, both in terms of schedule for design and construction and feasibility of reaching near-zero net energy performance."