Dear IDEA friends and colleagues,
On behalf of the IDEA Board of Directors, I am deeply saddened to share the news that Bill DiCroce, Executive Chairman of Vicinity Energy, passed away peacefully at home in Falmouth, MA on April 13, 2025, surrounded by family and friends.
Bill was an exceptional champion of the district energy industry for decades, and was a driving force behind the energy transition now underway in many cities served by Vicinity Energy.
I saw Biil recently at the November 19 ribbon-cutting event for Vicinity’s new 42-MW electric boiler at the Kendall Station in Cambridge. He was in “full Bill mode”, articulating in his own relaxed style from the podium to an over-flow crowd under the tent on the many advantages of scale and electrification of “eSteam” for the Boston/Cambridge economy. Among hundreds of local leaders from across government and the private sector, Bill’s enthusiasm and charisma carried the day, marking the moment of celebration for both Boston and Cambridge. Bill was enormously proud of the accomplishments of his colleagues at Vicinity, in making that project happen from concept to commissioning in two years.
Bill was always bullish on district energy and was a talented communicator and ambassador for our industry. He served on the IDEA Board for three years and was General Chair of the 2015 IDEA Annual Conference in Boston. He was a devoted and proud graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, which served as a foundation for an exceptional professional career in the energy industry.
His passing at age 62 is terribly sad news for his family, for Vicinity, and for IDEA. But his professional legacy will live on in how he was able to express the lasting value of district energy, on its transition and modernization, and on its potential for generations to come.
I encourage you to read our recent Q&A with Bill as it appeared in the Excerpts section of the 2025 1Q issue of District Energy magazine just a few weeks ago. It distills the essential business case for our industry and the positive impacts it can bring to communities everywhere.
Back in 2022, it was our pleasure to sit with Bill for an extensive interview as part of our District Energy Dialogue Series. Bill shared his unique perspectives on best practices, emerging technologies, and paths forward for the district energy industry and you can watch it here.
I hope you will take a moment to read the interview, watch the video and read his celebration of life to appreciate the leadership, lessons, and the vibrancy Bill brought to the entire IDEA community. As his celebration of life notes, 'his passion for life was contagious' - may he rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Rob Thornton
President & CEO
IDEA
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