The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust recently awarded the town $35,707 for a 5.3 kilowatt solar array for the Harvard Elementary School or the Bromfield School.
According to a press release from State Representative Jennifer Benson’s office, “The funding comes as a result of efforts by citizens of Harvard to purchase clean energy through their electric utility bills, which generated matching funds from the Trust for use toward clean energy projects.”
From October 2004 until June 2009 the Clean Energy Choice program of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative allowed Harvard residents to voluntarily add a small premium on their electric bill to promote renewable energy sources. Part of these contributions went to building renewable energy capacity in the state, and a portion went to a fund available to the town for renewable energy projects or education. About 4 percent of Harvard’s households participated in the Clean Energy Choice program, putting Harvard 21st out of more than 300 Massachusetts cities and towns for amount of money raised. Concerned citizens and sign-up campaigns from Harvard Local and the Bromfield Environmental Group helped boost the participation numbers.
Harvard Energy Advisory Committee members Bill Blackwell and Eric Broadbent shepherded the proposal through the Board of Selectmen and School Committee approvals last fall after finding out that the earned rebates would be available only until Nov. 23, 2009.
The schools’ photovoltaic system may qualify Harvard for $14,045 additional funds from Commonwealth Solar. The installed system will include a data acquisition system that will allow students and faculty to monitor the system’s real-time and historical data collections.
“These communities are green leaders; it’s wonderful that they are implementing clean energy projects that their residents, businesses, and public officials can see in practice,” said Trust Executive Director Carter Wall. “The Trust is proud to support these communities, and we hope that these projects will help generate ideas for other renewable energy endeavors.”
