If we act quickly, Harvard businesses and residents may have an opportunity to benefit from Harvard’s recently acquired Green Community status.
Harvard was named one of 20 new Massachusetts Green Communities in December 2010, making the town eligible for $143,200 in grants for energy-efficiency project grants. The Harvard Energy Advisory Committee (HEAC) has been working with the other boards and offices in town to coordinate these grants, and we have several qualified programs to carry out this year.
These grants will help reduce the energy costs of town buildings and thus will bring a long-term benefit to taxpayers in town, as the operating cost savings can now go to other necessary items which would otherwise require additional borrowing, etc.
However, being a Massachusetts Green Community has not yet translated into direct benefits to residents—until now. The Mass DOER has announced a pilot program that will be available to one Green Community in each of the four regions of the state; Harvard could be selected. The program will provide money to defray a percentage of the cost of installing solar PV panels that will generate power and significantly lower electric bills. With these incentives, the average homeowner might expect to pay the system back in less than six years, after which the panels can actually generate income due to renewable energy credits.
In order to participate in this program, Harvard needs to apply by March 30, and we need the Board of Selectmen to sign on to the application. We need to quickly determine if there is enough interest to make it worth putting our hat in the ring.
The Harvard Press has set up a brief and simple survey to collect feedback. We hope everyone will take a few minutes to weigh in. To access the survey, go to www.surveymonkey.com/s/NMZJ3B8. To learn more about the program, contact Eric Broadbent of the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee at ebroadbent@mac.com.
Eric Broadbent, HEAC
Oak Hill Road
