Sutton Goes Green - Historical Info/Background
May 17, 2011 - Ribbon Cutting for Ceremony for Photovoltaic System at Simonian Center For Early Learning
A ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the successful completion of Sutton's newest clean energy initiative - the installation of a 200kW photovoltaic (PV) system at the Simonian Center for Early Learning was held on Tuesday, May 17th.
Two Solectria inverters were turned on in January and began generating electricity from the 201.8 kW system. Just one year prior, the Town of Sutton went out to bid for the design and replacement of the schoolís 20-year-old leaking roof. What began as a roof repair effort turned into a solar project, as the Town examined the potential electricity cost savings that a PV system could provide.
The project is one of the largest municipally-owned PV systems in the Commonwealth. It was supported by two Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) awarded to the Town of Sutton through a competitive selection process by the Department of Environmental Resources (DOER) Green Communities division. For its "shovel ready" project, the Town received $150,000 for construction and $20,000 for technical assistance, provided by the Watertown-based Cadmus Group, Inc.
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September 30, 2008 - Energy Star Challenge Accepted
On September 30, 2008, the Sutton Board of Selectmen voted to take the Energy Star Challenge and reduce energy consumption in Town buildings by 10%. This program, sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, provides tools to an ad-hoc committee that will work with Town and School officials to identify ways to reduce our energy use and save the Town thousands of dollars at the same time.
The Board of Selectmen voted to approve the membership of the ad hoc Energy Committee at their meeting on January 20, 2009. The committee's primary goals, according to Town Administrator James Smith, "will be to work with town and school officials to identify ways to reduce our energy use and to educate the town on energy conservation, alternative energy, and overall energy awareness. I will work with the committee to provide staff support and resources."