Virginia Thurston Healing Garden to Receive Free 5kW Solar PhotoVoltaic System
Posted on: September 8, 2017 - 10:54am
Virginia Thurston Healing Garden to Receive Free 5kW Solar PhotoVoltaic System
Solarize Mass Bolton, a program sponsored by Bolton Local and supported by the Clean Energy Center and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, concluded its sign-up phase last year with 54 contracts for PhotoVoltaic Solar systems totaling 441 kW. (See “Solarize Bolton Cleans Up”, Feb 12, 2017, Bolton Independent for details). That total exceeded the 400kW “Tier 6” threshold beyond which our selected installer SolarFlair volunteered to donate a free 5kW Solar PhotoVoltaic System to a deserving “socially-responsible local non-profit organization with a desire to have solar installed on their building.”
Taking into account SolarFlair criteria and suggestions from the community, the volunteer Solarize Bolton committee compiled a list, initially including about a dozen candidates. Then we whittled it down to seven, from which SolarFlair selected the recipient:
“The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden really stands out as the best candidate. …. The organization has a clear and defined mission and appears to have had significant impact on the Bolton community even though it is located in Harvard. ….The budget is about the same size as past recipients of SolarFlair donated systems: the solar array could have a meaningful impact on the operating budget….."
- Matt Arner, President, SolarFlair Clean Energy Solutions.
The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden was initially suggested by Eil Schomp of Bolton Walkers during the November 30 Solarize Mass Bolton “Signing Party” at the Bolton Office, now closed.
While the sign-up phase has ended, Installations resulting from Solarize Mass Bolton continue. SolarFlair has completed 36 projects for a total of 276 kW and expect the remaining projects to be installed in the next 2-3 months.
For those with too much shade or a roof pointing the wrong way, and anyone with or without PV Solar who is interested in home energy conservation, we will continue monitoring and responding to questions and comments via email. A spreadsheet “GUIDE TO RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY CONSERVATION” was handed out at Saturday’s Earth Day event at Emerson. It is being maintained and copies are available upon request via email SolarizeBolton@gmail.com.
We are very grateful to our installer SolarFlair for their key role in Solarize Mass Bolton. We also appreciate their generosity in donating the 5kW system and for making an unexpected contribution to Bolton Youth Baseball. Thanks to everyone who participated in Solarize Mass Bolton!
Submitted by Tony Jagodnik, Solar Coach, Solarize Bolton. Other members of the volunteer committee included: Melissa Aubuchon, Margaret Campbell, Jane Moosbruker, Chris Little, Sharon Shepela (Chair), and Chris Siano.