NEWS

Essex Struts its Clean Energy Stuff

10/10/2008

By Melissa Pionzio

Hartford Courant

 

Well this clean energy thing is really catching on! I heard it not only from the folks at the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund yesterday, during a dedication ceremony to unveil a 2-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system that has been installed on the rooftop of the Essex Recycling Center, but from the very guy who did the installation.

Chris Lenda, owner of Aegis Electrical Systems in Branford (and an Essex resident), said he has installed about 60 or 70 clean energy systems on homes and businesses around Connecticut, as well as solar hot water systems. So not only are people switching over to cleaner power, but are supporting a Connecticut company to get the job done!

After the dedication ceremony, I chatted with Bob Wall of the CT Clean Energy Fund, who told me that about 35 communities, like Essex, have made the commitment to obtain 20% clean energy by the year 2010. And because more than 100 Essex residents have enrolled in the CTCleanEnergyOptionssm program, (its actually more than 140 families), the town earned the two free solar photovoltaic arrays, which were installed at the transfer station and officially dedicated Wednesday. If 70 more Essex residents sign up for the program, the town will be eligable to recieve more free arrays. So how about it Essex?

Can you see the arrays? They are right on top of the transfer station in a neat, shiny row. Essex First Selectman Phil Miller, standing next to Sen. Eileen Daly in the picture, said this location was selected as the best place to put the arrays because they are so highly visible there and since so many residents use the transfer station, they will be sure to see them. The power generated from these arrays goes out to the regional power system, or grid, which provides power to to the town. So the arrays aren’t hooked to the transfer station, but contribute to the overall production of power for the town. Chris Lender said a set of arrays like this could provide about 1/3 of the power for an average household.  

Pictured from left are Bob Wall of the CT Clean Energy Fund, Chris Lenda of Aegis, Phil Miller, Sen . Eileen Daley, Rep. James Spallone, Jenny Contois, the district director for Rep. Joseph Courtney and Frank Hall of the Essex Citizens for Clean Energy.

"This is so great, because the community earned it," said Lise Dondy, president of the CT Clean Energy Fund. "So even if they can’t afford (the arrays) for their own homes, they were able to earn this for their community, it’s a win, win!"

Check out the town’s web site if you want to learn about all the other clean energy initatives that are going on in town. Mr. Miller said he and the board of selectmen are discussing the idea of installing a clean energy system at the middle school, which would require some initial spending to save future dollars on energy costs.

"What we may have to invest now can only be possible to save money later," Miller said. "It will take some discipline!"

Want to know more about the CT Clean Energy Options program? Go to  http://www.ctcleanenergyoptions.com/