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October, 2010
The Acushnet Fire & EMS Department’s
headquarters is looking a little green thanks to an array of
solar panels recently installed on the roof of the Russell
Street fire station.
This week we officially
took ownership of the solar power system that was funded
through the US Department of energy’s “Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Block Grant program, with funds appropriated by
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The 20
kw generating project cost approximately $150,000.
A local audit of energy
consumption concluded that our headquarters was the most
energy inefficient of the town owned buildings. Work then
began by the Alternative Energy Committee and the Board of
Selectmen to secure funds for this and other municipal
energy conservation projects.
We are very pleased that
our station is the first municipal building in Acushnet to
have an alternative energy source. The ninety-two panels
face to the south and capture enough sunlight to generate
electricity for our building’s needs. What is made in
excess of our daytime needs is then shipped out to the grid
which creates credits with our electricity provider.
Electricity for the building accounted for 34% of our energy
budget in FY 2010. We expect to see our electricity cost
greatly reduced. This project also reduces our carbon
footprint and most importantly – speaks to the commitment of
town officials to aggressively reduce costs and improve
efficiencies.
On
behalf of the men and women of our department I want to
thank all those responsible for carrying this energy saving
project through to completion and invite all of our
residents to stop by and see our new “solar system” for
themselves.
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