Wow! What a success the Solarize program turned out to be. Before the program began, 13 out of the 1,806 household in Harvard had photovoltaic systems installed. In the four months starting at the end of June, 75 more households committed to install another 400 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic capacity. When these systems get built, nearly 5 percent of Harvard households will have solar power. Together these systems will generate approximately 465,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, reducing Harvard’s carbon footprint by more than 580,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.
Many people contributed to the success of the Solarize program. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center developed the program and, through the foresight of co-coordinators Worth Robbins, Eric Broadbent, and a few others, Harvard was selected to participate. The entire New England Breeze Solar team devoted countless hours conducting 234 site visits and issuing 151 proposals, not to mention attending community events and countless phone calls and e-mails. For most of us, our work is done. But New England Breeze will continue working hard for much of the next year installing photovoltaic systems all over town.
Thank you also to the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator Tim Bragan for supporting the program and rationalizing the fees for building permits. The Historical Commission and Conservation Commission and their staff helped people working within the Solarize deadlines by fielding questions, providing clear guidance to applicants, and holding extra meetings. Articles in the Harvard Press helped educate our townspeople and remind them of program deadlines.
Finally, thanks to the many people that discussed the program with their neighbors, volunteered at events, made phone calls, and helped in numerous other ways.
Solarize required an enthusiastic community response to succeed. We should all feel proud that Harvard delivered in a big way.
Jim Elkind
Slough Road
