Resident Participation Last Step in Southington Getting Solar Panels

Southington could soon be eligible to receive four solar panels that would demonstrate how renewable clean energy resources can be used effectively, but first the town needs a commitment from residents and business owners.

Members of the Southington Town's Council's Energy Subcommittee are nearing the end of "20 percent by 2010" and with just a few more commitments, the town will meet its  goals and receive the two-kilowatt solar panels.

"It's essential to move to clean energy sources because fossil fuels such as coal are not renewable and at the rate we are going, we will see an increased cost for these resources and they will eventually run out at some point," said Sharon Vocke, member of the energy subcommittee and founder of the energy awareness group Sustainable Southington.

"Clean energy options aren't just an alternative either," Vocke said. "They are safer and healthier and eventually over time they will also be more cost effective."

The "20 percent by 2010" campaign, led by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, is a statewide initiative that aims to reduce pollution caused by electric generation and enhance local energy production simultaneously by encouraging residents and business owners to make the switch to using clean, renewable resources.

"We are nearing the end and as of the end of September, we had reached 187 points as a result of the commitments already made in town," said Fred Rogers, assistant superintendent of the Southington Water Department and member of the energy subcommittee.

Rogers said the town was recently granted an extension allowing people to sign-up during January 2011 but time is running out. If the town is able to receive enough commitments, Town Council Chairman Edward Pocock III said the council would commit the $1,500 to $1,900 cost required to install the system.

The energy panels would be placed on a town building with a ground-level meter where public residents could view the amount of energy produced by the system. It would likely be placed at Southington High School possibly on the school's Vocational Agricultural building, both Rogers and Pocock said.

The town first entered into the program in late 2007 according to Vocke and has moved rapidly to meet three requirements set forth by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.

The first step was a commitment from the town to reduce energy consumption and make the change to clean energy sources, which was approved through a motion by the council in 2008. The town has also received help from over a dozen Southington High School students who joined Vocke's group Sustainable Southington after it was founded in 2009.

The next step, which the town is currently working on, is to gain similar commitments from residents and business owners by having them sign up to receive either 50 percent or 100 percent of their energy through generation from clean sources by either Sterling Planet or the Community Energy Co.

Although slightly more costly than coal-produced electricity, clean energy production would cost around $4 more per month for the average family Vocke said.

Pocock said he also hopes the effort will lead to additional opportunities – a goal shared by the energy subcommittee – and also create synergy in town that will reduce annual capital expenses.

"The town could follow this by taking on other capital improvements such as installing energy-saving windows in public buildings which would create a one time cost that will not only pay for itself but actually save money over time," Pocock said.

For more information, visit Sustainable Southington on Facebook or log on to the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund website. Residents can also sign-up by stopping by the Southington public Library to pick-up a clean energy sign-up form.