Somerville Solar Challenge

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

Do you want to contribute to renewable energy projects and help Somerville win free solar panels for a school?

Join Somerville Climate Action in the New England Wind Fund Solar Challenge at www.NewEnglandWind.Org/Somerville. The deadline is April 30th to be counted in the race to win solar panels!

Here's how it works:

Your Somerville household/business makes a donation ($5 per month or a $100 one-time contribution) to the New England Wind Fund.

1. The donation is fully tax-deductible.
2. The donation is matched twice by the state's Massachusetts Technology Collaborative:
- once back to Somerville to fund renewable energy projects, and
- once to fund clean energy projects that benefit the state's low-income residents (which Somerville may be able to draw upon).
3. AND....as an added incentive: the New England Wind Fund will provide and install at no cost to the city a 2kw solar system on one of our schools - BUT ONLY IF we get enough people to sign up by April 30th: We need 150 new donors to the New England Wind Fund.
4. It's a great educational opportunity for the school.
5. The city saves money on electricity costs, creates fewer greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, and helps New England move toward energy independence.

We can only win with your help! And only if you join SOON.
For more details and contact information, plus to learn which other towns won panels, and to join now!: www.NewEnglandWind.Org/Somerville

JOIN US TO SPREAD THE WORD:
Somerville Climate Action www.somervilleclimateaction.org

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks,
Eric

Comments

[laryu.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you posted this. I'm wondering if you have any indications of progress toward 150 households in Somerville? It would be nice to have a "meter" of some sort that we could reference to see if we are anywhere near the 150 new household signups for a 2kw system, enough to power a small clock. (I presume 300 households would get us 4kw?)

Incidentally, I tried to contact New England Wind two weeks ago, but my voice- and e-mails have gone unanswered. That doesn't inspire confidence in giving them my money...

Somerville Solar Challenge

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

So far we have 22 sign-ups, with 128 to go. I will relay your comments to Adam Briggs at New England Wind Fund. If you email me your contact info I'll ask him to get in touch with you.

By the way, 2KW is enough to power about one half of a Somerville household, far more than a small clock!

-Eric

Re: Somerville Solar Challenge

[laryu.livejournal.com]

No worries on re-contacting NE Wind, you've answered my question. And yeah, just kidding on 2kw, though I confess my power consumption is likely higher than the city household median.

Just 22 households? That's a long way from 150 with only a few weeks to go. Anyone else on this board have any intention of signing up.

Re: Somerville Solar Challenge

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

Just got another, which makes 23. We're really just getting the word out now. I think another 127 over the next 7 weeks is totally do-able in a city like Somerville. A lot of people are concerned about global warming but don't know what they can do. This is a concrete way to have an impact and raise awareness in the community, particularly the school that gets the system. Please sign up and forward on the info to friends/family and any lists where you think it would be appropriate.
Thanks,
Eric

Re: Somerville Solar Challenge

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

I think our household will be...or some of us in it, anyway.

Re: Somerville Solar Challenge

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

Terrific! Thanks, and please spread the word.
-Eric

Re: Somerville Solar Challenge

[303-5.livejournal.com]

I signed up the other day. I hope others here sign up as well.

I'm in.

[mem-winterhill.livejournal.com]

But now that I think about it, I haven't had a receipt or acknowledgment or anything.

How can we know the actual number...?

Re: I'm in.

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

Hey Mem-

Thanks for joining!

I have the list of all contributors to date, and I think you're on it, assuming your email address also has "mem" in it. You should have received a certificate from New England Wind Fund. If not, email Adam at adam@massenergy.com to get your acknowledgement.

We're at somewhere between 35-45 sign-ups, with a bunch coming in over the past week. We're just starting to really get rolling. The City just issued a press release yesterday about it so we're expecting some good coverage over the next week.

-Eric

Re: I'm in.

[mem-winterhill.livejournal.com]

Yes, sounds like you got me. And the address will correspond to the moniker :)

I don't need a certificate--just wanted to be sure that it got counted towards the project.

Thanks for the info!

Re: I'm in.

[laryu.livejournal.com]

You likely need the certificate (or some kind of receipt) if you expect to write it off your 2008 taxes.

[joaveho.livejournal.com]

My friend just signed up five people at a meeting yesterday.

Somerville Solar Challenge

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

Fantabulous!

[frolain.livejournal.com]

I finally signed up. Where is Somerville on the 150 now?

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

Fantastic. Thanks! As of last Friday we were at 97, with lots coming in over the past few weeks. Great momentum.
-Eric

[laryu.livejournal.com]

Wondering if you could report whether Somerville made the 150 mark. With 97 as of April 9, I suppose the prospects were looking up.

[ebecker.livejournal.com]

Yes!! Yesterday we got the news that we had hit 155 contributions to the New England Wind Fund. I hooted and hollered when I got the news and rejoiced at last night's Local First launch event at Johnny D's.

So we have accomplished our first goal of earning a 2 kilowatt solar PV array for a Somerville school. If we are able to get to 300 by June 30th, we can earn a second array, which would be outstanding.

Thanks to everybody who has played a role in the campaign!
-Eric

[laryu.livejournal.com]

That's great news! Thanks for posting. Perhaps another top-level post is warranted as the 300 by June 30 deadline approaches...