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MEDFORD,
MA - The City of Medford has been awarded a $250,000 grant
from the Massachusetts
Technology Collaborative (MTC) for the design and construction
of a small 100 kilowatt wind turbine at the McGlynn Elementary/Middle
School called the Medford Energy Independence Project.
The grant was awarded through MTC's Renewable Energy Trust,
a program designed to expand the production and use of distributed
renewable energy technologies throughout the Commonwealth.
Under
the direction of Mayor Michael J. McGlynn, the City of Medford's
Energy
& Environment Office and the Medford
Clean Energy Committee (MCEC) have been investigating
the potential for a wind turbine installation within the City
for the past three years. The proposed Medford Energy Independence
Project will provide about 10% of the energy used to power
the McGlynn School, produce up to $25,000 a year in electricity
and offset 76 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The goals
of the Medford Energy Independence Project include
the following: reduce energy costs and decrease greenhouse
gas emissions in accordance with Medford's
Climate Action Plan; provide a valuable, interactive educational
tool for the more than 2,000 students that attend the Andrews
and McGlynn Schools; provide an inspiring monument with an
energy independence theme and a symbol of Medford's commitment
to renewable energy; and provide leadership by example for
other municipalities implementing similar types of renewable
energy projects throughout the Commonwealth.
The City
of Medford has been a leader in energy efficiency and renewable
power among Massachusetts communities for many years. We were
the first Commonwealth municipality to adopt a Climate Action
Plan in 2001, the first City Hall to achieve the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star plaque in 2004 and the
first Community in 2007 to join EPA's Community
Energy Challenge to reduce our municipal energy use by
10%. The City has implemented numerous energy efficiency measures
including LED traffic light conversions, solar power installations
and an Energy Efficiency Policy for municipal operations.
Our City has also received the EPA 2004 Clean Air Excellence
Award for Regulatory/Policy Innovations for reducing greenhouse
gas emissions, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2005
Municipal Environmental Purchasing and Sustainability Award
for outstanding performance in the areas of recycling and
sustainable practices.
For further
information, please contact Patricia Barry, Director of the
Energy & Environment Office, at 781-393-2137 or pbarry@medford.org.
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