|
By Jennifer Mann/ Staff Writer Arlington Advocate
Thursday,
November 16, 2006
One step forward and one step back is the latest dance for
wind power advocates in Arlington.
Proponents of
bringing a wind turbine to Brackett Elementary
School received support from officials in July to
pursue a state-sponsored grant that would bring in $40,000 for a wind
feasibility study, with another $5,000 in costs split between town and school
budgets.
But two weeks ago, members of Sustainable Arlington learned
they had been turned down for the Large Onsite Renewable Initiative program run
through the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
"The
wind is still there, so we’ll continue to look into other options," said
Sustainable Arlington member Maria Simoneau,
reacting to the news. "I think change is hard, but I’m optimistic we can
change."
In a letter to
schools’ Chief Financial Officer Susan Mazzarella, who processed the grant
application, Project Manager Jonathan Abe of MTC’s Renewable Energy Trust
encouraged the town to consider future funding opportunities offered by the
agency.
"The trust received many strong
proposals under this competitive grant initiative," he wrote.
"Unfortunately, the number of proposals exceeded the available
funding."
Simoneau said her group has not met
since receiving the news from MTC, so members haven’t formulated another plan
for moving forward. She said her group remains committed to the idea, however,
adding there was no expectation of a quick transition to this alternative form
of energy.
"I see it as a process. We’re
used to flicking the switch and getting electricity," she said. "But
with the environmental impact and the state of world affairs and the price of
oil and natural gas, it just makes a little more sense to look into
alternatives as a community."
In July, School Committee
members asked Superintendent Nate Levenson and his staff to work with
Sustainable Arlington to look further into the idea of a wind turbine. But they
also urged a cautious process that takes into account feelings of the
community, and particularly neighbors to Brackett.
|
News 
