Electric Sunshine to tell Canton solar energy story

Canton Green Team Chairman Kevin Sullivan is pleased to announce the creation of a series of short courses, entitled Electric Sunshine Lights Canton, that will chart the development of two local solar projects — a rooftop solar installation on the Hemenway building on Washington Street and a large, ground-based solar park under construction at the former landfill on Pine Street.

Sullivan said the easy-to-follow and entertaining courses are being developed by Owens & Company, a merchant bank, which has served global energy companies and world governments and institutions since 1974. Sullivan explained that Owens & Company is developing the short courses as a community service to Canton. Charles Owens, chairman of Owens & Company, is a member of the Canton Green Team.

“Canton’s leadership in solar energy could provide momentum for local economic expansion and job growth in clean energy technologies for many years. We call it ‘CanTech,’” Owens said, describing the products and services of the Energy Center he envisions for Canton.

Canton resident Janet Bourikas is developing the short courses on Electric Sunshine under contract with Owens & Company.

“Development of the short course about the solar installation on the Hemenway rooftop is underway with the cooperation of Canton Housing Authority Director Mark Roy and his staff,” Bourikas said. “We will develop the second course about the Pine Street solar park with the cooperation of town government and the developer of the solar park.”

Southern Sky Renewable Energy Canton LLC is the developer. The general contractor is Gemma Renewable Power LLC, which is wholly owned by Argan, Inc. of Rockville, Maryland.

Bourikas said she hopes to involve local teachers in development of the short courses.

“Our target audience is everyone, of course, and especially high school students like the members of Canton’s Green Team Auxiliary,” she said.

The Green Team Auxiliary is made up of Canton High School students who are promoting adoption of the Stretch Energy Code at the upcoming annual town meeting in April. If the Stretch Energy Code is passed, Canton can earn state grants of approximately $150,000 annually. Last year, Easton received $168,000 and Dedham received $179,800 from the state.

Sullivan is a project director with Fuss & O’Neill, a full-service engineering and design firm founded in 1924.

“Our firm proudly participates in the Green Revolution,” Sullivan said. “I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with [Bourikas] to improve everyone’s understanding of these examples of what the Green Revolution can mean to Canton.”

Sullivan added that “Canton’s Green Team is the finest assembly of energy experts in the history of Canton.”

Besides Sullivan and Owens, Green Team members include Bruce Rohr, CEO and president of Practical Solar, Inc. and founder of Cambridge Technology, Inc., and Ed Kodzis, president and CEO of Minglewood Associates Inc., which is headquartered in Canton.

Rohr is a member of the Canton Conservation Commission and is a leader of Voters for the Preservation of Canton, which is campaigning for adoption of the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA). This proposition will appear on the ballot in the upcoming town election scheduled for April 3.

The CPA enables cities and towns in Massachusetts to create a local dedicated fund for historic preservation, community housing and outdoor recreation projects. Adoption of the CPA will allow the town of Canton to receive funds each year from the state’s Community Preservation Trust Fund to help underwrite local projects. Canton would receive approximately $452,600 annually following acceptance of the CPA.

Canton’s Green Team is appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The team’s mission is to promote initiatives in clean technologies and related services in such areas as solar, wind, recycling and hydroelectricity, and to seek grants for activities that provide opportunities for job growth and expansion of Canton’s leadership in alternative and renewable energy technologies.

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Posted by Guest on Jan 11 2012. Filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.