CET offers Solar Energy Seminar

10:16AM / Thursday, October 23, 2008Print Story | Email Story

On Thursday, November 6, the Center for Ecological Technology (CET) will offer a Solar Energy Seminar from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Lenox Town Hall auditorium at 6 Walker Street in Lenox. This seminar is designed for small businesses and institutions, home owners and owners of farms. Check-in begins at 6 p.m. Chris Vreeland, a registered professional engineer, will be the featured speaker.

Advance registration is required and a donation of $10 is suggested. BerkShares are acceptable. To register for the seminar, contact Cynthia Grippaldi at CET (413-445-4556 ext. 25 / cynthiag@cetonline.org).

Unstable fuel prices and economy, as well as concern about the effects of fossil fuels on our health and environment are driving the demand for conservation and local, clean sources of energy, like solar hot water and solar electric. Interest in solar systems for homes, farms, schools and businesses in the Berkshires continues to grow. Grants and tax incentives are available to help offset the cost of investing in solar energy and other renewable technologies.

Under the Commonwealth Solar program, businesses and homeowners will be eligible for rebates of at least $2 per watt or $2000 per kilowatt for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Commercial customers who install a typical 50-kilowatt solar power system can expect to reduce costs by 40 percent. Vreeland will talk about state and federal tax incentives for solar PV and solar hot water systems, and summarize a rebate program offered by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to help homeowners and small businesses pay for renewable energy systems.

This seminar is designed to help homeowners and businesses determine if a solar installation would be a good fit for their situation. Attendees will learn the basics about how solar hot water and solar photovoltaic panels work, the components of a solar energy system, how to determine what size system is needed, whether they have a good site and how to gain additional benefits through energy efficient improvements. Information about local contractors will also be available.

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Lanesborough Seeks State Support for Berkshire Mall Redevelopment

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires.com
05:58PM / Monday, October 12, 2026

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The town plans to petition the state to take ownership of the Route 7/Route 8 Connector Road, which officials believe is a "critical component" of the Berkshire Mall’s redevelopment strategy.

On Tuesday, the Select Board approved a letter to state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. John Barrett III to request their support for the vacant mall's redevelopment by helping advance transfer of the Route 7/Route 8 connector and considering funding for essential infrastructure.

"We have held discussions with the Baker Hill Road District … which will take the necessary steps to formally petition the commonwealth to take over ownership of the Route 7, Route 8 connector…Your continued support in facilitating this transfer is greatly appreciated," the letter says.

Berkshire Mall owner JMJ RE Holdings has said the potential sale and redevelopment of the mall hinges on dissolving the Baker Hill Road District, a condition of the agreement that, if unmet, would render the contract null and void.

As a result, the mall will continue to deteriorate and the litigation will proceed forward, said Tim Grogan, of JMJ.

Vera Farrell, the liaison to the Baker Hill Road District, said the district board had discussed at one of its most recent meetings that the connector road could be transferred directly to the state, rather than returned to the town; Barrett and Mark were also a part of the discussion.

"The representatives recommended that as an option, that it could transfer the connector road directly to the state, as opposed to deeding it back to the town to dispense it. If we get to that point, that would be a better option to do it that way," Farrell said.

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