EGREMONT, Mass. - State Senator Benjamin B. Downing (D-Pittsfield) and State Representative “Smitty” Pignatelli (D-Lenox) are pleased to announce that the Town of Egremont has been awarded a Clean Energy Choice Award from the state’s Renewable Energy Trust (RET).
 
This matching grant of $20,057 will go towards the installation of a 2 kilowatt pole-mounted photovoltaic system at the Town Highway Garage. Town officials explain the system will operate at 80% efficiency and will produce approximately 2,080 kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually. This system will help introduce the community to clean, renewable solar energy.
 
“I am thrilled for the Town of Egremont in receiving this award. Solar energy is a great way for towns and residents to reduce their carbon footprint while at the same time reaping the savings and environmental benefits renewable energy provides,” said Pignatelli.
 
“Policymakers have set dramatic renewable energy goals for the Commonwealth,” said Downing. “I am pleased to see even small communities like Egremont are choosing to participate in programs such as this to generate clean energy on-site, save money and help preserve Massachusetts’ environmental assets.”
 
This is the last round of Clean Energy Choice Awards through the RET. As a result of the implementation of the 2008 Green Communities Act, the Green Communities Division at the Department of Energy Resources is now the centerpiece of the state’s investment in green energy in communities. Therefore, the Trust discontinued the Clean Energy Choice match program as of June 30, 2009. 
 
As administered by the RET, a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, a primary goal of the Clean Energy Choice Awards program was to provide Massachusetts residents with the opportunity to voluntarily increase demand for renewable energy. Between 2004 and 2009 $5.5 million in grants have been awarded statewide. Residential projects were also eligible for funding through the Clean Energy Choice to increase the demand for renewable energy projects. Approximately 10,000 residents have participated and have purchased a total of 18 Gigawatts of clean energy.