Wayland’s four solar arrays are now fully operational and saving the Town over $100,000 annually according to Town Facilities Director, Ben Keefe. Collectively, the three solar canopies at the High School, the Middle School, and Town Building, in addition to the rooftop system at the Department of Public Works are expected to offset 25% of the Town’s electricity consumption.
“We are thrilled that the solar systems are up and running. The community has watched the construction with great anticipation, “remarked Cherry Karlson, Chair of the Board of Selectmen.
The arrays consist of 4214 photovoltaic panels totaling 1,289 kW and designed to generate over 1.5 million kWh per year and offset the carbon produced by 113 homes annually.
“With the passage of the Green Communities Act of 2008, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts established an opportunity for municipalities to blaze a new path in the clean energy field. Wayland was one of our earliest designations as a Green Community,” said Dan Knapik, Director of the Green Communities Division at the Department of Energy Resources.
The arrays were installed by Ameresco, one of the nation’s leading energy service firms. Ameresco will own the arrays and sell the power back to the Town at a rate below that available from the local utility — thus the savings estimate of over $100,000 annually.
“We are very appreciative of the hard work of the Energy Advisory Committee who has championed not only the solar arrays, but energy efficiency and street lighting efforts as well. In addition, we owe the success of the project to the professionalism and quality work of Ameresco.”
Below are the Public View Websites:
