A green energy effort has the wind in its sails

A grass-roots effort to fight global warming and high utility bills is sprouting in the suburbs, as advocates push for renewable energy in schools and local governments one step or solar panel at a time.
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In Lexington and Arlington, members of groups promoting fossil fuel alternatives are urging residents to contribute to the New England Wind Fund to qualify for free 2-kilowatt solar energy systems to be used by the towns' municipal buildings.

In Medford, solar panels atop Hormel Stadium and City Hall are already saving the city $2,000 a year.

And in Lowell, University of Massachusetts facility managers have invested in wind energy to help power residence halls.

The changes often begin with grass-roots efforts.

Nancy Nolan and Keith Ohmart are two members of Lexington's Global Warming Action Coalition trying to rally 300 households in town to make donations to the New England Wind Fund by March 31.

The group has already succeeded in getting 150 families to donate money, which means, at minimum, Lexington will receive a 2-kilowatt solar panel installed atop Lexington High School by the end of the year. The total cost of materials and installation is $22,000. With 300 contributors , the town would get two panels.

"I like to call this a wind-wind situation," said Nolan, a founding member of the coalition and a Lexington resident for 15 years.

"The big picture is that a program like this shows what everyday people can do," said Nolan.

"This is an opportunity to raise the consciousness of people in town about carbon emissions and alternative energy sources," said Ohmart, a 17-year resident who hopes the solar panels can also be an educational tool for high school science classes.

Lexington isn't the only community jumping on the alternative fuel bandwagon. Ten communities -- including Arlington, Cambridge, Brookline, and Newton -- have signed on to try to make the March 31 deadline.

Lexington's Solar Challenge is connected to a statewide program known as Clean Energy Choice that promises solar panels to cities and towns. Sponsored by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative , the program is an effort to encourage contributions to the New England Wind Fund , which finances clean-fuel initiatives throughout the region.