City asks residents to help with 'green' goal
By Meghan Griffin/salem@cnc.com
Friday, March 16, 2007 - Updated: 01:27 PM EDT

Salem successfully became a “green” energy leader last year when 100 residents enrolled in the GreenUp program. Now, funding from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative will help provide Salem with a two-kilowatt set solar array — an assembly of solar panels used to generate electricity — if 23 more residents enroll in the program by the end of March.

The GreenUp program, offered through National Grid, allows residents to support the development of alternative energy. It also provides communities a chance to earn matching grants and funds for local renewable energy projects.

Advocates of the program say participants are helping to offset harmful fossil fuel emissions by supporting clean, renewable sources such as sun, wind and hydropower.

The Clean Energy Choice, a friendly competition against the city of Worcester, was sponsored by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) to raise awareness to the benefits of clean energy and the GreenUp program. Salem beat Worcester to the goal of signing up 100 new participants.

“I am really proud of the city of Salem for winning the challenge,” said Pat Gozemba, a member of the Salem Alliance for the Environment (S.A.F.E.). Gozemba is optimistic the city will succeed once again.

The GreenUp program is offered to residential and small commercial customers by National Grid, which is partnering with select other energy suppliers for the program.

Those who enroll in GreenUp can keep National Grid as their energy supplier, and they choose a GreenUp product for an additional fee of roughly $10 to $12. Residents who enroll see the fee as a separate charge on their bills.

According to Gozemba, more residents enrolling in GreenUp means National Grid will purchase more of its power from environmentally sound sources. S.A.F.E. wants residents to get involved in the program so a larger percent of cleaner energy will be distributed throughout the community.

The energy campaign is part of the Salem’s effort to promote alternative energy. Mayor Kim Driscoll is working toward purchasing some hybrid cars and solar trash compactors for the city. The Carlton School is certified as a green school, and officials hope to eventually install solar panels on other schools and municipal buildings.

Residents and city employees have teamed up on the Renewable Energy Task Force, and some local activists have floated the idea of installing a wind turbine here.

Gozemba, a GreenUp participant, pays an additional $12 extra a month for the alternative energy service. The additional fee is considered a charitable contribution and is tax deductible. A portion of each dollar spent goes toward developing cleaner air in the region.

Mayor Driscoll, state Rep. John Keenan and other local officials have endorsed the program.

More than 90 percent of the state’s electricity is currently generated from fossil fuels and nuclear power, and less than 1 percent comes from wind and solar energy. Many activists say fossil fuels pollute the environment and public health, and contribute to global warming and climate change.

“It’s really about protecting the environment so we can protect our health,” said Gozemba.

Residents can sign up for GreenUp by visiting www.cleanenergychoice.com, and clicking on the Massachusetts link, than clicking on GreenUp.