Help Salem meet its GreenUp goal

To the editor:

As Salem's state representative, I know firsthand that civic pride in our community can be a real force for change. This month, we have an opportunity to invest in our collective future in a truly unique way, and I hope your readers will join with me in taking part.  As a community served by National Grid, Salem residents can choose to participate in the GreenUp Program. This program allows National Grid customers to offset the production of electricity generated from fossil fuels and replace it with clean, renewable energy. It costs a little more (for the average household, about $14 per month), but for every customer who participates, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative matches this payment in grants for low-income projects and for our community.

So many Salem residents have already participated that Salem has earned several thousand dollars that we will invest in a hybrid car and "Big Belly" solar-powered trash compactors, which will be placed throughout our community. If 35 more residents sign up for the program before the end of March, we will earn enough funding for a 2-kilowatt solar power installation for a school or city building of our choice.

In Salem, we are fortunate to have the Carlton Elementary School, certified as a green school by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.  Teachers and students have experienced firsthand the benefits of a green school. The Carlton Elementary School truly does provide a healthy and productive learning environment and, at the same time, conserves energy and uses renewable resources. The GreenUp program will help spread the benefits of renewable energy throughout the city of Salem.

I hope your readers will join me in signing up this month. As a member of the Legislature' s Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy, I appreciate the need for innovative civic energy programs like the GreenUp campaign.

It's easy to sign up. Simply go the Salem Alliance for the Environment Web site at www.salemsafe.org or the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Web site at www.cleanenergychoice.org and you'll find all the information there. If you sign up this week, we'll be sure to meet Salem's goal before the end of this month.

JOHN KEENAN

State Representative

7th Essex District