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Issues of the Environment: Pittsfield Township Looking to Move Into The Solar Realm

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http://www.pittsfield-mi.gov/

In the not-so-distant future, Pittsfield Township Hall may be entirely powered by solar energy, with a center that also serves as a community gathering place and educational opportunity. In this week's installment of 'Issues of the Environment', David Fair talks with Pittsfield Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal.  

  

 Overview

  *   Pittsfield Townshipis planning to install a massivesolar-powered canopythat will be the first of its kind in Michigan, and it will also provide shelter for the popular farmer's market and offer additional covered parking.

  *   The 540-panel, 150 kW system the Township is considering comes with a $635,000 price tag, but it would offset the township hall's energy usage by 70 percent and pay itself off in around 12 years.

  *   Mandy Grewalserves as the Pittsfield Township Supervisor. The township tends to be ahead of the curve environmentally and already offers a rain garden program, million-dollar Greenway for non-motorized vehicles, new parks, an ordinance to protect CSA's and another to prevent fertilizer runoff into waterways, single-stream recycling, and plans for increased density rather than sprawl.

Contact David: dfair@emich.edu