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Ed Johnson
Part-Time Journalist
Solar Power in Noank
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 5:56 pm

Notes from the Old Noank Jail

Solar Power in Noank

by Ed Johnson

For many years, the Noank Fire District Executive Committee has been noted for providing local services in a very competent, efficient manner for both residential and business taxpayers. My wife and I have lived in other areas of the USA where this is not always the case so we consider ourselves fortunate to live here.

Small solar power installations first appeared in Noank several years ago but there are now larger residential systems providing much of the electrical demand for their owners. Then, two years ago, largely through the efforts of E. Zell Steever of Noank and his Environmental Committee, Federal Grant money became available to the Town of Groton for the installation of several systems on municipal buildings. Noank was also offered a system and the Executive Committee acted immediately to proceed with the contract. Installation on the firehouse flat roof occurred a few months later and has been in operation for over a year.

The system is mounted so as to receive maximum energy from the sun during almost the entire span of daytime hours as sunlight shifts from East to West. The installation utilizes receptors that resemble fluorescent lighting tubes which are mounted in North-South reflective panels and are designed to receive solar energy from multiple directions. The receptor panels themselves are mounted flat on the roof, not normally disturbed by high winds, as opposed to other systems which are frequently mounted on angles and basically aimed south.

The installation is designed to work in conjunction with normal utility power as provided by CL& P, in addition to emergency power provided by a propane fueled generator, since the firehouse also serves as a 24 hour multi-purpose emergency center. Power is routed to the proper power source automatically, depending upon the need and conditions.

Savings at the Firehouse are impressive. In a recent review with Chairman Frank Socha, he provided the following annual comparison data from Noank’s utility bills for the building: From 2/1/11 to 1/31/12, they used 35,434 kWh at $6,365, as provided by the CL & P utility, during which time the solar system was installed and after which the system was activated. Then, from 2/1/12 to 1/31/13, they only used 20,862 kWh at $4,179. Noank had therefore saved 14,572 kWh, or 41.12% of energy use, also saving $2,186 during that period, which is an impressive figure.

For reasons unknown, the Town itself was unable unable to participate in the program with any of their other scheduled buildings.

Other Noank operations reflect the success of using efficient, local control for municipal services. This includes the 120 year old Volunteer Fire Department which presently operates with two first-class pumper engines and one EMS response truck, normally covering Noank, Mumford Cove plus assisting at Groton Long Point. With the shift in the economy where fathers and mothers both have jobs, Noank adapted by placing qualified Firefighter/EMT’s on duty during daytime hours seven days per week. This results in a quick initial apparatus response, while other personnel respond directly to the scene, and contributes to an excellent fire insurance rating for the area.

The award-winning Water Company, now over 50 years in service, is managed by a superintendent and assistant who supervise a water distribution system containing over 730 residential and 31 business connections, 86 Fire Hydrants, 282 isolation gate valves and 15 miles of underground pipe. The service is well maintained with water rates competitive to those in nearby fire districts.

Zoning is managed by a five member Commission which employs a local Enforcement Officer for routine applications and inspections. The Commission periodically reviews and revises the zoning regulations, which allows for technology changes while still maintaining a New England atmosphere. The Village section itself is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1999, the Executive Committee established a fee based trash collection system which was successful right from the start. It is totally supported by the residential taxpayers and provides competitively low trash collection rates in the area. Many of us had been previously frustrated by other trash programs that were either too expensive, not well organized, or both.

In short, it is comforting to live in a close-knit community such as Noank, where competent people use imagination and execute direct control over services to the taxpayers at a very low fire district mil rate.

Bigger is not better…small and efficient is good.

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Comments or questions on this article may be directed to: edwardr.johnson@gmail.com
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