Vermont Business Magazine A new solar farm powering a local retirement community is helping fund the gift for a Make-A-Wish child in Vermont. The 500kW solar project sited on the farm owned by Bristol's Livingston family now powers 20 percent of operations at Wake Robin, a nearby continuing care retirement community. Vermont-based AllEarth Renewables manufactured solar trackers locally and oversaw design/construction for the project, and SolarSense served as the developer of the project. Addison County-based contractor Smith & McLain installed the project.
Through its “Watts for Wishes” charitable donation program, SolarSense is donating $7,500 to Make-A-Wish Vermont to help fund a future wish. The “Watts for Wishes" charitable donation program connects the renewable energy industry with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to provide children with life-threatening illnesses the funding to fulfill their wishes.
A busload of Wake Robin residents joined the event and received an educational tour of solar energy at the farm.
Garett Peace, 10, of East Montpelier, previously took a Make-A-Wish sponsored fly fishing trip to Montana and spoke at the event about the value of these wishes. The new donation will fund a future Vermont wish child's wish.
“When a child is sick, a family is sick and when a family is sick a community is sick. These Watts for Wishes gifts don't just give one of Vermont’s children and family hope and strength to face a life threatening illness, they help lift an entire community,” said Jamie Hathaway, CEO of Make-A-Wish Vermont.
Make-A-Wish Vermont has granted over 700 wishes to Vermont’s children facing life-threatening illnesses and no eligible child is turned away. To learn how you can support Make-A-Wish Vermont visit vermont.wish.org.
Of hosting the project on his family's farmland, Stan Livingston added, “Having grown up farming, using the sun to produce power for peoples’ homes and businesses is fantastic. It’s a great alternative and compatible use of the land and it goes a long way to paying my taxes and keeping this land open.”
The project, which was installed utilizing local labor, will also help the community by paying both local and state property tax.
Patrick McKee, CEO of Wake Robin, added “Our residents and staff are constantly seeking creative ways to incorporate earth-friendly practices into our community. We are proud of the impact that the locally-sourced solar energy has on this goal.”
“We are honored to sponsor the Watts-for-Wishes charitable giving program, and to donate the funding for a local wish in celebration of the Livingston's solar farm for Wake Robin,” said Chris Fraga, founder and CEO of SolarSense, and a 23-year volunteer, donor, and six-year Make-A-Wish Board Member.
“It's extremely gratifying to be involved in a project that not only contributes to Vermont's energy future, but contributes to meaningful community programs like Vermont’s Make-A-Wish Foundation," added David Blittersdorf, president and CEO of AllEarth Renewables.
Source: Bristol, VT, October 19, 2015– AllEarth
PHOTOS: A 500kW solar installation on land owned by the Livingston family in Bristol, Vt. provides emissions free solar energy for Wake Robin’s retirement living facility. The project’s development team joined Wish Child Garett Peace, 10, of East Montpelier, in the announcement of adonation to Make-A-Wish Vermont to fund the gift of a Vermont child in need.