A future powered by clean, renewable energy is already emerging all across the Fairfield landscape – and residents can see that future close-up via a special walking tour on Saturday, June 10, 2017 showcasing a selection of Fairfield’s most distinctive clean energy-generating facilities.

Sponsored by the Fairfield Clean Energy Task Force and the Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, the free guided tour will begin at 10 am at the Sherman Green Gazebo. The approximately 1.6-mile (3.2 mile roundtrip) itinerary will cover installations in Fairfield’s downtown and shoreline area that demonstrate the Town’s growing commitment to renewable energy.

Mike Tetreau, Fairfield First Selectman, said “Tapping renewable energy is a vital element of our Town’s long-term energy strategy and has already yielded significant cost savings in addition to making a meaningful contribution to a cleaner and healthier local environment less dependent on fossil fuels. We invite everyone to take advantage of this special opportunity to observe the strategy at work and learn more about the striking difference that renewable energy is making for our community and all of our residents.”

Stops on the tour, featuring solar energy arrays, electric vehicle (EV) chargers and other clean energy installations with brief discussions at each stop, include:

• The Fairfield Police Department and Fire Department, Reef Road (rooftop solar and microgrid)
• The Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, Mona Terrace (pending rooftop solar)
• The former Town Landfill, adjacent to South Pine Creek Road (a massive 1.4 megawatt solar array)
• Sullivan Field, Old Dam Road (ground-mounted solar)
• Recreation Center, Old Dam Road (ground-mounted solar, EV chargers), the tour’s end

The round-trip tour will take approximately two hours. While most of the walk is on level pavement, there are short sections on natural walking paths around the landfill with a moderately steep ascent.

Keith Gallinelli, chairman of the Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, said “Our committee’s goal is to help Fairfield residents experience first-hand all the many health and environmental benefits of walking and biking so we’re looking forward to offering a ‘healthful’ and fun way for residents to follow some of Fairfield’s most tangible steps toward a more environmentally friendly future.”

Scott Thompson, chairman of the Fairfield Clean Energy Task Force, said “We hope our tour will give residents an even better sense of the growing impact and value of renewable energy for Fairfield and encourage people to consider what role a renewable energy source – in particular, home solar – can play in their own efforts to control their energy costs and help sustain our environment.”

For more information on the tour, please contact Scott Thompson at fairfieldcleanenergy@gmail.com.