It wasn’t all that long ago that the site of wind turbine or major solar array was a novelty.  Not any more.  Thanks to the dedicated work of developers and installers who have been working on renewable energy projects for years, to local politicians who see the future and work with their towns to allow projects to move forward, to every day citizens finding innovative devices that can get the desired job done using only renewable energy – renewable.

On this First Annual Build Baby Build Week I wanted to share a few images of renewable energy that I have found over the course of the past few months.energy can be seen everywhere.

100kw Turbine powering the McGlynn School in Medford, MA - "Thanks Mr. Mayor!"

This turbine powering the McGlynn School in Medford, MA is another examply of local politicians who can make a difference.  Mayor McGlynn (the school is named after his father, the former Mayor) was an enthusiastic supporter of this project.  About a month ago when visiting the site with the Mayor and a reporter for FastCompany Magazine I saw first hand the impact it has on the community.  About 50 school children were playing in the adjacent playground when a small group saw us walking around.  “Mr Mayor, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor…” yelled a few from behind the small fence.  The Mayor smiled, waved, and walked over to say hello.  “What do you think of the turbine?”  the reporter asked.  “We love it.” replied the kids.  They know, said the Mayor, that it generates about 10% of the school’s electricity demand.

From turbines by the school to solar powered trash cans, Mayor McGlynn of Medord is no ordinary local politician.  To these kids, he’s a local hero.

Solar Panels on the Mass. Audubon Soc. Facility near Plumb Islan

Solar panels on the roof of the Mass. Audubon Society building in Newburyport, MA generate nearly 40% of the electricity needed for the building.  More panels are planned and visitor’s can ’sponsor a panel’ to add to the array.

Solar powering a parking lot & mall in Newburyport, MA

While picking up sandwiches at the local specialty food shop in downtown Newburyport we noticed a large ground mounted solar unit right in the parking lot and some roof mounted panels.  We learned from the store owner that the building owner was a very strong local renewable energy supporter and decided to put his money where his mouth is.  There is also a wind turbine in the town built by a local business owner to off-set his operating expenses; like many projects the turbine has supporters, and opponents in the town.  But apparently everyone who drives by now notices and admires the solar panels.

Major GE Turbine (1 of 5) cutting through the fog in Atlantic City, NJ

I was in NJ on business touring an incredible renewable energy facility.  At the Atlantic City, NJ Waste Water Treatment plant a developer has constructed five utility-scale turbines as well as building solar panels on the ground (foreground of picture, 2 more turbines can be seen in the background) and above the parking lot.  What’s most amazing about this facility is not just that it’s green energy being generated at the waste water treatment plant, but the peninsula the island sits on is just across the water from the largest coastal bird sanctuaries on the east coast.  According to the treatment plant manager no one from the ‘birding community’ has complained about bird kill, and the neighbor’s who don’t even get any power from the turbines/solar panels call it ‘our wind farm.’

Geothermal heating being installed on Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA

Walking down the street one day I noticed just another construction sign in front of a house on Brattle Street in Cambridge, MA, just outside Harvard Square.  When I looked closer I saw that the builder was installing geothermal heating for the mansion to reduce the operating expenses for the new owner.  I am not sure of the final sale price but I believe the house was listed for over $5,000,000.  Seems like renewable energy is a hit with everyone, regardless of your bank balance.

Small Wind Turbine on a farm in Martha's Vineyard, MA

On vacation at one of my favorite spots, Martha’s Vineyard, my wife grabbed this image of a small wind turbine on a farm on the south end of the island.  We couldn’t get very close because it was a private farm, but by the yellow nose cone I am guessing it’s a Bergy.

Solar panels powering a public bathroom in Menemsha, MA

On the same vacation to the Vineyard we saw a public bathroom with solar panels.  I love it when I see these types of very small, very practical applications that remove just a little bit of energy from the grid.  As with the Internet, 100 PCs doesn’t add up to much data running over the net; but when you get 100,000,000 PCs surfing the web, now you’re talking about real data.

Solar powering the Visitor's Center in Vineyard Haven, MA

On the way home from the same trip while waiting for the ferry to take us back to Cape Cod we snapped this image of solar panels on the Visitor’s Center in Vineyard Haven, MA.  There are small scale renewable energy facilities all over the island.

Solar powered auto-AC on Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA

This last image is perhaps my favorite.  I was walking down Comm. Ave. in Boston one afternoon on my way to dinner with my wife.  I saw something odd and shiny on the dashboard of a car.  When I leaned in and peeked inside the car I realized that it was a dashboard mounted solar panel powering and AC unit to keep the car cool on a hot spring day while the owner was off at a meeting or shopping.

So send us your images, tell us your story.  On this First Annual Build Baby Build week let’s see how your community is using renewable energy.  Share with us your ‘Greenspotting‘ moments.

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