Low-Energy Street Light Program Could be Coming to Natick

Courtesy Massachusetts State House 

Representative David Linsky (D-Natick), Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham) and Representative Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) announced today that the Legislature passed a $32.5 billion state budget for fiscal year 2013 which included $30,000 for the Veterans Oral History Project at Morse Institute Library and $5,000 for a low-energy street light pilot program in the Town of Natick.

The Veterans Oral History project is a collection of taped interviews of men and women who served in the military from World War I to the present.  The collection, housed at the Morse Institute Library in Natick, now includes over 160 taped interviews, done not only to preserve the veterans' histories as an important archive in Natick’s local history room, but also to make the videotapes available to the public as part of a circulating collection. 

“I am thrilled that the funding has been restored to $30,000 for the Veterans’ Oral History Project after being reduced in several previous budgets,” said Representative David Linsky.   “The Project plays an important role in collecting the stories from veterans and preserving these oral histories for future generations.”

The low energy street lighting pilot program would allow the Town of Natick to deploy low energy street light fittings across the Town. Low energy street lighting uses significantly less energy, is inexpensive to maintain, and would ultimately save the Town of Natick money. The low energy street lighting pilot program is a step toward making Natick a more energy efficient community and serve as a model for other towns and cities across the Commonwealth. 

“Natick has been extremely pro-active in becoming more energy efficient and has even been named a “Green Community” by the Commonwealth.  This funding will go a long way to help the town of Natick utilize more energy efficient street lighting and continue its efforts as an energy leader” said Linsky.  

“I am pleased that the Legislature continues to honor our veterans.  The Natick Veterans Oral History Project is an extraordinary treasure for the entire Commonwealth,” said Senator Karen Spilka.  “I am also pleased that we were able to support Natick’s efforts to become a ‘Green Community.’  Energy efficient street lights are both cost-effective and the right thing to do.” 

“The stories that are being told by the Natick Veterans Oral History Project are an important piece of American history that should not be forgotten,” said Senator Richard Ross. “Furthermore, the efforts to improve the cost-efficiency of street lighting in Natick provide an excellent means of conserving funds for the community. I am pleased to see these important measures included in our final budget.”

“I am pleased that the Conference Committee included funding for these two important projects in their final report, and I thank Representative Linsky for his leadership on behalf of the Town of Natick throughout the budget process,” said Representative Peisch.

Once enacted, the bill will go to the Governor’s desk for his approval.