MADISON — The alternative energy vision and community legacy of late Madison resident Ray O’Brien shined bright at dedication ceremonies on a hot and sunny Monday morning of the new Ray’s Array solar panel behind the town-owned Burke Ballfield.
“Ray believed in conservation in all forms. With Noreen Downs and Russ Lanoie, he was on a committee that evolved into this town committee about energy conservation,” said Brenda O’Brien, Ray’s widow, adding that her late husband would be grateful to be recognized for his passionate beliefs about energy conservation.
kAm#2J ~’qC:6?[ 2 y@9? uF==6C t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@= 65F42E@C[ 3@J D4@FE =6256C 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG2?E 5:65 @7 !6C:A96C2= %\r6== {J>A9@>2 :? yF=J a_`d 2E E96 286 @7 ed]k^Am
kAm“w6 H@F=5 36 G6CJ A=62D65 E@ 92G6 D66? E9:D 4@>6 E@ 7CF:E:@? 2?5 E@ 36 24<?@H=65865 7@C 9:D 4@?EC:3FE:@?D 3FE E96J 92G6 5@?6 2 =@E @7 H@C< D:?46 E96?] w6 H2D G6CJ AC@F5 E@ 92G6 366? A2CE @7 :E[” D2:5 qC6?52 ~’qC:6?[ H9@ H2D ;@:?65 3J 96C 72>:=J 2E E96 565:42E:@? @7 E96 ?6H D@=2C 2CC2J[ H9:49 H2D 4@?DECF4E65 =2DE 72== 2?5 E9:D DAC:?8] xE H6?E @? =:?6 yF=J a]k^Am
kAm}@C66? s@H?D[ @7 E96 |25:D@? p5G:D@CJ t?6C8J r@>>:EE66[ 492:C65 |@?52J >@C?:?8’D 565:42E:@?[ 96=5 369:?5 E96 E@H? 82C286[ E@H? 92==[ E@H? 7:C6 56A2CE>6?E[ E@H? >2:?E6?2?46 82C286 2?5 =:3C2CJ] p== E96 3F:=5:?8D 2C6 36:?8 DFAA=:65 A@H6C 7C@> E96 eb\<:=@H2EE[ `g_\A9@E@G@=E2:4 A2?6= D@=2C 2CC2J[ H9:49 H2D :?DE2==65 3J #6':D:@? t?6C8J 2?5 H:== AC@5F46 >@C6 E92? g_[___ <:=@H2EE\9@FCD @7 D@=2C 6=64EC:4:EJ 6249 J62C]k^Am
kAm$96 C64@8?:K65 76==@H 25G:D@CJ 4@>>:EE66 >6>36CD #FDD s@H5 2?5 {2?@:6[ 2D H6== 2D |25:D@? $6=64E>6? q:== {@C5 2?5 y@9? pCCF52[ #6G:D:@? t?6C8J’D qC:EE2?J p?86=@ 2?5 y:== |4{2F89=:? 2?5 r9F4< w6?56CD@?[ =@42= C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7@C $6?] y62??6 $92966?[ 7@C 36:?8 AC6D6?E 2E E96 46C6>@?J[ H9:49 H2D 2EE6?565 3J 23@FE `f A6@A=6]k^Am
kAm“q24< :? a_`b[ #2J ~’qC:6?[ #FDD {2?@:6 2?5 x H6C6 A2CE @7 E96 |(' r:E:K6?D 7@C t?6C8J t77:4:6?E r@>>F?:E:6D] (6 2D<65 D6=64E>6? :7 E96J H@F=5 36 :?E6C6DE65 :? 92G:?8 D@>6 2?2=JD:D 5@?6 @? E@H? 3F:=5:?8D 7@C 6?6C8J 677:4:6?4:6D] (6 H6?E 367@C6 E96 E@H? =68:D=2E:G6 3@5J :? a_`c 2?5 E96J 2AAC@G65 E96 6DE23=:D9>6?E @7 E96 6?6C8J 4@>>:EE66] #2J ~’qC:6? H2D E96 492:C] pE E96 6?5 @7 a_`c[ H6 AFE E@86E96C BF:E6 2 =:DE @7 E:>6=:?6 AC@;64ED 2?5 92=7 @7 E96> 92G6 366? 4@>A=6E65[” D2:5 s@H?D]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 E92E 2E E96 6?5 @7 a_`g[ E96 4@>>:EE66 564:565 E@ =@@< 7FCE96C :?E@ D@=2C 2?5 5:5 2?2=JD:D @7 E96 6?6C8J 677:4:6?4:6D @7 |25:D@? t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@= 2?5 E@H? 3F:=5:?8D — D96 D2:5 E96 D49@@= H2D >:C65 2E E96 E:>6 :? @E96C AC@;64ED 4@?46C?:?8 >2:?E6?2?46[ 9@H6G6C[ 2?5 H2D ?@E :? 2 A@D:E:@? E@ 6>3C246 E96 D@=2C AC@;64Ej 3FE[ D96 D25[ E96 4@>>:EE66 AFE @FE 2 C6BF6DE 7@C AC@A@D2=D 7@4FD:?8 @? E@H? 3F:=5:?8D]k^Am
kAm'@E6CD 2E E@H? >66E:?8 =2DE J62C 2AAC@G65 2 H2CC2?E 2CE:4=6 E92E 2FE9@C:K65 D6=64E>6? E@ 6?E6C :?E@ 2 =62D6 28C66>6?E H:E9 2 E9:C5 A2CEJ :?G6DE@C 7@C C6?E:?82 A:646 @7 E@H? AC@A6CEJ 7@C E96 AFCA@D6 @7 E96 :?DE2==2E:@? @7 2 8C@F?5\>@F?E65 D@=2C 2CC2J]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 E96 t?6C8J p5G:D@CJ r@>>:EE66 H:== EC24< E96 AC@8C6DD @7 E9:D AC@;64E :? 9@A6D E92E @?6 52J 2 D:>:=2C AC@;64E 42? 36 C64@>>6?565 7@C E96 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@=[ 255:?8 E92E E96 AC@;64E :D 6IA64E65 E@ D2G6 @? E96 @G6C2== 4@DE @7 6=64EC:4:EJ 7@C J62CD E@ 4@>6 H9:=6 AC@G:5:?8 2 A@D:E:G6 :>A24E @? E96 6?G:C@?>6?E]k^Am
kAm“(92E J@F D66 96C6 E@52J :D E96 C6DF=E @7 E92E 677@CE] xE E@@< FD 23@FE 2 J62C 2?5 2 92=7 7@C E96 A2A6CH@C< H9:49 H2D 7:?:D965 :? a_`h 7@CEF?2E6=J 367@C6 E96 A2?56>:4 2?5 E96 :?DE2==2E:@? H2D 4@>A=6E65 2 76H H66<D 28@ 2?5 24EF2==J EFC?65 @? yF=J a] xE :D AC@5F4:?8 BF:E6 2 3:E @7 A@H6C H9:49 42? 36 7@==@H65 @? 2 H63D:E6] xE :D 5@:?8 2 723F=@FD ;@3[” D2:5 s@H?D]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 :? 255:E:@? E@ 96CD6=7[ {2?@:6 2?5 s@H5[ E96 4@>>:EE66 2=D@ 4@?D:DE65 @7 $6=64E>2? q@3 z:?8 2?5 $=@2?6 y2C6==[ E96 =2EE6C EH@ @7 H9@> H6C6 ?@E AC6D6?E 2E |@?52J’D 565:42E:@?]k^Am
kAm“(6 H6C6 E96 7:G6 7@=<D H9@ H6C6 AC6EEJ :?G@=G65 H:E9 E9:D AC@;64E[” D2:5 s@H?D]k^Am
kAms@H?D H2D ;@:?65 3J s@H5[ 7@C>6C 86?6C2= >2?286C @7 !:?6 %C66 !@H6C @7 |25:D@?]k^Am
kAmw6 2=D@ AC2:D65 E96 G:D:@? @7 ~’qC:6? :? H2?E:?8 E@ =625 |25:D@?’D 2=E6C?2E:G6 6?6C8J 677@CED[ ?@E:?8 E92E 2D 2 E62496C 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ =6256C[ ~’qC:6?’D =6824J H2D E@ A=2?E D665D — E96 7CF:ED @7 H9:49 E@H?DA6@A=6 2C6 46=63C2E:?8 E@52J H:E9 E96 ?6H 2CC2J]k^Am
kAm“u@C >6[ E9:D AC@;64E C6AC6D6?ED #2J’D =6824J @7 2 A6CD@? H9@ 7@DE6C65 2?5 AC@>@E65 2 =62C?:?8 4F=EFC6[” D2:5 s@H5[ H9@ FD65 E@ 9@DE ~’qC:6?’D D49@@= 4=2DD6D @? 7:6=5 EC:AD E@ !:?6 %C66 !@H6C H96C6 96 F?56CD4@C65 E92E !:?6 %C66 H2D?’E 23@FE 4C62E:?8 6?6C8J — :E H2D 23@FE 4@?G6CE:?8 6?6C8J[ 2 =6DD@? E92E ~’qC:6? 6IA=2:?65 E@ 9:D DEF56?ED :? E6C>D E92E H@F=5 DE2J H:E9 E96>]k^Am
kAm$A62<:?8 @? 3692=7 @7 $92966?[ w6?56CD@? D2:5 E92E “t249 DF446DD7F==J 4@>A=6E65 4@>>F?:EJ D@=2C AC@;64E 96=AD E@H? 4@>>:EE66D 2?5 AC@;64E 492>A:@?D E@ 5@ E96 9@>6H@C<[ 82:? E96 4@?7:56?46[ 3F:=5 4@?D6?DFD 2?5 8@ 7@CH2C5 H:E9 E96:C AC@;64E] %@52J[ H6 9@?@C @?6 DF49 AC@;64E 492>A:@? 3J 565:42E:?8 E96 AC@;64E E@ #2J ~’qC:6?] #2J 2AAC@24965 E96 492==6?86D @7 492?8:?8 @FC 6?6C8J FD6 H:E9 3@F?5=6DD 4FC:@D:EJ[ A6CA6EF2= 6I4:E6>6?E 2?5 E96 4@?G:4E:@? E92E H6 42? >2<6 E96 H@C=5 2 =:EE=6 36EE6C 3J H@C<:?8 E@86E96C E@ 86E D@>6E9:?8 5@?6]”k^Am
kAmp?86=@ :? 96C C6>2C<D D2:5 #6':D:@? t?6C8J “:D 9@?@C65 E@ H@C< H:E9 E96 E@H? ? E96 AC@;64E]”k^Am
kAm%9@D6 :?G@=G65 H:E9 E96 AC@;64E D:8?65 2 |25:D@? t?6C8J p5G:D@CJ r@>>:EE66 2?5 uC:6?5D A@DE6C[ “r@>>:DD:@?:?8 #2J’D pCC2J[” H9:49 42CC:65 2 A9@E@ @7 ~’qC:6?[ 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 7@==@H:?8 H@C5Di “#6>6>36C:?8 #2J ~’qC:6?i w:D :?DA:C2E:@? D9:?6D 3C:89E=J ?@H 2D E96 6?6C8J @7 E96 DF? :D 4@?G6CE65 E@ E96 6?6C8J E92E D6CG6D E96 E@H?[ ;FDE 2D 96 5:5 7@C D@ >2?J J62CD H:E9 6?5=6DD 56G@E:@?]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 2 AC6DD C6=62D6[ E96 AC@;64E H2D :?DE2==65 F?56C 2 A@H6C AFC492D6 28C66>6?E[ D@ E96C6 :D ?@ FA7C@?E 4@DE E@ E96 E@H?]k^Am
kAm&?56C 2 !!p[ 2? :?G6DE@C @H?D E96 D@=2C 2CC2J 2?5 D6==D 6=64EC:4:EJ E@ E96 E@H? 2E 2 5:D4@F?E65 AC:46 @G6C E96 FE:=:EJ’D C2E6]k^Am
kAmu@C E96 E@H? @7 |25:D@?[ E92E :?G6DE@C :D q=F6 w2G6? x?:E:2E:G6[ 2? :>A24E :?G6DE@C 565:42E65 E@ AFEE:?8 H62=E9 E@ H@C< 7@C A@D:E:G6 D@4:2= 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 492?86] q=F6 w2G6? :D 23=6 E@ E2<6 25G2?E286 @7 2 ae A6C46?E u656C2= x?G6DE>6?E %2I rC65:E 2?5 6BF:A>6?E 56AC64:2E:@? HC:E6\@77D E92E E96 >F?:4:A2=:EJ 42??@E E2<6 3642FD6 :E 5@6D?’E A2J E2I6D]k^Am
kAm%96 E@H? 36?67:ED 3642FD6 :E 42? AFC492D6 E96 724:=:EJ :? E96 7FEFC6 2E 2 C65F465 4@DE :?DE625 @7 @H?:?8 :E 7C@> 52J @?6] pE E96 DE2CE @7 J62C D:I[ E96 E@H? 42? AFC492D6 E96 :?DE2==2E:@? 7C@> q=F6 w2G6? 2E 2 72:C >2C<6E G2=F6[ ?@C>2==J 2C@F?5 e_ A6C46?E @7 E96 @C:8:?2= 4@DE] p7E6C E96 AFC492D6[ E96 E@H? @H?D 2== E96 A@H6C 86?6C2E65] %9:D AC@;64E :D 6DE:>2E65 E@ D2G6 E96 %@H? @7 |25:D@? 2=>@DE Sbf_[___ @G6C E96 c_\J62C =:76DA2? @7 E96 DJDE6>[ 244@C5:?8 E@ p?86=@ @7 #6':D:@? t?6C8J @7 |2:?6 2?5 }6H w2>AD9:C6]k^Am
kAm“|25:D@? :D E96 7:CDE 4@>>F?:EJ :? E96 G2==6J E@ 3F:=5 2 D@=2C DJDE6> 7@C :ED E@H? FD6[” D2:5 {2?@:6 27E6C E96 >66E:?8]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E96 E@H?’D 25G:D@CJ 4@>>:EE66 :D 4@>AC:D65 @7 :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 2=D@ D:E @? D@=2C\A@H6C65 %:? |@F?E2:? r@?D6CG2E:@? r6?E6C @7 p=32?J’D G2==6J\H:56 t?6C8J %62>]k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^>25:D@?\?9]@C8Qm>25:D@?\?9]@C8k^2m]k^Am

(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.