Dakin Goes Solar

Last spring, Dakin’s Executive Director Carmine DiCenso got a memorable phone call.  He was contacted by Hatfield-based company Northeast Solar with the news that Dakin had been selected for the installation of solar panels for our adoption centers...at no cost.

The fee was being picked up by Pioneer Valley residents Brian Adams and his wife, Morey Phippen.  The pair had been targeting non-profits in the region whose buildings lacked solar panels, and offering to cover the cost of installation, which was handled by Northeast Solar.

By late May, solar panels were installed at Dakin’s Leverett Adoption Center.  Earlier this month, work was completed on our Springfield location as well.

Brian and Morey adopted their cat Willoughby from Dakin and were familiar with us.  Says Brian, “We are so supportive of the work that wonderful organizations like Dakin do in our community. Non-profits often lack the up-front money to go solar so this has been a marvelous opportunity to overcome that hurdle.”

He continues, “It’s a win-win-win situation; a win for the local organization, a win for the local economy and a win for the environment. Helping Dakin embrace sustainability, pay less on their electric bill and have more resources to carry out their mission is the positive outcome of our investment.”

According to Carmine, “Without Brian and Morey’s generous gift, we would never be able to take this step and install the solar panels.  We love that it’s good for the environment and, as Brian says, allows us to maximize donations by providing more services to help animals in need and the people who care about them.”

Solar panels are shown on Dakin's Leverett Adoption Center

Michael (left) and Bob of Northeast Solar completing the Springfield installation