FREE Center board members, Phillip Rose and Mary Bartlett, and board president and volunteer educator, Judy Cary, stand at the FREE Center

The FREE Center: Powering Interest in Renewable Energy

Giving Voice Fall 2019: Grantee Story

Schoolchildren visiting the Fenner Renewable Energy Education Center (FREE Center) often explore the 2-acre site seeking answers to questions on a scavenger hunt list: How many varieties of willow plants grow here? What is the wind speed in Fenner? And what form of renewable energy uses heat from the ground?

As the busloads of students begin the search, they immediately see 218.5-foot wind turbines with three 111.5-feet blades spinning. They examine solar panels that power the FREE Center. They learn that there are three kinds of willow which can be converted into sustainable energy resources, the average wind speed is 17.7 mph, and heat from the ground creates geothermal energy.

“When young people visit the property, they really get it,” said Judy Cary, board president and volunteer educator at the FREE Center. “They’re interested and concerned about energy and the environment.”

About 5,000 people visit the FREE Center annually, including school, scout, civic, and church groups; college students; and government and industry representatives. They come to see renewable energy in action and learn how the 20 turbines create energy that powers about 10,000 homes. The breathtaking hilltop views don’t hurt, either.

The wind farm began operating in 2001 in Fenner, a small Madison County town with deep agricultural roots. People from near and far watched as the turbines went up; they parked atop surrounding hills and walked through fields to get a closer look.

“People were curious and would call the town to ask where to get a good view,” Cary said. “Right away there was a recognized need for education, so other residents and I began to brainstorm.”

In 2006, a local couple donated property for an educational center and from there the FREE Center was born. It now offers tours and programs about energy conservation, and renewable energy sources and production.

The Community Foundation provided the organization with a grant in 2014 to support the creation of a sustainability plan, and a grant in 2018 to support weatherization and renovations to its classroom and community space, allowing it to be used year-round. Upgrades to the structure resulted in a finished building that accommodates about 50 people.

People continue to check out the wind turbines from sunrise to sunset. “They first came because they were curious,” Cary said. “Now many people visit to learn about renewable energy. The environment keeps changing and we keep learning and changing too.”

Related Stories

hand holding growing money
Publications September 18, 2023

Helping your Clients Get Organized: Structure Is a Critical Step in Multi-Generational Philanthropy

Learn how Jeff Knauss and his wife use their donor-advised to engage their children in ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Woman sitting with girl holding books
Blogs August 21, 2023

Unlocking Potential through Reading as A Book Buddy Volunteer

Juliet Nabinger, employee benefits senior specialist at OneGroup and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how her ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

Children looking through binoculars on Syracuse street
Publications August 1, 2023

Payment Pending: CNY Nonprofit Funding Delays From the State Level

Colby Cyrus, CAPM and Frank Ridzi, Ph.D. outline our analysis of how often New York ...

News Releases July 27, 2023

LeadSafeCNY: A Look at our Neighborhood Investments

A new heat map demonstrates the impact of our neighborhood investments so far through the ...

Woman reading to child
News Releases July 25, 2023

More than $1 Million Distributed to Local Nonprofits

The Central New York Community Foundation recently distributed $1,127,321 in grants to local nonprofits.

Two men standing, one sitting in a wheelchair
Blogs July 24, 2023

Community Voices: Promoting Adaptive Recreation in CNY through the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Challenge

Ashley Quimby-Simoni, program manager at the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, shares how adding adaptive ...

News Releases July 11, 2023

Community Foundation Awards Grants to Lead Testing & Awareness Projects

Runners-up of the Community Foundation's participatory budgeting project received LeadSafeCNY grants.

hand holding growing money
Publications September 18, 2023

Helping your Clients Get Organized: Structure Is a Critical Step in Multi-Generational Philanthropy

Learn how Jeff Knauss and his wife use their donor-advised to engage their children in ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Woman sitting with girl holding books
Blogs August 21, 2023

Unlocking Potential through Reading as A Book Buddy Volunteer

Juliet Nabinger, employee benefits senior specialist at OneGroup and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how her ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

Children looking through binoculars on Syracuse street
Publications August 1, 2023

Payment Pending: CNY Nonprofit Funding Delays From the State Level

Colby Cyrus, CAPM and Frank Ridzi, Ph.D. outline our analysis of how often New York ...

News Releases July 27, 2023

LeadSafeCNY: A Look at our Neighborhood Investments

A new heat map demonstrates the impact of our neighborhood investments so far through the ...

Woman reading to child
News Releases July 25, 2023

More than $1 Million Distributed to Local Nonprofits

The Central New York Community Foundation recently distributed $1,127,321 in grants to local nonprofits.

Two men standing, one sitting in a wheelchair
Blogs July 24, 2023

Community Voices: Promoting Adaptive Recreation in CNY through the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Challenge

Ashley Quimby-Simoni, program manager at the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, shares how adding adaptive ...

News Releases July 11, 2023

Community Foundation Awards Grants to Lead Testing & Awareness Projects

Runners-up of the Community Foundation's participatory budgeting project received LeadSafeCNY grants.

View More