NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB) — Solar energy was activated Wednesday at the state’s district highway office building in Northampton.

Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Richard Davey was joined by local officials in turning on the solar switch.

The solar array is located next the the agency’s Northampton headquarters.

“It allows us to generate electricity obviously without a greenhouse gas emission. It will help power this building and hopefully in the future, we’ll be able to expand it and maybe sell some power back to the grid,” Davey notes.

During clear days, the building will draw power from the solar panels, and at night or on cloudy days, it will be powered by Western Mass. Electric.