NEWBURYPORT - Mark Richey Woodworking is going even greener - it's about to build Newburyport's first wind turbine.

The already-green company, which uses a biomass furnace to burn its waste to generate heat, will next build a wind turbine to decrease the amount of electricity it has to buy.

"This is so important to us as a company and to me personally," Richey said. "With so much talk of alternative energy, if we want to create a real change in the world economically, environmentally and politically, we have to somehow find a way to wean ourselves off our addiction to forcing oil."

The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative awarded Richey a grant of $474,340, one-third of the total cost to fund the 600 kilowatt wind turbine. The rest of the project will be funded by Richey's company and possibly future grant money. The company is in Newburyport's industrial park off Parker Street.

"We are very much interested in green technology and alternate technology," Richey said. "After installing a biomass furnace for heat, the next step was electric energy production, and this seemed like the most logical way."

Richey started the extensive research and proposal writing for the grant over the summer with the help of state Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport.

"Costello has been critical in so many ways," Richey said. "We went to him with the idea, and he helped and supported getting the word out. He believes in what we are doing, and we believe in him.

Costello, who also worked on a previous grant for the construction of the biomass furnace, has praised the company's technology and business model.

"Mark Richey Woodworking has emerged as both an environmental and a manufacturing leader in Newburyport and in the state," Costello said. "This is the direction that the Speaker and the Legislature want to take our commonwealth - toward clean, renewable energy."

MTC awards grants to fund green projects and initiatives throughout the state. It considers a number of factors in deciding to award a grant, including the history of the business, a plan for how the money will be used and what the chances are for success.

"It's a very compelling project, as we are a large energy consumer, there is no better return on their investment than with us. We use energy, we are a landlord, the energy we will save from the wind turbine will go back into the grid and be better economically," Richey said.

Richey Woodworking, founded in 1979 and an employer of more than 90 craftsmen and engineers, has been a green business since moving to the industrial park in April 2005. Richey foresees the new turbine being an asset to the community.

"This is so ideal," Richey said. "We are located in the industrial park: what better place to put a turbine? It is in line with our green business initiative, and it's the first in our area."

The push to turn the city green has been aided by local groups, such as Seacoast Energy and Environmental Design Coalition, headed by Mark Guay.

"The whole idea is to have a sustainable community, and part of that is to limit the carbon footprint of businesses and be a leader in the community by getting locals and employees involved," Guay said. "This grant is so spectacular, it is exactly what SEED has been hoping to nurture here. Hats off to Mark Richey."

Before construction begins on the turbine, Richey will be working to secure additional funding, procure a permit and get approval of the conservation and zoning committees.

"We are so excited to get the support and see some real action by MTC, the governor and all the people involved in getting the grant," Richey said. "This is a win-win situation, it's a great opportunity to our city and region to tell the rest of Massachusetts that we support green energy and are concerned about the environment."