The punishment for a Central Massachusetts company that failed to comply with air pollution regulations is financing the installation of solar panels at an environmental organization, according to published reports.

Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics of Worcester, who was fined $28,000 last week following 2009 tests indicating high emission levels of methanol, will take charge of equipping the Massachusetts Audobon Society's pavilion with solar panels, per the suggestion of a senior environmental engineer at Saint-Gobain . The pavilion at the Society's conservation center and wildlife sanctuary will conduct educational programming.

"I'm sorry that Saint-Gobain made mistakes, but if they’re going to have to pay a fine, if anyone's going to have to pay a fine, I wish companies across the state would do this," Deborah D. Cary, director of central sanctuaries for Mass. Audubon, told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. "It seems like such a good way to direct fines to a positive purpose."

A spokesman at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said this penalty covered by the violator will make a valuable contribution to the environment.

"When you pay a fine for environmental issues, it goes in the state general fund, which isn't necessarily targeted to the environment," Joseph Dufresne, the engineer who suggested the penalty, told the publication. "I felt I'd rather do something positive. If you're going to pay a penalty, do something positive that's going to stand after you're done."