For Immediate Release:
Contact:    Joe McQueen
(518) 388-4772

March 3, 2017

 

Schenectady County Solar Projects

Saving Money and Protecting the Environment 

Phase 1 Projects Save Taxpayers $200,000 While Avoiding 1,000 Tons of CO2 Emissions

(Schenectady County, NY)  Schenectady County Legislature Chairman Anthony Jasenski today announced that Schenectady County has saved over $200,000 through its solar program producing 1,752,852 kWh of electricity while avoiding over 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions as of January 31, 2017.

“This program continues Schenectady County’s efforts to be a leader in renewable energy and environmental conservation,” said Anthony Jasenski, Chairman of the County Legislature.  “We have saved more than $200,000 in electrical costs and avoided producing 1,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year, making county government more environmentally efficient and friendly and saving taxpayers money.”

The Schenectady County Solar Program began in 2013 with the placement of solar panel arrays on County owned building through a partnership with Monolith Solar.  Schenectady County receives a 30 percent discount through Monolith on all electricity produced by the solar panels.  The program has expanded to include additional facilities including a solar farm located at the Schenectady County Resident Recycling and Composting Facility on Hetcheltown Road in Glenville.

The existing projects produce over 1.0 mW of electricity each year, more than 10 percent of the County’s current usage (see chart below).  The goal is to build out to be fully solar-powered, reducing total annual consumption by 50 percent to about 5mW of electricity, saving $650,000 annually for County government.

“Our Phase I solar accomplishments are impressive, but we know we can do more,” said Chairman Jasenski.  “In October this County Legislature adopted ambitious solar production and energy conservation goals of 100 percent energy independence by December 31, 2020.  We will continue to take every opportunity to achieve this goal.”

In October 2016, the County Legislature approved a resolution directing the County Manager to take steps toward achieving energy independence of the County of Schenectady to the extent practicable by 2020 by instituting new energy efficient programs such as installing LED lighting throughout the facilities of the County of Schenectady and by increasing the County’s reliance upon the use of solar-powered energy.

Schenectady County’s Phase II solar projects are now under development.  In November 2016 the County Legislature approved two additional solar projects – the Niskayuna Commerce Park Solar Farm and Rotterdam Burdeck Street Solar Farm – which will more than double the County’s solar production by adding 1,185,000 watts of power for a total of 2,275,400 watts of power produced.

“These resolutions set the bar high and were not just empty promises, as we are dedicated to leading the way on the use of clean energy in our county,” said Richard Ruzzo, Chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Technology.  “Immediately after setting our 2020 energy independence goals we set to work to find additional opportunities for energy efficiency and the use of clean solar energy.  I’m confident we will reach those goals by producing over 5mW of solar electric power and becoming near 100 percent energy independent over the next few years.”

Schenectady County’s Phase III Solar projects will soon be announced.

“The best is yet to come,” said Rory Fluman, Chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Intergovernmental Cooperation.  “We will soon be announcing a new Phase III solar project which will include partnering with our local governments to help them see energy efficiencies and savings, so stay tuned!”

Existing Schenectady County Phase I Solar Projects:

                         

Size in            Operational          Production           Expected Annual

Solar Project         DC watts            Date                  as of 1-31-17           Production

(kWh)                 (kWh)

Hetcheltown Road 592,920          11-13-15 (1/3)              763,686            753,008

02-14-16 (2/3)

Business Center

(920 Albany Street)   75,600            05-31-13                  277,341               86,940

County Ice Rink        51,700            11-04-14                  224,599               62,040

Rink Expansion         143,000          09-19-16                  47,332               157,300

County Highway       51,700            01-04-14                  220,220                59,455

Rotterdam Library      50,400           01-26-12                  188,719               57,960

Bornt Library            16,470            06-06-16                  20,399                 18,941

 

Total:                        981,790 Watts                                    1,752,852 kWh     1,195,644 kWh

 

– 30 –