SEDC Solar "Power Breakfast" held April 26
2012-04-26 - SEDC hosted a Solar "Power Breakfast" on April 26 in Clifton Park. The event featured presentations by SEDC members Heliosage, New York Light Energy, NYSERDA and National Grid.
The solar industry is one of the 10 fastest growing industries in America and has been at the forefront of the green industrial movement with an annual revenue growth of 32.3 percent from 2002 to 2012.
Presenters discussed the substantial energy savings, tax motivated returns and capital investment recapture opportunities associated with Solar Energy initiatives.
Brendan Hughes of NYSERDA discussed the current solar initiatives in New York State as well as the the NY-Sun Initiative which is expected to double the amount of customer-sited solar power installed annually in New York, and quadruple that amount by 2013. The Public Service Commission approved NYSERDA’s request to double funding for customer-sited solar electric systems, known as a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems, to $432 million over the next four years. The expanded solar program will increase financial incentives for large, commercial-sized PV projects and expand incentive programs for small-to-medium residential and commercial systems.
Danny Van Clief, Executive Vice President of Business Development of Heliosage (www.heliosage.com) discussed their company, how large scale solar installations work, service models like Power Purchase agreements, the current marketplace and how they approach projects in New York.
Alex Lieb of New York Light Energy provided an overview of their company (www.newyorklightenergy.com), small to mid-size commercial projects that they have done in the region and factors that a property owner should consider when investing in a solar power system, such as the importance of quality installation- since the investment needs to last over the term of a 20+ year contract.
Both Heliosage and New York Light Energy offer their customers Power Purchase agreements, which means that they will install, insure and maintain solar panels, while guaranteeing a long-term discount on energy prices.
Gary Gustin of National Grid discussed the issues that a property owner needs to consider before investing as well as the critical importance of working closely with your utility early on in the process to ensure that the project will fit with the property owner's service size and surrounding utility network.
Special thanks to our speakers for their insight into the solar energy market. Please contact SEDC at 518-587-0945 for more information about Solar in Saratoga County.
Click here to view Presentations from the Event.
