Four Commercial Solar Installations providing 54.7 kW of Clean Energy Generating Capacity completed in Connecticut
Middlebury Animal Hospital, Tyrone Farm, Westport Wash & Wax and 2001 Company All Benefiting from Solar Energy
Rocky Hill, Conn., July 28, 2008
Source: Connecticut Clean Energy Fund CCEF press release
http://www.ctcleanenergy.com/NewsEvents/PressRoom/tabid/118/ctl/ViewItem/mid/1364/
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The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) today announced that four of the solar photovoltaic (PV) projects that it funded through its On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program are now completed and successfully operating. These installations include:
* An 11.5-kilowatt rooftop solar PV system at Middlebury Animal Hospital in Middlebury, Conn.;
* A 23.2-kilowatt ground-mounted solar PV system at Tyrone Farm in Pomfret, Conn.;
* A 3.7-kilowatt rooftop solar PV system at Westport Wash & Wax in Westport, Conn.; and
* A 16.3-kilowatt building-integrated solar PV system at 2001 Company of Waterbury, Conn.
All four installations were supported with grants from CCEF’s On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program. CCEF grants for the projects totaled $241,220 and covered approximately half of the total project costs.
“We are pleased to have made possible the solar installations at these diverse business locations,” said Lise Dondy, president of CCEF. “The environmental impact of the PV systems is significant; their operation will help us avoid 68,300 pounds of CO2 emissions annually, or 683 tons of CO2 emissions over the lifetime of the systems.” Dondy added, “Solar installations like these are increasingly being embraced by businesses of all types as an effective means of controlling energy costs while helping to protect the environment.”
Middlebury Animal Hospital’s roof-mounted solar PV system is generating about 57% of the veterinary hospital’s total electrical needs. The PV system, consisting of 56 solar panels, was installed by Sunlight Solar Energy of Milford, Conn.
Koen Loeven, DVM, owner of Middlebury Animal Hospital, commented, “High energy prices, global warming and geopolitical concerns all contributed to the decision to invest in solar energy. We felt strongly that we should do our part, no matter how small, to transition to cleaner sources of power.” Dr. Loeven added, “Without the financial support of the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, as well as additional tax incentives, our project would have been too costly to consider. We strongly encourage Connecticut residents to investigate the benefits of generating clean energy at their businesses and homes.”
The solar installation at Tyrone Farm, a popular site in northeastern Connecticut for equestrian events, weddings and concerts, supplies approximately 76% of the total electrical needs for the Pomfret facility. Installed by SolarWrights, Inc., of Stonington, Conn., the system consists of 108 ground-mounted solar panels.
“The outside installation,” remarked Bill MacLaren, the farm’s owner, “serves as a visible counterpoint to our traditional buildings. Guests are initially intrigued and then impressed with the contribution the panels make to our operations. With adjustable panels, we expect to maintain optimal PV efficiency during all seasons.”
The 18-panel solar PV system on the rooftop of Westport Wash & Wax was installed by Sunlight Solar Energy of Milford, Conn.
Scott Tiefenthaler, co-owner of Westport Wash & Wax, commented, “We hope that this solar installation – located in a very public location along U.S. Route 1 – will provide our customers with a tangible example of the benefits of alternative energy.” Tiefenthaler added, “This system will help us to manage the costs of running our business while allowing us to do our part to support clean energy.”
2001 Company’s solar array, consisting of 120 solar panels, is the first building-integrated solar PV system to be installed on an industrial building in Connecticut. The array, which is adhered directly to the building’s roofing materials rather than mounted on raised racks, will supply approximately 25% of the building’s energy. It was installed by PV Squared of New Britain, Conn.
Building-integrated solar systems offer a cost-effective alternative for developers or owners of commercial buildings who are planning to install both a new roof and a solar array. Because customers do not incur the cost of mounting racks and the thin-film integrated solar panels use less silicon than traditional solar arrays, cost savings of up to 10% can result.
Tom Kelly, president of 2001 Company, a manufacturer of innovative roofing systems, said, “We could not be more proud of the solar installation at our Waterbury facility. This technology enables our building to be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, while allowing us to demonstrate the company’s cutting edge solar electric roof system. With CCEF’s help, we are now in a better position than ever to add solar electric roof panels to our roofing membrane products and grow our business both in Connecticut and around the country.”