Three Commercial Solar Installations Completed, 76.4 kW of Clean Energy Generating Capacity In Connecticut
New Canaan Country School, Planet Self Storage, and James T. Carlton Marine Science Center All Benefiting from Solar Energy
Rocky Hill, Conn., April 22, 2008
Source: ReneweableEnergyworld.com
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=52256
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) today announced that three 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:
* A 30.6-kilowatt solar PV system on the rooftop of the Stevens Upper School Building at New Canaan Country School in New Canaan, Conn.;
* A 28.6-kilowatt solar PV system at Planet Self Storage in Newington, Conn., the state’s first ground-mounted solar PV system in a commercial application; and
* A 17.2-kilowatt solar PV system located on the roof of the James T. Carlton Marine Science Center at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Conn.
All three installations were supported with grants from CCEF’s On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program. CCEF grants for these projects totaled $324,530 and covered approximately half of the total project costs.
“We are pleased to have made possible the solar installations at these business and educational sites,” said Lise Dondy, president of CCEF. “The environmental impact of the PV systems is significant; their operation will help us avoid over 90,000 pounds of CO2 emissions annually, or over 900 tons of CO2 emissions over the lifetime of the systems.” Dondy added, “Solar installations like these have become increasingly popular with businesses and educational institutions, being viewed as an effective means of controlling energy costs and helping to protect the environment.”
New Canaan Country School’s solar PV system, installed on the rooftop of the Stevens Upper School Building, is generating about 5.6% of the Upper School building’s total electrical needs. The PV system, consisting of 180 solar panels, was installed by Solar Works Inc.
“Country School is so grateful for the support from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund,” said Tim Bazemore, headmaster of New Canaan Country School. “We recently received the LEED Silver award by the US Green Building Council making us the ‘greenest school building in the state of Connecticut.’ Creating a learning environment that supports the practical application of sustainability is at the core of the school’s mission.”
The solar installation at Planet Self Storage is now supplying approximately 30% of the total electrical needs for the Newington facility. Designed and installed by Ascendant Energy Company Inc. of Rockland, Maine, the system consists of 168 ground-mounted solar panels.
Charlie Fritts, partner and chief operating officer of Storage Investment Management Inc., said, “We have always sought opportunities to conserve energy and over the years we have made numerous lighting and HVAC improvements. We have considered solar energy as an option in the past however the cost was prohibitive. Thanks to the funding available through CCEF solar energy at Planet Self Storage in Newington became viable and our ground-mounted photovoltaic array has been completed. This is a great solution if rooftops are not available, and we are now planning for solar in several other locations. Going green is a hot concept today – at Planet Self Storage we have stepped up and made the commitment to clean energy. ”
The 80-panel solar PV system on the rooftop of the James T. Carlton Marine Science Center is supplying approximately 30% of the building’s electrical needs. This newly constructed facility serves as a laboratory and classroom for college students enrolled in the Williams-Mystic maritime studies program, managed by Williams College of Williamstown, Mass. The PV system was installed by Solar Works Inc. (www.solarworksinc.com).
“The solar system at the Marine Science Center has exceeded our expectations from every perspective – installation, start-up, operational performance, maintenance, and esthetics,” noted William Parent, project manager, Mystic Seaport Museum Inc. “Since the system was commissioned ten months ago, it has produced over 19,000 kWh.” Parent added, “The team from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund was great to work with; we appreciate their support in helping us make this investment in renewable energy.”
About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is funded by the electric ratepayers. CCEF’s mission is to promote, develop and invest in clean energy sources for the benefit of Connecticut’s ratepayers in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state. CCEF is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public authority. For more information on CCEF, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.