Alteris Renewables, busy celebrating the acquisition of ISI Solar in New City, was also on hand in Albany earlier in May to collect recognition from the New York State Energies Industries Association. The company won an award for best ground installation of a photovoltaic system at the municipal hall in Ulster County”™s town of Esopus.
The $500,000 system, paid for partially through grants, takes up one-quarter acre of the 22-acre property holding the new town hall.
Supervisor John Coutant gave HV Biz a tour of the new building in May, 2009, prior to the PV installation, pointing out how architect Joe Hurwitz of Hurley designed the building to allow for as much natural light as possible. A geo-thermal system is also integrated into Esopus”™ new town hall, which installed its PV ground system in October.
The town estimated the PV system would save $35,000 a year in electric costs.
One problem has cropped up among solar companies and private residents trying to get financial credit from NYSERDA for “going green” ”“ that”™s getting reimbursed for the expense of buying energy-saving technology.
“There”™s been a backlog, and some have waited months for reimbursement,” said Michael Stangl, vice president of regional sales for Alteris who was on hand when ISI Solar of New City announced it had been acquired by the Wilton, Conn.-based company.
“There are about 30 municipal projects in the pipeline that are already approved, but all have been held up because they haven”™t received funding from NYSERDA,” said Stangl. “NYSERDA says they will be ready to roll within the next six to eight weeks.”
With the passage of the Green Jobs/Green New York Act, NYSERDA can expect more businesses and residents to be lining up for credits.
