Village of Scottsville Solar Array Update
The solar array has been functioning for close to a year now and has been producing energy since April 2017. The following is an update and explanation of the benefits that the solar array provides to the Village of Scottsville.
The solar array as of Wednesday, March 15 broke the 100,000-kilowatt-hour mark, which is equal to the average amount of power required to power seventeen homes in a year. This production offsets all of the energy consumed by village-owned buildings and other power sources – the DPW, Scottsville Firehall, Johnson Park and village streetlights. All of the power produced offsets monthly utility bills and any excess energy generated over and above village electric consumption will be reimbursed monetarily to the village on a yearly basis by National Grid.
Next steps required for the future board, per the resolution passed to become a Clean Energy Community are:
- Purchase and convert Scottsville streetlights to LED lights
- Install another solar array on village-owned property for Community Distributed Generation, which gives residents and small businesses the opportunity to buy kilowatt-hours of production to offset their energy consumption. The advantages of this program allow residents to buy in and take advantage of solar-generated power without having to install solar panels on their own property. And as long as the individual resides within National Grid territory, this credit will move with them. For example, if you move from Scottsville to Buffalo and National Grid supplies your energy you will still be able to get credit for the kilowatt hours consumed by your new residence if you have invested in it.
Responsibilities for the next board include:
- Install a monitor in the Municipal Building outside the window of the village offices, set in real time to reflect the amount of energy being produced, as suggested by Solar Liberty.
- Update the community on the status of the yearly reimbursement.
- Pass a local zoning law (NYS Unified Solar Permit) that standardizes and protects the consumer by insuring that installation of solar panels on private property by electricians and solar companies meet all the criteria set by NYSERDA.
- Insure that future village vehicle purchases are electric or hybrid. By purchasing these vehicles and installing electric charging stations at the DPW and Firehall this will allow the village to take advantage of the power produced by the solar panels thus lowering village fuel costs.
The solar array has been functioning for close to a year now and has been producing energy since April 2017. The following is an update and explanation of the benefits that the solar array provides to the Village of Scottsville.
The solar array as of Wednesday, March 15 broke the 100,000-kilowatt-hour mark, which is equal to the average amount of power required to power seventeen homes in a year. This production offsets all of the energy consumed by village-owned buildings and other power sources – the DPW, Scottsville Firehall, Johnson Park and village streetlights. All of the power produced offsets monthly utility bills and any excess energy generated over and above village electric consumption will be reimbursed monetarily to the village on a yearly basis by National Grid.
Next steps required for the future board, per the resolution passed to become a Clean Energy Community are:
- Purchase and convert Scottsville streetlights to LED lights
- Install another solar array on village-owned property for Community Distributed Generation, which gives residents and small businesses the opportunity to buy kilowatt-hours of production to offset their energy consumption. The advantages of this program allow residents to buy in and take advantage of solar-generated power without having to install solar panels on their own property. And as long as the individual resides within National Grid territory, this credit will move with them. For example, if you move from Scottsville to Buffalo and National Grid supplies your energy you will still be able to get credit for the kilowatt hours consumed by your new residence if you have invested in it.
Responsibilities for the next board include:
- Install a monitor in the Municipal Building outside the window of the village offices, set in real time to reflect the amount of energy being produced, as suggested by Solar Liberty.
- Update the community on the status of the yearly reimbursement.
- Pass a local zoning law (NYS Unified Solar Permit) that standardizes and protects the consumer by insuring that installation of solar panels on private property by electricians and solar companies meet all the criteria set by NYSERDA.
- Insure that future village vehicle purchases are electric or hybrid. By purchasing these vehicles and installing electric charging stations at the DPW and Firehall this will allow the village to take advantage of the power produced by the solar panels thus lowering village fuel costs.
