Town of Westport Takes Major Step Toward Clean Energy:
24 kW Solar PV System is Installed on the Fire Station
Commissioning and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Set for Wednesday, May 30, 2007, 3:30pm
May 24, 2007 – The Town of Westport has completed the installation of a 24-kilowatt (kW) solar PV system on the roof of the Fire Station at 515 Post Road East. Encompassing an array of PV panels on the large flat roof, as well as a smaller array that is mounted at an angle on the parapet wall and visible from street and ground level, the PV system will convert sunlight into electricity for direct use in the Fire Station building. The system will generate roughly 7% of the annual energy needs for the building and will be interconnected with the regional utility grid of CL&P. Unique to the system design, there are no roof penetrations and the system has data acquisition and performance monitoring capability, so that the public will be able to access system performance and energy production profile via the town’s website.
A formal commissioning and ribbon-cutting event will take place on Wednesday, May 30, 3:30pm at the Fire Station. The general public is invited to attend. Acknowledgement and general remarks are expected to be made by Gordon Joseloff, First Selectman, Town of Westport; Christopher Shays, Congressman; Carl Lehman, Westport Energy Task Force; Dave Ljungquist, Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF); and John Rountree, Westport Solar Consultants. It is intended that participants will have an opportunity to see the PV system from the roof.
The solar PV project was developed and orchestrated by Westport Solar Consultants, who presented the initial analysis and project concept to the town, crafted the system design and engineering specifications, and led each phase of the project lifecycle. Project execution rested with Steve Edwards, Director of Public Works, and Mike Frawley, Director, Buildings & Maintenance for the Town of Westport. The PV system was installed by Solar Works, Inc.
Working closely with the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), the town received funding in the amount of $99,156 as part of CCEF’s On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program. This offset nearly 50% of the upfront capital cost. Given its location in Southwest Connecticut, the system also received a special supplemental incentive award from CCEF which is expected to total $5,000.
Lise Dondy, CCEF president, stated, “We are pleased to have been able to help make this new PV installation at the Fire Station a reality. Westport continues to be one of the most active municipalities supporting renewable energy initiatives in the state, having committed to 20% by 2010, earned the distinction of Connecticut Clean Energy Community, received a Community Innovations Grants Program award, and now earned a grant through our On-site Renewable DG Program. We hope that many other towns follow suit. We applaud Westport’s commitment and enthusiasm.”
Commenting on the impact of this system, Mark Pizzi, principal, Westport Solar Consultants, stated, “This project will undoubtedly expand the public’s consciousness of clean, renewable energy and raise awareness to the opportunities with solar PV. It is the combination of the environmental, economic, and social proposition of solar that made this project a reality. In the face of the nation’s energy crisis, a highly constrained electric grid in Southwestern Connecticut, and the environmental challenges posed by global warming, Westporter’s should feel very proud of this forward movement to clean, renewable energy.”
Gordon Joseloff, First Selectman, Town of Westport added, “Westport is very proud of this solar installation at fire headquarters. It symbolizes our commitment to finding alternate energy resources for Westport and Westporters. While the amount of electricity generated may be small compared to the town’s total consumption, it nevertheless is a landmark step in making good on our promises to make Westport a ‘green’ community.”
Carl Leaman of the Town of Westport Green Energy Task Force stated, “… this is the first step in local generation the town has taken and I hope it will be followed by additional projects over coming years. We must reduce our dependence on fossil and nuclear fuel and everyone must be a part of the solution. Using scarce resources in a more efficient way should be at the top of the list of things to do.”
About Westport Solar Consultants
Westport Solar Consultants is a consulting firm focused on solar electricity and the design of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The firm consults to companies, municipalities, institutions, and specialized residential projects in order to incorporate solar PV as a means of electricity generation and energy cost savings, as well as to maximize the economic, social, business, and environmental opportunities inherent in using renewable energy. Westport Solar Consultants orchestrates the complete project lifecycle to a solar PV installation, bringing its expertise to each project phase, from initial project concept, feasibility analysis, and system design, to management of the installation and commissioning of the PV system. Westport Solar Consultants is led by Mark Pizzi, and John Rountree, AIA.
About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
CCEF was created by the Connecticut General Assembly and is administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public organization. CCEF promotes the development and commercialization of clean energy technologies; the creation of clean energy supply; and the demand for electricity from clean, renewable sources in Connecticut in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state. CCEF’s funding comes from a surcharge on electric ratepayers’ utility bills. For more information on CCEF, please visit HYPERLINK http://www.ctcleanenergy.com.
About Connecticut Innovations, Inc.
Connecticut Innovations (CI) is a quasi-public organization dedicated to driving a vibrant, entrepreneurial, technology-based economy in Connecticut. CI stimulates high-tech growth by investing in: early-stage Connecticut technology companies; university/industry research collaborations; technology transfer; and, clean energy initiatives through the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. CI also fosters collaboration among government, business, nonprofit and academic organizations to advance technology growth and promotes public policies consistent with CI’s mission. For more information on CI, please visit HYPERLINK http://www.ctinnovations.com
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