Dec 28 2010
Alteris Renewables has designed and installed a 7.74 kW capacity PV array. This array is mounted on a pole at the Berle Farm in Hoosick Falls in the New York region.
The total cost of this project was estimated to be $53,000, out of which the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) had contributed by giving a $19500 grant, and the Rural Energy for America Program by the US Department of Agriculture had offered $14,750. This 600 acre organic farm would switch over to solar power as it would receive 65 to 75% of the total power from sunlight and would gain almost $2000 every year as savings in utility costs.
According to Francis J. Murray Jr, CEO and President of NYSERDA, their renewable energy incentive programs were of a great help to small farms such as Berle Farms in expanding their operations and reducing their utility bills. NYSERDA has a total of $144 million available for supporting solar energy projects in New York State. It has supplied almost $ 3 million as incentives for solar projects from 2005 in Rensselaer County for around 870 kW of power generating systems.
Mike Stangl, Regional Vice President of Alteris, stated that the challenge was not in obtaining incentives and funds, but to widen the knowledge and awareness about the availability of these incentives. He further mentioned that their team was highly interested in giving a helping hand to business owners like Beatrice Berle and informing them about the various grants and incentives available for solar power projects.
Source: http://www.alterisinc.com/