Assemblywoman Russell, a member of the New York State Assembly's Energy Committee, said it is gratifying to see the results of funding decisions made during the state budget negotiation process.
"Our budget decisions have resulted in the implementation of a program here that will benefit our communities. We are able to bring resources here because of our need," she said.
"This is a wonderful illustration of how our state should work. This is a case of the state working with our partners from local schools and municipalities and the federal government. We can all work together to do things that make sense, save money and benefit our environment," Assemblywoman Russell added.
She also praised the leaders of the project that have brought together schools and municipalities from Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Lewis and Franklin counties.
The groundbreaking marked the culmination of a two-year effort led by Jefferson-Lewis BOCES and the Tri-County Energy Consortium, working with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, to partner with 30 plus schools and municipalities in the region to bring solar energy to the area and save taxpayer dollars for years to come.
NYSERDA has provided more than $1 million in support for the approximate $7.6 million project to help reduce the electricity costs for 35 schools, towns and villages that have signed up to participate.
The project advances Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system by helping to make clean energy a possible choice for more schools and municipalities.
School district and municipal leaders formed The Tri-County Energy Consortium to capitalize on economies of scale that will yield benefits to communities for decades.
The array for this first project at the BOCES site on Route 3 in Watertown will cover 10-12 acres of land, be comprised of over 8,000 panels and generate in excess of 3.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year.
"We're looking at - if everything goes all right - hoping to build 14 to 15 of these in the three counties. It's probably $100 million in investment, and it is going to save a lot of energy," John Warneck, executive director of the tri-county consortium said.
The project will also take advantage of the state Public Service Commission’s Remote Net Metering Program, which will result in saving approximately $120,000 per year per array, with the savings shared by all members.
Houtan Moaveni, assistant director of NYSERDA's NY Sun program, said the state is working to provide financial assistance as part of the goal to have 50 percent of the state's energy supplied by green energy sources by 2030.
"This project is a combined effort that will result in benefits to our economy and our environment and help to fight climate change," he said.
Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida BOCES District Superintendent Stephen J. Todd said BOCES was honored to be a part of the project.
"By partnering in the innovative Tri County Energy Consortium, participating schools and municipalities will save a considerable amount of money over the next 20 years.," Mr. Todd said.
"Local taxpayers, local schools, and local communities will benefit tremendously from this savings. We are also pleased that by embracing sustainable energy sources, consortium partners are doing our part to protect the natural environment," he noted.
The project is being developed through a power purchase agreement with Solar City, which will own the solar array.
The project in Watertown is the first of three 2.5 megawatt arrays to be constructed by the Tri-County Energy Consortium to help schools and municipalities offset electricity costs,with the two future projects to be constructed in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties.
The Tri-County Energy Consortium would like to develop a total of 50 MW of solar in the North Country in order to offset 80 percent of the electricity used by the schools, towns and villages that have signed up.
IN THE PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell, second from left, takes part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the 2.5 MW community solar for schools and municipalities project at the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES administration building site on Outer Arsenal Street. Pictured are (l-r): Houtan Moaveni, assistant director of NYSERDA's NY-Sun program; Assemblywoman Russell; unidentified; Jennifer Jachym, senior project development manager for Solar City; and Steve Todd, superintendent of the Jefferson, Lewis, Hamilton, Herkimer, Oneida BOCES. Representatives for Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, State Senator Patty Ritchie and Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, Tri-County Consortium Executive Director John Warneck and Tri-County Consortium Board President Fred Hall also took part in the groundbreaking ceremony.
