Freeport Fire Department Announces Completion of 51.7 Kilowatt Solar System

On Monday (November 29, 2011) the Village of Freeport, NY and Freeport Electric held a press conference to announce the completion of a 51.7 kilowatt (kW) solar electric system, which was engineered and installed by EmPower Solar at the Freeport Fire Department Headquarters.  The design includes168 SunPower 308 Watt modules, and a SatCon 50 kW inverter.

Street view of completed solar installation.

Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick said “There are many ways a municipality can go green and Freeport has instituted several steps to reduce its carbon footprint.”  Along with the solar power system at the Firehouse, the Village of Freeport has purchased several hybrid cars, a hybrid bucket truck, and replaced 340 street lights with an energy efficient alternative.  EmPower has also installed a number of solar residential and commercial systems in the Village of Freeport.

EmPower engineer Emily Hwang, served as the project engineer, and was recognized by Freeport Electric’s Superintendent, Anthony Fiore, for her high quality work and dedication.  All the EmPower team members, including engineers and installers, deserve recognition for their seamless execution of this complicated project.  Cameron Engineering was also instrumental to the structural engineering design.

First row of panels get installed on fire house rooftop.

In his remarks, EmPower CEO David G. Schieren said “The Village of Freeport and Freeport Electric should be commended for its vision and leadership in making this solar project a reality.  Municipalities have a critical role to play in advancing renewable energy, and the importance of their leadership can’t be overstated.”

Freeport Village Officials, Freeport Electric Officials, and EmPower CEO, David Shieren pose for Group shot in front of firehouse.

EmPower is especially grateful to Freeport Electric’s Superintendent Anthony Fiore and Supervisor of Electric Service Les Endo Jr. for their impressive commitment to this project.  Their support and technical understanding are making solar energy a reality in the Village.

Many large installations like this one are done on flat roofs and are not visible to the public.  This installation is unique because it is on a pitched roof and directly across the street from the Freeport LIRR Train Station.

See the official press release here.

FREE presents award at 34th Annual Celebration of Life Gala

David G. Schieren, CEO of EmPower Solar, was honored to receive an award from FREE at the 34^th Annual Celebration of life Gala held earlier this month. Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, a not-for-profit that provides community living for disabled people in Nassau and Suffolk counties, presented the award in recognition of David’s instrumental role in helping the organization implement the 800 kW solar project that is estimated to provide over $5.2 Million in savings over 25 years.

David was honored to share the award with the following co-honorees: Bob Catell – Chairman, Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at New York State University at Stony Brook.  Kevin Law – President and Chief Executive Officer, Long Island Association.  Michael Hervey – Chief Operating Officer, Long Island Power Authority.  Yakov Shamesh – Vice President for Economic Development, Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Stony Brook University.

The FREE solar project, one of the largest investments in renewable energy on Long Island to date, converted 44 sites over to solar power, helping reduce annual utility expenses by 27 percent.  The savings will allow FREE to focus its resources on increasing the quality of life for more than 3,000 people on Long Island through crucial “life services” and related social and educational programs.

“Reach high, achieve more.  The Family Residences and Essential Enterprises credo resonates with EmPower.  FREE is a remarkable and inspiring organization that provides vital services to our region.  It demonstrates how organizations can play a key leadership role in cleaning the air and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, while making smart financial investments.  They’ve inspired us to reach high and achieve more.  Of course I accepted this award on behalf of my business partner and our COO Greg Sachs, and the entire EmPower team that took this project on with such gusto, determination and precision.  Moving Forward”– David G. Schieren

LONG ISLAND LOCAL TO PEDAL FROM NYC TO WASHINGTON, DC ON BRITA CLIMATE RIDE

EmPower Solar is proud to sponsor Ashley Hunt-Martorano, Program Director at Renewable Energy Long Island (reLi), who will be participating in the annual Brita Climate Ride.  Hunt-Martorano is riding to support the work of 1Sky whose immediate priority is to counteract the coal and oil industries’ impact on decision makers, and create a movement so powerful that our elected officials’ political future rests upon enacting climate solutions. 

EmPower has worked closely with Ashley and reLi on numerous projects focused on educating the public about the benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency.  We wish her the best of luck in reaching her goals for this worthy cause.

If you would like to support Ashley Hunt-Martorano’s fundraising efforts you can visit her donation page  and make a tax-deductible donation.

Operation Solar Century

The Middle East is churning (for good cause this time) and oil prices are spiking.  What a shocker.  Isn’t this getting old already?  Oil price increases hurt the economy in the US and across the world. It’s effectively a tax hike on all consumers and businesses.  Just search “oil and recession” online and you will find an abundance of information about the correlation between oil price increases and the economic impact.  Here are just a few recent articles:

CBS Money Watch: Oil Prices and Recessions, 40 Years’ Worth
WSJ Article: Rising Oil Prices Raise the Specter of a Double Dip
NYT Times Article: Why the Disruption of Libyan Oil Has Led to a Price Spike

PROBLEM

What impacts economic growth?  Most agree that monetary policy (interest rates) and fiscal policy (taxes) are two of the most critical economic inputs.  Energy prices are probably in the top five.  What’s startling is that we have no control over the supply of such a critical economic input.  Imagine the US Federal Reserve, the entity responsible for setting monetary policy, were controlled by sovereign nations unbeholden to our national interests.  Who would stand for that?  Well this is what’s going on with OPEC.  A group of sovereign nations managing their assets to maximize revenue for their countries controls the price of the most important global commodity, and a top five variable that impacts the economy.  Since the majority of readily available global reserves reside within OPEC borders, its influence will only grow over time if current trends continue.  Furthermore, exogenous events such as revolutions, terrorist attacks and the like continue to pose a stark threat to supply.

Then consider the politics.  The US sends over $200,000,000,000 annually to OPEC.  Where are those funds going?  What type of regimes does this massive transfer of wealth support?  And while we don’t trade directly with Iran, our support of the global oil market enables that nation to sell its production at market rates. On the demand side, rising economic powers such as China and India have a seemingly insatiable appetite for petroleum and this new demand is contributing to surging prices.  We have fierce global competition for this vital resource.

It must be acknowledged that oil is only one component of the vast, complex and interconnected energy landscape.  Electricity is generated from diverse sources (oil continues to be a key fuel for power generation on Long Island).  But all fossil fuels have flaws, including severe environmental repercussions.  Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel, and increasing domestic supplies have helped keep the price of that fuel low.  Historically its price fluctuations correlated with oil but recently there is a divergence because of new supplies.  However, these new supplies have damaging environmental impact.  Take a look at this excellent piece in the NYT about the environmental challenges of natural gas drilling.

SOLUTION

Every day we grow more confident that implementing renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions is the answer to the energy challenge.

Take solar, our area of expertise.  Solar is a highly effective technology that we believe is going to dominate the 21st century energy landscape.  Today the technology works incredibly well and because of local, state and federal incentives it is a very smart investment to make by homeowners and businesses.

We are able to reduce or virtually eliminate many homeowners’ electric bills with the technology.  Businesses and non-profit organizations are reducing operating costs.  Fueling electric vehicles with solar energy is a home run.

Increased demand is leading to decreasing costs.  Incentives to go solar are still necessary but have been reduced gradually to promote market transformation.  One reason why solar is so promising is that costs should continue to come down over time, and incentives won’t be needed in the future.  Consider electronics such as computers and cell phones that are largely made of the same materials and manufactured in similar fabrication facilities.  Economies of scale have brought these technologies to the masses.

The potential benefits of solar from a macroeconomic point of view are profound.  Prices of this energy technology will come down over time.  Think about that.  Historically, energy prices have been volatile and risen over time, with occasional spikes that lead to economic misery.  Instead we have an energy technology that is going to come down in cost.  Replace uncertainty with certainty and all economic participants stand to benefit.

It is our theory that solar, other renewables, alternative fuels and energy efficiency will lead to dramatic economic growth, and growth in per capital income in the US and across the world.

Call To Action

It’s time to launch Operation Solar Century.  The goal of this operation is to make solar the dominant energy technology of the 21st century through strategic planning, smart policy and leadership.

We are grateful to solar advocates at LIPA, NYSERDA and in state and federal government, and numerous people and organizations for having the vision and determination to get us this far.  Because of these supporters we have a nascent but energized solar industry.

Now we must work together to promote the next generation incentive structure that can drive massive solar growth by providing long term visibility to the industry, and also be smart for ratepayers.  Both objectives can absolutely be achieved with the same policy.  New York has much to gain by taking a leadership role on this issue.  Stay tuned to learn about specific legislation that you can support.

Within time solar will achieve grid parity, at which point it will be competitive with the grid without subsidies.  To get from here to there we need smart policy and political leadership.  Decisions made today will have great consequence for economic well-being of our state, the nation and the world.  With the right leadership, solar will continue to be a wise investment for homeowners and businesses today, and over time will require fewer and fewer incentives to provide the same great economic benefit.

Now we must take the next steps to solidify our gains and make solar the dominant energy technology.

By working together, the 21st century will become known as the Solar Century.



Keep The Solar Decathlon On The National Mall

It was recently announced that the US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition would be moved at the last minute from the National Mall in Washington DC to a different location that has yet to be announced.   Since 2002, four Solar Decathlons have been held on the Mall, and the 2011 teams have been planning for over a year to compete at the venue.   See the January 14 New York Times Article for more background information.

As leaders of the Solar Decathlon Alumni Association (SDAA), we are supporting the student led initiative to keep the competition on the Mall.   Towards that end, we are endorsing an online petition created by the students that can be found here: http://www.petition2congress.com/3973/.  We are also directly requesting support from our political representatives.  The current participants are doing an incredible job at generating support.     For example, Senator Menendez of New Jersey has issued a press release in support of this effort: http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/. 

We believe that the Solar Decathlon competition is vital to the success of clean energy in the United States and all over the world.  It is our position that the National Mall is essential to the competition’s value and prestige.  Students and sponsors from the US and international teams are inspired to compete in such an historic location.  The Solar Decathlon is about inspiring students – the leaders of the next generation, faculty – the educators of future leaders, and entire university communities to embrace renewable energy.

As a former decathletes and a member of the Solar Decathlon Alumni Association, we know first-hand the influence and deep impact of the competition.  Having it at the Mall, the most prominent location in our country, the “front-lawn” of the United States of America, is instrumental to its success. 

For information about this year’s event please visit www.solardecathlon.com.  

David Schieren, CEO

2005 Solar Decathlon NYIT/USMMA Team Leader, 2007 Advisor. 

Gregory Sachs, COO

2005 Solar Decathlon NYIT/USMMA Lead Engineer, 2007 Advisor

Matthew Mathosian, Commercial Project Manager

2007 Solar Decathlon NYIT Lead Architect, 2011 CUNY Advisor

EmPower is the lead sponsor and solar advisor of the 2011 Solar Decathlon CUNY Team