Tusten signs solar panel lease; Panels coming soon

Posted 8/21/12

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Tusten Energy Committee has been working hard on getting solar panels for the town, and after awarding the bid to Atlantech Solar a few months ago, the contract has officially …

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Tusten signs solar panel lease; Panels coming soon

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NARROWSBURG, NY — The Tusten Energy Committee has been working hard on getting solar panels for the town, and after awarding the bid to Atlantech Solar a few months ago, the contract has officially been signed. Committee chair Brandi Merolla said the panels will likely be installed this summer.

Atlantech Solar went before the Planning Board on Monday and got approval; now the Planning Board submits the solar array plans to the Scenic Byway Committee for their approval. Final Planning Board approval should be voted on at the next public hearing on May 18. Then Atlantech plans on breaking ground within a couple weeks. The solar array will service all town-owned buildings and facilities. “The benefits the town will receive are reducing our carbon footprint, having a stable price for our municipality’s energy usage and a considerable savings over the life of the lease,” Merolla said.

Tusten is the first municipality in Sullivan County to lease a solar array at no cost to the town. “We encourage other towns to enroll in the New York State Climate Smart Communities program and pledge to reduce their towns’ carbon footprint,” Merolla said. The energy committee has shared their experience and data with the towns of Bethel, Delaware and Highland. The solar array is part of the town’s plan to be more energy efficient.

Tusten signed the Climate Smart Pledge in 2012 and other towns in Sullivan County have as well, like Delaware and Lumberland. The program was instituted by the New York State (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). More than 107 municipalities across the state are participating in the program, which provides informational resources and a framework for municipalities to address climate change through local planning and broad community engagement.

The energy committee consists of Merolla, Tusten Town Supervisor Carol Wingert, Star Hesse and Charles Blanchard. They are also working on getting approval to install LED light bulbs in the town street lights.

The Upper Delaware Council Award

The Tusten Energy Committee is receiving the Community Service Award at the Upper Delaware Council’s 27th annual Awards Ceremony on April 26 at the Central House Family Resort in Beach Lake, PA. “Our projects are always community minded,” Merolla said. In addition to the solar panels, they also ran Energy Savings Tips of the Week in The River Reporter, and they changed out all of the old lighting fixtures in the town hall basement with energy efficient T8 bulbs. “It’s great to actually realize our goals of energy and cost savings through these projects,” Merolla said.

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