Solar array would be a leader in state

Grant would pay for 5,700 panels; $1.7M in savings is estimated

By Tim O'Brien

Published 9:43 pm, Thursday, August 29, 201

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Colonie

South Colonie schools are hoping to install the largest arrays of solar panels in any school district in New York State.

The Board of Education is seeking a grant to fund more than 5,700 solar panels to be spread across each of the district's eight schools and on its transportation department offices. If successful, it could save the district $1.7 million over the next 20 years and provide almost all its power.

"We're in a time when schools have lost a lot of different levels of funding," said SuperintendentJonathan Buhner. "We're looking at ways to control and reduce baseline costs. That's what this comes down to, having a Cadillac program in a Chevy body."

At a total of 1.7 megawatts, the system would be the largest for a school district in New York state, according to the New York Energy Research and Development Authority. The next largest is the 1.2 megawatt system in the Queensbury Union Free School District.

Buying the system retail and having it installed would cost more than $5 million, said Tim Carr, strategic accounts manager for Monolith.

Monolith will file the grant application to NYSERDA. If received, the grant would cover about a third of the costs.

NYSERDA has $4.8 million in incentives available each month under its Open Enrollment Photovoltaic Incentive program, part of a statewide program to encourage installing solar energy systems. Money is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Once money for a month is committed, additional proposals are put on a waiting list and are first to receive funding the next month.

The Rensselaer firm would install the system free of charge and would own and maintain it. It would then sell electricity back to the district. The firm also would recoup some of its costs through tax incentives.

"The way we're able to make it work is by selling the district power over the long term," Carr said.

He said he thinks the odds of getting the grant are strong.

"As long as funding is still available, I think there is a very good chance," he said. "Our understanding is all eligible projects will be funded."

At Colonie Central High School, a fenced-in ground system would power the lighting of the athletic field, press box and even the scoreboards.

Anyone entering the district's schools would see a monitor displaying real-time information on energy consumption.

The district also would turn the system into a teaching tool.

Students and teachers could check in daily on the schools' energy consumption. The four-year-old Monolith also employs a curriculum coordinator to help teachers prepare lesson plans.

"We would include that as part of our educational program," Buhner said.

If approved, the district plans to install the solar panels over the winter, with the system running by next spring or summer.

tobrien@timesunion.com • 518-454-5092 • @timobrient

Monolith Solar was in the house as tonight’s Game Sponsor. They provided information on how they can offer significant savings on your energy bills by taking advantage of this efficient, reliable, and secure clean energy. Visit their website at www.monolithsolar.com for more information on how they can help you save at home and at work.

For your chance to win this golf cart, contact Monolith at 444-2044!

Join us on Saturday August 24th at 7pm at the Tri-City Valley Cats Game (Bruno Stadium in Troy) as they head off against the Staten Island Yankees!! *** All Veterans w/ID get in for free!!!!!!!

Aug 14, 2013, 4:03pm EDT

How a college grad got a (paying) job by offering to work for free

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Lindsey McEntire is Monolith Solar's marketing manager. She has worked for the renewable energy company since April. She used an unconventional strategy to find her job.

Haley Viccaro

Reporter-The Business Review

Email  | Twitter  | LinkedIn

After graduating from the University at Albany in December 2011, Lindsey McEntire went on more than 13 job interviews that led nowhere.

To boost her resume, she decided to write a proposal to six companies offering to work for a month – free of charge.

Monolith Solar Associates in Rensselaer accepted her offer and McEntire, 23, has now been working there (with pay) since April as Monolith’s marketing manager.

Q. What was your proposal to Monolith?

A. I put together a YouTube video of the proposal that demonstrated where their company was and where I thought they could be. I mentioned a lot of the social media platforms that are free to advertise and suggested they connect with customers more often for exposure and to build their client base.

Q. They accepted your offer. Did you work for free your first month?

A. It really wasn’t discussed. The proposal was simply my ticket in the door. Once I got that face-to-face time with them, the pay was never mentioned. I was offered compensation for my time there. Even if they didn’t pay that month, I would have done it anyway.

Q. Why Monolith Solar?

A. Previously working for the state Legislature I learned about the renewable energy industry and it seemed so exciting because it helps people to save money and to save the world. With my public policy and business background from UAlbany, I felt I would be able to work there. The Monolith signs popped up everywhere in the region, and I thought I needed to apply there.

Q. What advice would you give to recent college graduates looking for jobs?

A. In college we are told that it is your cover letter and resume that make you stand out. I spent hours going through my resume with my advisor. But it is really all about how you shine from the rest of the pack. I believe this proposal idea could work in any field. If you have a proposal stapled on top of your cover letter and resume, you are able to diversify yourself.

Producing electricity gets boost from above

Published 6:24 am, Tuesday, August 13, 2013

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  Steve Erby, VP, right, and Mark Fobare president, center, of Monolith Solar Associates shows Congressman Paul Tonko the newly installed solar modules at the two-story, 42,000 square foot building located on Patroon Creek Boulevard Aug. 12, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. The energy supply generated by this building is said to supply enough power for approximately 25 homes for an entire year. This system is rated at 100,800 watts and features a total of 360 modules on the roof. The annual production at this location is estimated at approximately 120,960 kWh's per year. (Skip Dickstein/Times Union)

Monolith Solar Associates showed U.S. Rep.Paul D. Tonko and others the newly installed solar modules atop a two-story, 42,000-square-foot building on Patroon Creek Boulevard Monday in Albany.

The electricity produced by these panels is enough to power approximately 25 homes. This system features a total of 360 modules on the roof.

Monday's tour was hosted by Columbia Development Companies, BBL Construction Services, and Monolith.

With bright, sunny skies, the panels at midmorning were producing enough power to meet the demand of at least half a dozen homes.

Report: Solar energy costs dropping nationally

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Donna Abbott-Vlahos

From left, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko talks with Mark Fobare, president of Monolith Solar and vice president Steve Erby. Monolith recently completed a solar installation at 455 Patroon Creek Blvd. in Albany, NY.

Haley Viccaro

Reporter-The Business Review

Email  | Twitter  | LinkedIn

The cost of going solar has dropped in New York by 44 percent over the past five years, a trend that's playing out across the country.

Solar energy has become one of the fastest growing industries in the nation, according to a report by the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

It was up to 14 percent cheaper to install residential and commercial solar systems last year than it was in 2011, according to the report. Prices have dropped an average of up to 7 percent per year since 1998.

Rensselaer, NY-based Monolith Solar Associates unveiled its latest solar energy installation in Albany Monday. The company's vice president Steven Erby said the industry is growing in the state because of the decrease in cost for people and businesses to go green.

The main factors that led to a drop in solar costs include the decrease in system prices such as inverters, mounting hardware, permitting and fees. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's NY Sun Initiative also has helped to make the industry more affordable.

The solar industry currently provides about 120,000 jobs at more than 5,600 companies nationally, the report said. Solar job growth has doubled in the last three years, particularly among small businesses.

In the first quarter of this year, solar energy installations accounted for more than 48 percent of new electric capacity installed throughout the country.

New solar panels set to brighten energy savings

ALBANY - Newly installed solar panels on a building near the State Office campus are expected to generate enough power to cover 25 homes.

Monolith Solar Associates toured the rooftop set-up this morning at a building near the State Office campus.

360 modules will produce 100 thousand watts of electricity.

That's power that does not have to be generated by burning coal or using nuclear or other generation sources.

“Efforts like this remind us that it’s good economic policy, it’s good energy policy, it’s good environment policy, and it’s also good foreign policy,” said Rep. Paul Tonko - (D) Amsterdam.

Federal and state incentives cover roughly two-thirds of the solar panel cost.

Monolith officials say it will take about five years of electric production here to cover the expense.

After that, the energy is basically free to produce.http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S3126934.shtml?cat=300

The Grand Stand Solar Ground Mount

As state incentives change, Monolith Solar has brighter outlook

By Ian Benjamin
ibenjamin@troyrecord.com
Twitter.com/ibenja2

Click to enlarge

RENSSELAER — Demand for the solar panels installed by Monolith Solar Associates has doubled since last year, and company officials were expecting the same this year, but with recent changes to state renewable energy incentives, that outlook is even brighter.

Since they installed their first solar panels — which converts sunlight into electricity — five years ago, Monolith has installed 157 systems on rooftops throughout the region. The blue panels can be seen on libraries and firehouses to offices and warehouses and even the Schodack Department of Public Works.

Most of those customers lease the systems from Monolith, through a power purchase agreement, in exchange for a reduced power bill. The company maintains the solar panels for the lifetime of the lease.

That business model relies heavily on government policies promoting renewable energy, and state incentives subsidizing the installation of photovoltaic systems.

Using the incentives, Monolith can install commercial systems up to 50 kW, which is roughly enough to power seven homes. That cap was recently quadrupled to 200 kW during the July meeting of the Public Service Commission, a change that opens the doors for the company to offer its pre-existing customer base upgraded systems.

“Our demand is doubling or tripling every year, and we may even quadruple with this new change,” said Monolith General Manager Mike Doud. “We are going to grow quite a bit faster than we were planning.”

The change makes an already sunny outlook even brighter. There are 37 employed at Monolith, but that number will grow rapidly over the next year. And despite an expansion of their location on Rensselaer Street, in the Amtrak station's shadow, the company is quickly reaching the limits of its parking and warehouse space.

“I'm sure the neighbors would like to see more space in front of their houses,” said Doud.

Company officials made the decision two weeks ago to begin seeking a new location, said Doud, and he expects a decision will be made within the new six months. Monolith will be staying in the Capital District, as the area is centrally located near the interstates 90 and 87 interchange.

While the incentive change has broadened the horizon for the commercial market, the company has yet to realize the residential market's potential.

Monolith Solar Assists School District's Solar Project!!!!!!

Monolith Solar assists with School District's Solar Project in Schodack NY. Students build solar car that reaches 30+mph!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9RmOc-imIM