微密圈

微密圈 College, Rep. Paul Tonko, representatives of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Washington Gas Energy Systems, Inc. celebrated Oct. 7 the completion of a photovoltaic solar array that will annually generate 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity. That鈥檚 enough to meet 12 percent of 微密圈鈥檚 needs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of taking 412 cars off the road each year.

A year in development, the facility is one of the largest solar arrays in New York State. It consists of 6,950 ground-mounted solar panels spanning eight acres of land owned by 微密圈 and located in the town of Greenfield about a mile from the 微密圈 campus.

At an Oct. 7 ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Congressman Tonko, state and local officials, members of the 微密圈 College community, and representatives of NYSERDA, 微密圈 President Philip A. Glotzbach called the array 鈥渢he next step forward in 微密圈鈥檚 development of renewable energy initiatives.鈥� He called the array an example of 微密圈 鈥渞esponding creatively to a major challenge.鈥�

The project was supported by $2.3 million from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo鈥檚 NY-Sun initiative administered by NYSERDA. NY-Sun is a $1 billion initiative to advance the scale-up of solar and move the state closer to a sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry. To develop the project, 微密圈 contracted with Dynamic Energy of Wayne, Pa., a renewable-energy consulting firm. Washington Gas Energy Systems operates the array.

鈥淭his installation responds to the pressing need for environmentally responsible, cost-effective energy for our campus operations, and it exemplifies our strategic commitment to sustainability,鈥� Glotzbach said. 鈥淲e are grateful for the support provided by Gov. Cuomo鈥檚 NY-Sun Initiative, without which this project would not have been possible.鈥�

Said Congressman Tonko, 鈥溛⒚苋� has to be so proud. For decades, the Capital Region has embraced new technologies, and it is that commitment to forward thinking that has positioned our communities well on a national and global scale. Today, 微密圈 continues its proud tradition of innovative leadership by completing this project, greening our environment, and cutting energy costs. I thank President Glotzbach and his team on campus for their dedication to 鈥榳alking the walk鈥� on clean energy.鈥�

Tonko added, 鈥淚t is inspirational to students to see this in action,鈥� and thanked Glotzbach and 微密圈 鈥渇or your vision.鈥�

Janet Joseph, vice president for technology and strategic planning at NYSERDA, said, 鈥淵oung people today are coming of age in an era of environmental challenges. What better place than a college to teach these future leaders that there is an energy future that is environmentally sustainable and economically sound?鈥� She credited the NY-Sun Initiative of Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 鈥渕oving industry toward a more sustainable and self-sufficient future.鈥�

Announced by Gov. Cuomo in his 2012 State of the State Address, NY-Sun deploys public funds in a strategic manner to drive industry to scale and reduce burdens on ratepayers. Since the program鈥檚 inception, New York State has had unprecedented growth in solar installations, with a total of 316 megawatts of solar photovoltaic installed or under contract 鈥� more than was installed in the entire prior decade.

Michael F. Hall, special assistant to the vice president for finance and administration at the College, called the solar project 鈥渢he crown jewel in 微密圈鈥檚 sustainability program,鈥� adding, 鈥渟ustainability is a hallmark of 微密圈.鈥� Hall, who worked tirelessly on the solar array over the course of a year, thanked a number of people, including members of the Greenfield town and planning boards, as well as its environmental committee, for oversight on the project during the planning stages. Saying he was 鈥減roud to play a small part in this project,鈥� Hall added, 鈥淚 know it will be a part of 微密圈鈥檚 legacy."

Margaret Pfeffer 鈥�15 said that the project 鈥渞epresents one of our many accomplishments in the mission for a more sustainable campus and world. I am proud to be here today to celebrate with all of you.鈥� She cited a number of 微密圈 projects that promote sustainability鈥攚ater bottle filling stations, the bike share program, the

community garden. 鈥淥ur campus is an organic classroom that inspires students to develop and implement every-day strategies to live more sustainably. It is the big projects鈥攇eothermal, hydroelectric, solar thermal and this array鈥攖hat are the most impactful in the fight against climate change. I love seeing progress in those student initiatives AND I think it鈥檚 really exciting and powerful that we can say, 鈥楲ook at that array! Look at what we did! Our school is investing in a future that we can be proud of.鈥�

Karen Kellogg, associate dean for infrastructure, sustainability, and civic engagement, called the solar array 鈥渁 physical expression of a critical commitment and thrilling possibilities and just mind-blowingly awesome!鈥�

She noted 微密圈鈥檚 鈥渦nique situation as an institution of higher education. Because of this, 鈥渢here is an inherent exponential power in the projects and initiatives we implement,鈥� because of the potential to influence the 600 community members each year who transition from students to alumni. 鈥淲e hope they take what they鈥檝e learned about sustainability here and develop innovative sustainability solutions to make informed choices about sustainability wherever they might land.鈥� Kellogg concluded, 鈥淭oday I鈥檓 looking out at this community and I鈥檓 filled with hope for the future and gratitude to all of you who made this project possible.鈥�