Community Corner

Solar Cells Promise Cost Cuts in North Haven

A new array of solar cells could save the towns millions, New Haven Register reports.

The Town of North Haven has contracted Greenskies Renewable Energy LLC of Middletown, CT to install a new array of solar cells in the municipal landfill, a move that could save the town more than $3 million over twenty years, the New Haven Register reported Monday. 

Discussing the plan, which calls for the initial construction of a one megawatt array on one acre of land, First Selectman Mike Freda said in the article:

“The goal of the administration is to be a leader in renewable and cleaner energy resources...In an effort to further reduce costs over a longer period of time, we’ve worked out an arrangement to construct a solar panel field at the old landfill off Universal Drive and Sackett Point Road.”

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Energy from the development will power municipal buildings, Freda said. 

Greenskies has done installation and consulting work with a number of governmental and commercial clients, including Wal-Mart, the CT Department of Transportation, and Wilbur Cross rest stops in North Haven. 

Find out what's happening in North Havenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Once the panels are installed, the electricity generated will be credited to the Town's UI bill, lowering the overall cost of power. North Haven will pay nothing for the project. 

The proposal will need to receive approval from several agencies before moving forward: Planning and Zoning, as well as the state's Department of Environmental Protection, must sign off on the construction before building commences. 

If all goes according to plan, the panels could be up and running by the end of 2012. 

What are your thoughts on the Greenskies project? What role do you think renewable energy will play in North Haven's future?

 


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