LOCALadk Magazine

22 Summer 2018 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk LOC ALadk is always happy to support companies that can help the Adirondack population be more sustainable in our en- ergy consumption and reduce our carbon footprint. Only 1.08 percent of New York State's electricity currently is generated from solar – that's about 206,000 homes. So the potential for growth is huge. If you have driven through Keene Valley recently you may have noticed that many businesses and homes have installed solar panels. The residents have been working closely with Apex Solar Power, which is based in Queensbur y. Roof mounted photovoltaic systems (PV ) are on many businesses including, Sub Alpine Coffee, Noonmark Diner, and Berkshire Realty, to name a few. We recently met with Taylor Kimbrell, VP of Sales and Marketing for Apex Solar Power, and asked some questions about going solar in the Adirondacks. LOCALadk: What does the growth of solar use look like in the Adirondacks today? TK: The Adirondack region has been an excellent market for us. From the solarize programs like those in Tri-Lakes, Ad- irondack Coast, Canton, and St. Lawrence County to all of the for ward-thinking communities with proactive homeowners, we have completed over 300 solar installations within the Adirondack Park. LOCALadk: Is everyone a good candidate for converting to solar? TK: The best candidate is a client who is currently receiving power from either NYSEG or National Grid. Another great cli- ent is someone who is living off-grid or who is committed to renewable energy. Those clients getting their electric from a municipality usually do not see the strong financial savings and are often paying a fairly low cost already. LOCALadk:What are the most common types in the park? Do you have many clients who own seasonal camps that are off-grid? TK: While ground mounts are common, we have also in- stalled many roof mounted systems. It really comes down to the property itself, and what kind of space is available. Most of our systems are grid-connected, but we have completed a few dozen off-grid systems for customers who have seasonal camps, and a few for full-time residents who are living com- pletely off-grid and renewable. LOCALadk:Does a homeowner need APA approval for installing solar? If yes, has that process gone smoothly for clients? TK: Not all systems require APA approval; it varies de- pending on the location and municipality of the installation. For the most part, systems that are near bodies of water or wetlands require APA approval to move for ward. For the systems that require APA approval, we do not see any sig- nificant delays with the installation. The APA has been ver y supportive of solar, and renewable energy in general. Going Solar

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