LOCALadk Magazine

MAIN STREET, LAKE PLACID (518) 302-7523 HOTELNORTHWOODS.COM HNW__1.75x4.875.indd 1 11/9/2016 11:18:53 AM LOCALadk: What areas of the park have you done installations in? Why so many in Keene and Keene Valley? TK: We've installed systems throughout the whole Blue Line, but many are concen- trated among the towns that have slightly bigger populations. Keene and Keene Val- ley do not have anything particularly special about them as far as sunshine goes – they just seem to be home to a great group of renewable energy enthusiasts who tout the benefits of solar power. LOCALadk: Are there deadlines for fi- nancial incentives? TK: The New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) sys- tem incentive does not have a deadline per- se, but it does decrease as more and more systems get installed. A few years ago, it was as high as $1.50 per watt, while today it is down to $.35 a watt on a residential system. That being said, system components are also coming down, which keeps the return on investment the same great value that it's always been. The NYS and federal tax credits do have expiration dates, but not for another few years (at which point they will likely be renewed). New York State offers a 25 percent tax credit, up $5,000, and feder- al investment tax credit is 30 percent and is used to offset taxes that have been paid as a refund, or to offset income taxes that may be owed during tax season. LOCALadk: Payback on your investment looks to be about six to seven years, is that an accurate time frame for average users? TK: For the average customer with good sun exposure, a seven-year payback is a fair timeline for a system that is paid for upfront. Many of our customers finance their system for a flat monthly rate; for these people the payback is immediate, as the monthly solar payment is frequently less than the utility bill it is replacing. LOCALadk: The sun does not always shine here in the Adirondacks. How effi- cient are they in bad weather? TK: Direct sunlight is necessar y for solar to perform at its best, but we have an excellent idea of what the weather will be like. All sys- tems are sized using weather data from the past 10 to 20 years. By doing this, we know what to expect, and how large or small a sys- tem needs to be to meet the needs of the home or business owner. LOCALadk: How does the snow load ef- fect the roof mounted unit? Storm Stella dropped over 40 inches of snow in a short period of time last year. TK: Our systems are rated above and be- yond the projected snow loads for any region in New York. When it does snow, it will melt off rather quickly once the sun comes out and starts warming the panels. As a whole however, any production lost to snow cover and the shorter winter days is offset by the longer summer days. As with bad weather, we account for expected snowfall and loss of production when we size the systems and estimate their annual production. LOCALadk: How much equipment is in- volved in a typical installation? TK: It is actually not as much as one would expect. It includes the panels with optimiz- ers, the inverter – which is a fairly small unit – and the on/off disconnect. LOCALadk: Top three reasons for going solar in the Adirondacks? TK: 1. Savings: future-proof your home from rising electric bills. 2. Environmental benefits: do your part to help combat global warming and reduce your carbon footprint. 3. The great feeling of being fully energy independent. For more information visit these sites: www.seia.com www.apexsolarpower.com

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