Nonprofit unveils solar panels

ALBANY -- Keith Pickett is calling on all nonprofits to go green.

Pickett, the executive director of Family and Children's Service of the Capital Region, on Monday unveiled the family counseling organization's new 32-kilowatt solar electric system located on the roof of its building at 650 Warren St.

The organization got $153,000 in financial assistance for the system from the state, about two-thirds of the $230,000 final cost.

"The nonprofit community could be a greater contributor to the green movement," Pickett said. "Be part of the movement. This is amazingly manageable and affordable. If Family & Children's Services can do this, then so can many others."

The system is expected to save the organization $9,000 in electricity annually at the location, its 2-1-1 call center. The center provides the public with free referrals to local community and family services such as employment assistance and information about food pantries.

The incentives were provided to the agency through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, which has distributed $55 million in incentives for solar electric systems statewide since the beginning of the year, including $3 million in the Capital Region.

NYSERDA President Frank Murray said that the adoption of solar electric -- or photovoltaic -- systems across the state is not only helping to generate more clean electricity, it's also having an economic impact. He said that two PV system manufacturers have already located in the lower Hudson Valley, and the state is currently in talks with several others to possibly locate a factory somewhere in western New York.

He noted that Gov. David Paterson announced Monday a plan to offer a Niagara Falls silicon manufacturer called Globe Specialty Metals Inc. cheap hydropower and up to $25 million in tax breaks.

As part of the deal, Globe will set aside 25 percent of its silicon at a reduced price for a potential PV manufacturer to be located in western New York. Silicon is the substrate upon which solar cells are created, and supply can be difficult to obtain because silicon is also the major component of computer chips.

Murray noted that the money used to fund solar incentives in New York is collected as a fee on electric utility bills.

"That's not our money, that's your money,'' Murray said.

Larry Rulison can be reached at 454-5504 or by e-mail at lrulison@timesunion.com.

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