KINGSTON – The sun will always shine,
but New York State grants to install solar powered rooftop panels are
dwindling. Solarize Kingston is holding a series of seminars around town
to educate homeowners on how to cash in on the NYSERTA grant money before
it disappears into one long shadow.
One such event took place Wednesday night at Kingston City Hall. There,
a collection of local certified companies collaborated to get as many
homeowners on board before the grant deadline expires. The ad hoc group
calls themselves Solarize Hudson Valley.
D’Arcy (left) calls the program “beneficial”
Solarize Hudson Valley is a non-profit partnership of municipalities, community organizations and solar companies working to expand renewable energy in the Hudson Valley.
A key part of the effort includes free home energy evaluations provided by RUPCO through its Green Jobs program.
“I wouldn’t be behind the program if I didn’t think it was beneficial,” explained RUPCO outreach coordinator Michael D’Arcy. “These loan projects were going to expire and through advocacy through RUPCO and an organized group of constituency-based organizations, or community energy resources, we have gotten these loans extended. Take advantage of these loans while they are here. These are the main loan products for New York Sun Initiative. That is why they are here. It’s a NYSERDA program; it’s a NYSERDA loan.”
D’Arcy noted that the loans offered by the home solar program feature no down payment, and can be incorporated into the home energy bill through local power utility.
An open house is scheduled for Saturday, July 25 at 1 p.m. at the home of Rosendale Town Justice Robert Vosper, to see an included installation. More info at http://solarize-hudsonvalley.org .
Another community workshop happens Tuesday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hudson River Maritime Museum in downtown Kingston.
