Christian, center, and Hochul, 2nd from right, cut the ribbon
NEW PALTZ – SUNY New Paltz officials unveiled a new 217Kw solar energy and battery storage system atop the Elting Gym building,
Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul and officials from the company that developed the system were on hand Wednesday to ceremonially cut the ribbon.
The system was funded through two separate grants from NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), one for photovoltaics and one for battery storage. Central Hudson Gas and Electric also contributed to the facility.
Currently, the entire campus produces approximately 300Kw of solar energy,
but according to SUNY New Paltz President Donald Christian, the Elting
Gym addition provides a unique set benefits.
“This facility will provide backup for energy for this facility to function as an emergency center when we have power disruptions,” said Christian. “When we don’t have power disruptions, it provides more flexibility for us in managing our energy needs and demands. It’s also an opportunity for our electrical engineering, and other students, to gain some experience with some of this modern technology if we’re going to address our energy needs with renewables.”
College Energy Management Coordinator Brian Pine said this is providing a major opportunity for study how solar power being put back into the power grid will affect the full grid. Right now, Central Hudson has approximately 800Mw of power being added to their grid and energy providers like them are interested in the future consequences.
“As solar grows throughout the state and solar ends up being put on people’s houses and buildings, there may be serious repercussions of the quality on the overall grid,” said Pine. “This project will help to vet out some of those potential problems and it’s really a demonstrating project for utilities and they are watching very, very closely.”
The grants through the state being awarded for these types of projects are part of a statewide initiative to move towards renewable energy.
As far as SUNY New Paltz’s continued efforts toward that end, university representatives said they are already working on acquiring grants for geothermal, installing LED lighting throughout the campus, making more efficient construction plans and finding ways to account for the human behavior aspect of energy waste.
