CARMEL – Putnam County has been awarded a $100,000 CREST grant administered by the Dormitory Authority of New York State that will result in the design and construction of a solar carport at the Donald Smith Governmental Campus off Old Route 6 in Carmel.
State Senator Peter Harckham was instrumental in obtaining the funding made available to subsidize the costs associated with projects that support the transition to a fossil fuel-free, clean energy future.
The carport will be comprised of 70 to 80 photovoltaic modules.
County Deputy Commissioner of Public Works Joe Bellucci noted the Smith Campus is comprised of various county offices including the Bureau of Emergency Services, Department of Social Services, I.T. Department, Department of Senior Resources including the Carmel Friendship Center among others.
The offices utilize government vehicles that currently are gas powered but the county would like to begin to convert some of our fleet to hybrid and electric, he said.
Bellucci said beneath the solar carport, the county plans to install 3-4 EV charging stations.
The total estimated cost of the project is $100,000 which includes design, purchase and installation of the solar facilities that would be used to supplement the solar already installed for the buildings on the Smith campus.
No matching funds were required by Putnam to accept the State and Municipal State Grant.
