Solarize Amherst events to detail program
amherstbee.com
Keaton T. DePriest
May 17, 2017
Town officials this week will offer two events to assist residents and business owners who are interested in converting to solar energy through the Solarize Amherst program.
The campaign was initiated through the efforts of the Energy Conservation Citizens Advisory Committee, as well as the Clean Energy Communities Committee, which was created by the Town Board in March.
As part of the program, Solarize Amherst has vetted three local companies that will install the solar equipment.
Material and installation costs have been reduced by the Town Board-approved participating companies, which includes Solar Liberty.
Discount pricing through the program will be available until Monday, June 5. To learn more about the program, interested people may attend a Solarize Amherst program.
Public events detailing all of the information about the program will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Clearfield Community Center, 730 Hopkins Road, Amherst.
Residents or business owners interested in taking part in the program will receive free solar evaluations from the installers, including a roof evaluation, preliminary site design, energy usage profile and financial analysis.
Additionally, town officials will waive electrical permit fees, which could total an additional $200 in savings. The Town Board approved the fee waiver during Monday’s meeting.
The Clean Energy Communities Committee in its creation was charged with overseeing the completion of four high-impact actions that will allow the town to receive the funds. To be eligible, a community must prove its contribution to statewide energy goals to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Of a list of 10 high-impact actions, NYSERDA requests communities complete at least four of the actions.
In addition to Solarize Amherst, the three other high-impact actions the town will submit to NYSERDA include unified solar permits, clean fleets and energy code training.
Information is also available at www.solarizeamherst.org
