Repurposing brownfields & unused spaces for good
See how DSD helped Schenectady County transform retired landfills and unused sites into solar solutions to benefit its municipalities and residents.COMMUNITY SOLAR CASE STUDY
by renewables
The Challenge
The people of Schenectady County decided to take acres of unused land and give it new life — by transforming it into new solar energy installations. By repurposing seven sites, including three long-standing “brownfields,” the County would create a new source of clean energy that is less expensive for its municipalities and residents.
The Execution
New York State’s Climate Act is among the most ambitious climate laws in the world. Among the State’s ambitious goals is obtaining 70 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. DSD
was awarded the project after detailing its in-house capabilities, strategic ingenuity, and ability to support these green energy goals.
For example, three of the sites were hard-to-access landfills that presented substantial developmental challenges. And, one of the sites was a tax-foreclosed property that held an abandoned hotel. But the DSD Team found creative ways to transform these obstacles into possibilities.
The Solution
Combining ground mount solar PV with an energy storage system (ESS) unleashes exponential clean energy solution benefits. Zero-emissions energy is now available 24/7 — flattening the County’s energy load and reducing peak-demand costs.
The Outcome
Today, these solar installations generate a total of 28,254,869 kWh of solar energy per year. They also include two of the largest energy storage systems (ESS) in the state, providing 20,000 kWh of combined solar storage.
The portfolio enables the municipalities and cities of Schenectady County to save 20 to 30 percent on their energy costs while offsetting 100 percent of their power with renewable energy. And, county residents who subscribed to the community solar project now receive energy at a 10 percent discount.
The Impact
“This brownfield-to-greenfield transformation shows what can happen when you take on ambitious goals, then put the right people around you to help achieve them.”
Christopher Gardner
County Attorney
Schenectady County
Take the first step.
Getting the ball rolling on your project may seem complicated. But we’re here to show you how it’s done. It all starts with a first step.
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Distributed Solar Development, LLC
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Schenectady, NY 12305
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