WORCESTER, MA – August 14, 2013 –O’Connell Fire Protection, which sells and services sprinkler systems, chemical suppression systems and portable fire extinguishers throughout Central Massachusetts, has partnered with Hopkinton-based Solect Energy Development to deploy solar PV solutions on three Brooks Street properties it owns in Worcester.
O’Connell, a third-generation family business, worked with Solect to install a combined 55 kW of solar energy across the three buildings. O’Connell runs its fire protection services business in one building, and installed separate meters on its other two buildings, providing electricity at reduced costs to its tenants.
“Solar has always been something that we’ve had an interest in understanding better, but when we investigated it and learned more about the financial and green benefits, it became something that just made a lot of sense to move forward with,” said Robert O’Connell, president of O’Connell Fire Protection. “Solect really was able to walk us through the process end to end so we could make some solid business decisions.”
O’Connell was able to take advantage of attractive state and federal tax incentives that help make renewable energy projects affordable for building owners. These include SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates), which are earned by solar system owners based on the amount of energy they generate via solar. SRECs are ultimately purchased by electrical utility providers in Massachusetts to help meet their state-mandated goals of a percentage of power coming from renewable energy sources. This is a good revenue stream for those property owners who choose solar solutions. By installing the additional systems on buildings occupied by tenants, O’Connell is also able to generate additional revenue by selling electricity to its tenants at a reduced rate.
“O’Connell Fire Protection is a terrific example of how a building owner can work with its tenants to help them become ‘green’ while allowing them to reduce their electricity costs,” said Scott Howe, business development partner at Solect Energy Development. “At the same time, O’Connell is able to reduce its own costs and develop a revenue stream thanks to the strong state and federal incentives in place.”
