SOUTH HAMILTON, MA – April 1, 2013 – Pingree School, a private secondary school located in South Hamilton, Mass., has chosen Solect Energy Development, LLC, to install a 227 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy system on the roof of the Johnson Ice Rink. Pingree School was founded in 1960, sits on 100 acres of land and has a population of 335 students. With the school’s dedication to educational excellence, as well as the environment, Pingree was eager to add solar to the Johnson Rink to demonstrate this commitment to sustainability.
The Johnson Ice Rink plays an important part in the athletic program and to the local community, however, the cost associated with running the facility is quite high. In fact, during the summer of 2011, a decision was made to shut down the rink during the summer partially due to the high cost of electricity. With the installation of the solar system, the school now has access to affordable renewable energy, making the decision to remain open during the summer a more feasible option.
Solect, which owns the solar system and sells electricity back to Pingree at a highly reduced rate, installed 770 panels, which will produce over 232,000 kWh of electricity per year — nearly half of the ice rink’s electricity demand. Pingree School’s Director of Finance and Operations, Jock Burns, was enthusiastic about the installation: “Pingree is excited by the possibilities of providing as much as 50 percent of our annual electrical costs from a renewable source while reducing our energy costs.”
Solect has assisted Pingree in helping achieve its environmental goals by not only adding clean energy to the ice rink, but also exposing students to alternative energy sources and long-term sustainability. To help the students learn how the system operates, a monitoring system has been provided to the faculty to show electricity production and how that production translates into the impact to the environment.
“It is great to see Pingree reduce its electricity costs, but to have an opportunity for its students to learn about the science of solar and how this system operates is a big bonus,” said Steve Bianchi, Partner with Solect. “My hope is that all of Pingree’s students learn about solar as a great alternative clean energy that they will incorporate in their lives as they make energy consumption decisions in their future.”
The installation of this solar system produces the environmental benefit equivalent to planting 4,282 trees, replacing 42 cars with a hybrid, taking 933 cars off the road, or 68 rail cars of coal not used.
“The educational opportunities provided by having an active PV system on campus will enable Pingree’s students and the community to be actively involved while Pingree produces affordable renewable energy,” Burns said.
About Solect Energy Development, LLC
Solect is a full service solar photovoltaic (PV) project developer based in Hopkinton, MA. Solect’s turnkey solutions include: feasibility assessments, financial and incentive modeling, funding options, regulatory expertise, design and engineering, installation, and on-going management and maintenance. The company currently has 10 MW (megawatts) of systems completed and under development, with a primary focus on New England-based commercial, light industrial, and institutional property owners. Visit www.solect.com for more information.
