Callicoon moves forward with solar project

‘There’s no question the town will save money’

By FRITZ MAYER

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — There are a great many details in designing a solar electric system, so it’s hard to say how much money a particular solar project might save when compared to purchasing the building’s electricity needs from the grid. But John Calhoun, the Ellenville engineer who is creating a solar request for proposals (RFP) for the Town of Callicoon, said of the project contemplated for that town, “there is no question the town will save money.”

Calhoun said that he was not comfortable speculating on how much money the town might save because until a specific system is chosen, the possible savings can’t really be known.

Calhoun gave a presentation to the town board on October 13, and he seemed to contradict alternative energy activist Dick Riseling, who said earlier that the town could save up to $600,000 over the next 25 years with the installation of solar. But in a subsequent phone conversation, Calhoun said the differences in the calculations from the two men had mostly to do with projected escalations of electricity costs. Calhoun’s report did not factor in the projected increases “because that’s not what the board asked me to do.” Riseling’s calculations also considered interest on the money saved and other factors.

At the meeting, there was speculation that the town might save $4,700 per year, as opposed to $7,700 per year on the purchase of electricity, and that the cost of a system might range from $350,000 to as much as $470,000. This, coupled with some other discrepancies between information coming from Riesling and Calhoun, sparked some concern by some of the board members.

In a later phone interview, supervisor Linda Babicz, who has been championing the project, said it didn’t matter how much the town saved, it was clearly going to be a substantial amount, and that the town should move forward with the project.

She said, “This is clearly the time to go forward with alternative energy. We have a unique opportunity here and I think this is going to happen.”

Riseling subsequently recalculated his projections using Calhoun’s numbers and stands by his assertion that the cost of the project will be entirely covered by grants. Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther has promised $125,000 for the project and about $202,000 will come from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Riseling said systems for the town garage and the town hall will cost a total of $318,000 and the grants will total $327,200. He wrote further in an email that, “The availability of a grant of $125,000 allows approximately 100 percent production of renewable energy at the town garage and at the town hall and includes a small surplus of $8,720. The surplus may be used for an energy audit, energy-conservation measures, and/or a small solar-thermal system.”

At the meeting, the board instructed Calhoun to move forward with the RFP, which will then be sent to contractors for bids.

The project in Callicoon has sparked some interest. Riseling has received calls from officials in Mamakating and other municipalities hoping to learn more about solar installations.