LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — Ramsay Adams, the executive director of Catskill Mountainkeeper, likes to say that the Catskill Brewery is the greenest—or one the greenest—breweries in the country. It’s a fitting place then to kick off a campaign meant to help people develop solar installations for their homes or businesses.

According to the organization’s website, “Solarize Sullivan is staffed by Catskill Mountainkeeper’s RenewableNY program and volunteers from throughout Sullivan County, New York.”

Sybil Sanchez, program director for Solarize Sullivan, speaking to an overflow crowd in the brewery on July 28, explained that this is a good time to move into solar because incentives from New York State and the federal government reduce the cost of an installation by as much as half.

Further, residents who sign up for solar through Solarize Sullivan will receive a 10% discount in the cost of an installation through two companies that have been selected by the organization, Apex Solar and Solar Liberty.

There is a deadline on this campaign according to the website, “In order to be eligible for group discounts, all Solarize customers must be enrolled in Solarize Sullivan by September 30th, 2016 and under contract with an installer by October 15th, 2016.”

Unlike the utility-scale solar farms seeking to build large solar installations in the county, this campaign will help to build smaller installations. Homeowners and business owners have the option of purchasing or leasing the installations.

Residents who sign up with Solarize Sullivan, which can be done on its website (solarizesullivan.org), are eligible for a free solar sight assessment at their property. The program will also be showcased at an event this weekend at the brewery (see page 8).