Yorktown: Proposed solar panels at sports complex could mean savings on ConEd bills

YORKTOWN — Consolidated Edison customers in town could get 10% off their electric bills if a solar project eyed for the parking area of the Granite Knolls sports complex comes to fruition.

And the town could gain about $60,000 in yearly revenue from the lease agreement for the project, Doug Hertz, president of Sunrise Solar Solutions, said in a presentation to the Town Board on Tuesday.

If town and state officials give the go-ahead, Sunrise Solar Solutions would have elevated solar panels installed in the outdoor sports complex's parking area, off Stony Street. The panels will be carports that also provide shade for the cars that park in the lots.

Hertz said there's typically a 25-year lease with five-year renewal options, and he projected Yorktown would gain more than $2 million in revenue over a 30-year period.

Town money would not be used for the project. Rather, Sunrise Solar Solutions would team with SunPower to build the solar carport/community solar program. 

“SunPower builds some of the nicest and is one of the more established carport installers, manufacturers and designers,” Hertz said.

The solar project would reduce carbon dioxide as much as having 1,249 acres of mature forest, Hertz said

“So it’s a win for the town,” Hertz told the Town Board. “It’s a win for clean energy and the environment.”

Yorktown is split between ConEd customers and those who get power from New York State Electric and Gas, or NYSEG. The NYSEG customers wouldn’t be eligible for this solar program — Hertz said the state doesn’t allow the company to offer the service to both utilities in the town.

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A household or business that chose to subscribe to the community solar program would remain a ConEd customer but receive the discount.

Around Westchester and Rockland, solar projects have become popular over the past several years as a source of cleaner, renewable energy and a cost savings and revenue generator. Efforts have ranged from putting solar panels atop a capped former landfill in Mount Kisco to the city of Whiite Plains' plans to install panels on eight city properties, to a solar field built on a former landfill in Clarkstown.

Hertz said the intent is to pave the current Granite Knolls parking area, which the town Recreation Commission has expressed support for. No trees would be removed.

As part of the project, infrastructure would be installed that would allow the town to install car chargers if it wanted.

For the project to advance, it needs state approval because the lease would occur on what is considered to be parkland. Town Supervisor Matt Slater said he’s contacted state Sen. Pete Harckham and Assembyman Kevin Byrne about it.

Slater said the deadline for legislation may be tight this session in Albany. And town officials, including the Recreation Commission, have questions about the proposal and planned to discuss it further

Michael McKinney covers northern Westchester. Follow him on Twitter @mikemckwrite. Visit offers.lohud.com to sign up for a subscription.