Solis Partners and P and R Fasteners recently celebrated the completion of a 254.8 KW rooftop solar installation at P and R's corporate headquarters in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, N.J.

The "cord-cutting" ceremony, which took place in front of P and R Fasteners' corporate headquarters, was attended by more than 150 people, including P and R executives and employees, local elected officials and dignitaries, representatives of the solar panel supplier and representatives of Solis Partners, the Manasquan, N.J.-based solar developer responsible for designing, engineering and constructing the P and R system.

The "cord-cutting" was symbolic of the fact that the solar installation will offset nearly 100 percent of the 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility's electricity load. Between the electricity savings and state and federal financial incentives, the system is expected to pay for itself in less than seven years, which, since the system has a lifespan of 25 years or more, means nearly two decades of free electricity and additional incentive income.

"We are thrilled to have helped P and R set their environmental bar by incorporating an environmentally responsible practice into their business activities," said Gary Weisman, director of sales for Solis Partners. "With facilities located around the globe, P and R's commitment to solar is an important testament to their initiatives and strategies in protecting the environment and reducing their carbon footprint."

The rooftop solar PV system consists of 1,400 Solyndra panels that will generate approximately 295,000-kilowatt hours of electricity and eliminate more than 400,000 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. The panels are made up of lightweight glass cylinders that have 360-degree photovoltaic surfaces, capturing direct sunlight from above, diffused sunlight from the sides and reflected sunlight from the roof.

The rooftop solar PV system was integrated with a reflective white "cool" roof. The reflective roof not only enhances the efficiency of the building envelope from an energy conservation perspective, saving on air conditioning expenses during the summer months, but also increases the amount of solar production harvest.

"The system was made possible partly through temporary federal incentives that include a treasury grant that covers 30 percent of the upfront cost and a 100 percent bonus depreciation allowance, which allowed P and R to depreciate 100 percent of the allowable cost in the first year," said Weisman. "P and R is one of the many companies in New Jersey taking advantage of these incentives before they expire at the end of 2011."

Among the many elected officials and dignitaries who attended the event were Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivakula of New Jersey's 17th Legislative District; Joseph Fiordaliso, commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; First Ward Councilman Theodore Chase of Franklin Township; and Patrick Scaglione, Somerset County freeholder.

The speakers all commented on New Jersey's emergence as a national solar leader. Thanks to generous state incentives, New Jersey now ranks second in the nation after California in solar capacity, and first if considered on a per-capita or per-square-mile basis. New Jersey's role as a solar leader is important to business, including green job creation, as well as to the nation's energy security, they noted.

"Renewable energy is so important because it is strongly tied to our national security," said Chivakula. "The journey toward energy independence is an important goal for our nation in light of recent world events. By 2020 we hope to be deriving 22.5 percent of our energy from renewable energy sources. New Jersey is making this possible through their incentives for solar energy. Solar energy is in abundance, and the incentives have allowed us to really harness that."

While the solar PV system will supply nearly 100 percent of the facility's electricity, the facility will still be tied to the grid, drawing energy from the grid at times when there is little to no sun, such as at night, and sending energy to the grid when the solar system is producing more energy than being used.

"Going green is good for the bottom line. Our solar system will yield strong returns over its 25-year life span," said Brian Margulies, operations executive for P and R Fasteners. "But even more importantly, it is an investment in the environment and in the community, creating a better place to live."

Tweet

Related Links Solyndra All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com