06/29/09: NYPA Powers Solarliberty Project at UB

Original YNN Buffalo Air Date: 06/29/09
The New York Power Authority teams up with a Western New York firm to power parts of the University of Buffalo. It’s a solar project shining a light on economic development.
The Solarliberty Company is using the sun to heat up Western New York’s economy
“Solar power is clean renewable home-grown energy that can replace dirty fossil fuel energy that has severely degraded our environment for far too long,” said Brian Smith with the Citizen’s Campaign for the Environment
New York Power Authority CEO Richard Kessel announced plans for a 1.1 megawatt solar photovaltaytic system on the University of Buffalo Campus.
Under the project, NYPA and Solarliberty will employ 10 to 15 installation jobs and administrative personnel. These are jobs that pay about $50 an hour.
“That may not sound like a lot of jobs, but every job counts in this economy,” said Kessel.
The photovaltaytic system calls for 5,000 solar panels to power 735 apartments in UB’s Flint Village, while striving to employ area alumni.
“This is a small piece of that puzzle that will ultimately create thousands of high tech green energy jobs in Western New York,” added Kessel.
Solarliberty president Adam Rizzo says using the sun to go green shouldn’t stop at the campus.
“With so many students, faculty and staff at UB, we’re expecting this project to educate and motivate others to consider having solar-electric systems for their own home,” Rizzo added.
There’s a UB theme throughout this project. 1976 alum and Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster says this project will help Western New York reclaim its spot in the renewable energy industry.
“What we’re doing in Niagara Falls is taking clean renewable hydro-power to any using it to produce the raw materials that can manufacture solar panels,” said Mayor Dyster.
Buffalo-Niagara leaders say this is just another step toward generating energy and the economy here across the empire state.
“This is the renewable energy job development program that Governor Paterson has been declaring in New York state. We should provide 45% of our energy needs through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects like this UB 1.1 megawat project,” Kessel added.