On-site renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, is a way to power your facility while reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and minimizing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Many major companies, educational institutions, and governmental facilities now use on-site renewable energy to provide power to their facilities.

There are a number of incentives available for on-site renewable energy generation. Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency for a list of available on-site renewable energy incentives in New York.

On-site renewables, such as wind and solar power, are generally cost-stable, they improve fuel-diversity, promote your facility’s energy independence, generate positive publicity and visibly demonstrate a civic commitment. They also offer the potential to feed excess energy generated on-site back into the grid (called “net-metering,” which can turn your meter backwards), a potential source of income. In addition, there are incentives available that can reduce the initial capital cost.

FedEx Corporation recently constructed a solar array on the rooftops of two buildings at its facility at Oakland International Airport. The 904-kilowatt array provides approximately 80% of FedEx’s peak load demand and in so doing, reduces FedEx’s energy bills and the risks associated with unstable or rising fossil fuel prices.

Oroville Wastewater Agency operates a 520 kilowatt on-site solar array capable of fulfilling nearly 80% of their wastewater treatment plant’s energy needs. On Earth Day 2003, the Sewerage Commission-Oroville Region received a $2,342,502 rebate check from PG&E for its on-site array—the largest renewable energy system rebate in PG&E history.

AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, recently installed 590 solar panels in three different parts of the stadium. These panels produce up to 122 kilowatts of renewable energy for Pacific Gas and Electric Company customers in San Francisco, the equivalent of about 40 residential solar systems. As the first Major League Baseball stadium to feature solar power, this installation not only generates renewable energy, but also provides a very visible showcase of the importance of clean energy and energy conservation.

Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, has also recently undertaken the construction of a solar energy system with 46 solar panels. The 9.8 kilowatt system can provide more than 14,000 kilowatt hours of energy, which could sufficiently offset the energy consumption of their LED scoreboard for more than a year.

Fossil fuel energy generation – for electricity, transportation, and industrial uses - is the principle cause of air pollution and global warming. By generating electricity from on-site solar, your team can reduce its demand for fossil fuel energy and also reduce its contributions to smog, acid rain, pollution-related illness, and global warming.

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EPA Green Power Purchasing Guide
Green Power Locator
Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency