ReVision Energy Building Huge Solar Array

NEW LONDON, N.H. — ReVision Energy of Exeter has partnered with Colby-Sawyer College to build one of the largest solar photovoltaic arrays in New Hampshire, initiating a significant step toward the college's long-term goal of becoming a carbon-neutral campus by 2050.

The installation of the 127 kilowatt solar array at Colby-Sawyer is second only to ReVision’s largest project, a 167 kilowatt solar array at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. A solar photovoltaic array is comprised of silicon-based panels that convert sunlight into electricity. A total of 517 solar photovoltaic panels have been installed on the roofs of four campus buildings at no expense out of pocket to Colby Sawyer, offering electricity from the sun, more cost effectively than the traditional power company and fossil fuels can offer.

The system provides a visible manifestation of Colby-Sawyer's commitment to sustainability and an example of active renewable energy systems on campus. Over the 25-year warranty life of the panels, the system will generate more than 3.3 million kilowatt-hours bringing more than $435,000 of anticipated utility savings to the campus.

Despite Northern New England’s pristine environmental reputation, the reality is that New Hampshire has the second highest per capita CO2 emissions in the six-state area, surpassed only by Maine’s emissions. The coal-fired Merrimack Station electric power plant in Bow, N.H., for example, has the worst emissions profile in New England. ReVision Energy’s mission is to solve these energy problems by helping people and organizations make the transition from finite polluting and increasingly costly fossil fuel energy to infinite clean renewable energy. 

The good news is that Northern New England has abundant renewable energy resources in the form of solar, biomass and wind power. In fact, New Hampshire gets 33 percent more sunshine per year than Germany, the world leader in solar energy deployment with more than 1 million systems installed nationwide. Colby-Sawyer’s solar energy system is expected to generate roughly 152,000 kwh of electricity annually, thereby eliminating more than 197,000 pounds of CO2 emissions from regional fossil-fuel power plants each year.

The project was financed by ReVision Energy through a power purchase agreement between Colby-Sawyer and the company, by which the college pays no up-front costs for the installation. ReVision leases the roof spaces from the college for a nominal fee and will own and operate the panels for six years, after which the college has the option to purchase the panels or simply continue buying power from the array. Power generated by the panels feeds into the existing electrical system of each building, and Colby-Sawyer will pay ReVision a discounted rate for the power the panels generate.

“ReVision Energy is a mission-driven company that wants to get more renewable energy systems out there in the world and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. As a business, ReVision can take advantage of the 30 percent federal tax credit, state rebates and other financial incentives that nonprofits in New Hampshire can't actually access,” says Colby-Sawyer's Sustainability Coordinator Jennifer White.

“With the tremendous reduction in solar electric panel prices since 2008, ReVision Energy is proud to show that solar power is actually substantially more cost effective than our traditional fossil fuel-based power generators,” says Steve Condon, sales and marketing manager with ReVision. “Generating our electricity from the sun is predictable, available, and has no negative impact on the surrounding environment. And, the campus will save money on day one.”

New Hampshire has a number of progressive clean energy incentive programs available to homeowners, business owners and non-profit institutions to help jumpstart the state’s renewable energy economy and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. On Colby-Sawyer's behalf, ReVision applied for and was awarded a $100,000 grant from the N.H. Public Utilities Commission.

“For six years, Colby-Sawyer will write two checks to pay for electricity, one to Public Service of New Hampshire and one to ReVision,” says White. “Combined, the total is less than what we would have been paying otherwise, thanks to the grant, the rebates and ReVision's discounted rate for the solar power produced.”

With a lifespan of up to four decades, the panels should still be in prime condition in six years, when Colby-Sawyer will have the option to purchase the system from ReVision. When the system is college-owned, all power generated by the panels will be free at which point campus savings is expected to be approximately $20,000 annually.

ReVision Energy is Maine’s and New Hampshire’s leading solar installer, offering service throughout both states. ReVision exclusively installs solar energy systems – specifically solar electric and solar hot water. It is a partner of the Green Alliance, a union of local sustainable businesses promoting environmentally sound business practices and a green co-op offering discounted green products and services to its members. GA members save $250 on solar hot water and small solar electric systems, and $500 on any solar electric system more than three kilowatts. Save at least $250 on its solar hot water or solar PV systems.

ReVision’s commercial, municipal and institutional projects have grown to be about 50 percent of its business in the last few years, says Revision’s Condon. The cost of panels has come down to the point where most businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities are taking a look at their options outside of the traditional fossil fuels. Colleges, private schools, municipalities and nonprofits are a growing market and important customer base for the company.

“ReVision has spent a great deal of time supporting our local nonprofits in Maine and New Hampshire, ranging from board membership to raising money directly,” Condon says. “We have found that the nonprofit market is greatly underserved for solar because nonprofits do not apply for any tax benefits that are available to for-profit entities and in turn are often not able to make financial sense of a renewable energy investment.”

A nonprofit such as a school, town or church faces ongoing challenges with unpredictability for fossil fuel energy costs and budgeting. ReVision is able to level the cost of energy for its customers while creating predictability in the budget and empowering its customers to gain full control of their energy costs from a clean renewable source, the sun.

“It's a perfect fit as the nonprofit expects to be here for the long run, and ReVision is able to show its support by making solar attainable to the institution through a power purchase agreement,” Condon says. “These PPAs allow ReVision Energy to own and operate the array for a short period of time while passing the tax benefits and solar energy production off to the customer. Over a six-year period the customer recognizes a substantially reduced investment through the tax benefits that they otherwise wouldn't be able to take advantage of as a nonprofit. Our goal at ReVision is to help our nonprofits attain ownership of their power needs in just a few years.”

ReVision has been enthusiastic about its growing commercial business and the larger arrays, but it doesn’t lose sight of the importance of the residential markets that provide “a tremendously positive move away from fossil fuel dependence,” Condon says. Its residential business is “very busy. With more folks paying attention to the need to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, substantially reduced panel prices and healthy state incentives, the residential market keeps us extremely busy at all three shops in Exeter N.H., Portland Maine, and Liberty, Maine, year round.” 

ReVision has built more than 3,000 systems in Northern New England. It employs more than 50 year-round New Hampshire and Maine residents and has its own active solar energy system at its three shops, which are also heated with pellet and wood boilers.

As for working with ReVision, Colby-Sawyer is nothing but pleased, says Sustainability Coordinator White.

“Working with ReVision was a great experience. All of the staff were friendly, professional and knowledgeable, and they led us carefully through each part of the process, from introducing the PPA concept to the administration, to applying —and receiving — the NHPUC grant, to the installation itself. We’re looking forward to utilizing the web-based tracking software in classes as well, and the students love having solar panels on campus.

“If the opportunity presented itself, I would definitely work with ReVision Energy again.”

For more information about Revision Energy, visit www.revisionenergy.com.
For more information about sustainability efforts at Colby-Sawyer College, visit www.colby-sawyer.edu/greenroutes. And to learn about the Green Alliance, visit www.greenalliance.biz.