Croton, NY Goes Solar
An FCWC Staff Report

"How come we are not all doing it, if the sun is giving us the electricity for free. It's not just about whether you get paid back in two or three years. It is about our future and our children." summed up an involved Croton resident.

Solar Coop

Croton-on-Hudson has instituted a solar cooperative to foster the installation of solar arrays to provide energy. Well attended educational sessions have been held and model solar home tours conducted. It is the hope of the many community residents involved that by working together they will be able to purchase solar panels more cheaply and sell back into the grid at the higher prices commanded by clean energy.

Inspired by the coop sessions, many Croton residents are in the process of pursuing solar options for their homes, a fablous begining towards implementation of the village's new resolution. The Croton resolution established several energy related goals for the community including:

The creation of an organization to promote, seek grants and fund residents use of energy saving devices and construction, priority to hybrid or other fuel alternative vehicles for the village, priority to green buildings in any future village construction, purchase of green power for a portion of the village's electricity use, projects for bike racks and new sidewalks to encourage walking and cycling.

A model solar home

A model solar home was available for study in Croton as part of the solar cooperative's educational outreach. The home's solar retrofit completed this year cost $25,000. However, with rebates and tax advantages that cost was reduced to the homeowner to $14,000. An additional $3,000 is now available to reduce that cost even further. In addition the state has very low interest loans available for such investments. The solar panels generate 8-9 kilowatt hours of electricity per day even when it is cloudy as it is light activated and will continue to do so through the winter because temperature is irrelevant. When more electricity is being produced than is being used, the electricity generated is delivered back into the grid for others to use and the Con Ed meter runs backwards giving credit for the electricity contributed to the grid.

Even with no change in life style, two kids, two pets that require lights and heaters, several computers and an extra refrigerator, the solar units provide 90% of the home's electricity needs.

The payback on an investment in solar power depends on the cost of electricity. Based on current prices it is anticipated that the solar installation in this home will pay for itself in reduced electricity costs in 10 years; importantly the solar panels are good for at least 25 resulting in significant long term net savings.

Efforts such as those in Croton to educate people as to the environmental necessities for changing our conduct to save the earth, the very real contributions people can make in that effort, and the true long term economics of making such changes, are precisely what is needed. It is ultimately the conduct of all of the people on earth that will determine our future.

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