Nov 25 2010
The Research and Development facility of Benjamin Moore at Flanders, NJ, will soon start meeting nearly 68% of its energy requirement from clean solar power.
The new 1.7 MW solar system getting installed under a contracted accord between Benjamin Moore and Constellation Energy over an area of 80,000 square feet will incorporate over 8,600 crystalline solar PV panels. The facility termed as one of the largest in the state is anticipated to generate energy by the year end.
According to the signed accord, Benjamin Moore has provided the land required for the installation and entered into a solar power purchase accord for a period of 20 years to buy all the power generated from the facility. Constellation will complete the construction of the installation, own it and continue to provide the maintenance services. The accord enabled Benjamin Moore to generate and use solar energy without making any investment for it. The companies have worked in close agreement to meet the open space and water drainage stipulations of 2004 act set by Highlands Water Protection and Planning and shifted over 1,500 PV panels from the ground site to the newly constructed rooftop facility of Benjamin. The new changed design while permitting the company to save on its available open space will also allow it to provide a covered parking lot with recharging facility for electric cycles.
On completion of the project the energy generated from the facility will offset over 1,600 metric tons of carbon dioxide which can be equated to the removal of 300 vehicles off the road every year.