Submitted by Rapport Communications
CENTRE COUNTY — The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority announced that it will soon make the switch to solar power with the help of the nonprofit Pennsylvania Solar Center’s Get Solar program. The program provides free technical assistance and financial guidance to businesses and organizations looking to go solar. After a competitive proposal process, CCRRA has hired local solar developer Envinity to complete the installation.
The 791.5-kilowatt solar system will be installed over three separate CCRRA buildings and is projected to produce about 939,881 kwh per year. This will offset more than 100% of the facility’s annual energy usage. Envinity estimates the system will save the authority nearly $2 million over the next 25 years.
CCRRA states their solar system will benefit the public in four main ways:
- Freeing up capital to improve the services provided by the authority
- Reducing energy demand
- Increasing energy supply
- Providing education on energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability through public tours and other programs
“The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority looks forward to saving significant money and reducing our carbon footprint by transitioning to solar energy,” said Ted Onufrak, executive director of CCRRA. “We have been encountering the effects of inflation and other rising costs everywhere we turn, so needless to say, it will be a relief to find major savings on our electric bill with the help of solar.”
Jason Grottini, vice president of Envinity, shared more about the new solar system project. “With the volatility in electricity costs that we’ve experienced over the past several years, and the federal Inflation Reduction Act offering cost-saving incentives to go solar, we are seeing many customers choose to make the switch,” said Grottini. “We congratulate CCRRA for having the vision and resolve to achieve this milestone and move the authority into the clean energy economy.”
PA Solar Center Program Manager Jon Bunyaratapan noted the impact this solar project can have in the community. “It is our hope that CCRRA will serve as an inspiration to other area businesses and organizations in flipping the switch to solar,” said Bunyaratapan. “It has been a privilege to help such a stalwart of the community forge a path forward to clean energy and save about $2 million that will be better spent serving Centre County.”
Solar energy is the fastest growing energy in the country and impacts businesses, nonprofits, communities and residents.
