The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is offering a new program called “School Power … Naturally,” which will provide up to 50 schools with a new 2-kW solar power system. NYSERDA will cover 90% of the cost of installing the $20,000 system at each school, with AMERESCO, an energy services firm, providing an additional $500 per installation, reducing the cost for each school to just $1,500.

In most cases the solar systems will be roof mounted, but other options will be available. The installations will begin in March 2003, and they are expected to be operational by the fall of 2003.

— by Greg Mazurkiewicz