DEEP Summer 2016 Newsletter
We are proud to be featured in the DEEP, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Pollution Prevention View Summer 2016 newsletter!
CT Manufacturer Banks on Solar
Thanks to the nation’s first green bank, a Bristol, Connecticut manufacturer was able to install 922 rooftop solar panels that will produce approximately 235 KWH of renewable power per year in an economical way. DACRUZ Manufacturing has always strived for efficiency as a contract manufacturer of precision, machined components serving various industries such as fluid control, automotive, dental, firearms, and lock and hardware industries. However, switching to solar power “can be a daunting task,” says Betty DaCruz, co-owner with her husband, Victor, “We would not have been able to do it without the assistance gained through the Connecticut Green Bank.”
There were many vendors to choose from, and many options on how to add renewable power to their facility. The goal was to reduce the amount of energy purchased by 40% and replace it with renewables. The owners met with a few different vendors and chose one based on their comfort with the vendor’s knowledge of the solar industry and on the incentives that could be part of the deal.
DACRUZ Manufacturing found the recipe for success using a combination of incentives. The Eversource Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit (ZREC) program provides the company with a payment of $85 per MWH generated for the next 15 years. In addition to the ZREC payment, the company is reaping savings from having to buy less power, a 30% federal tax credit for the cost of the solar project, and the ability to depreciate the cost of the project over the next 5 years. Like they did for DACRUZ, the Connecticut Green Bank helps businesses structure deals that make renewable energy systems economical.
At DACRUZ sustainability is an integral part of its operation, including making sure to recycle oil, cardboard, batteries, lamps, and many other items. In addition to using renewable energy, the company is also finding ways to reduce the amount of energy they use. For example, it has replaced the exterior lights with more efficient LEDs, and plans to upgrade the interior lighting as well. DACRUZ is also looking for more energy efficient equipment such as air compressors and air dryers. The company is ISO 9001 certified and was a 2016 GreenCircle Sustainability Awards finalist.
If you are interested in installing renewable power at your business, contact the Connecticut Green Bank at www.ctgreenbank.com
Follow the link to read the newsletter in it’s entirety:
http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/p2/newsletter/P2ViewSummer2016_Web.pdf
