The Saratoga Regional YMCA may be more than 150 years old, but its commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship is very much rooted in the realities of 2021.
The organization recently enrolled in the Nexamp community solar program, subscribing to a solar farm in Pendleton, Niagra County, and offsetting up to 90 percent of its annual electricity usage, generating valuable savings that enable more programming and services across its multiple locations.
With a 900 kW subscription, Saratoga Regional YMCA will save up to $13,500 each year through the discounted rate it pays for community solar credits applied to its National Grid bills, realizing more than a quarter million dollars in savings over the course of the contract. Community solar farms generate clean energy that is fed directly to the grid, earning credits that are allocated across the subscriber base and billed at a fixed discount to create customer savings, officials said.
“We support more than 25,000 members in the region, offering a wide variety of services focused on overall wellness for families and individuals of all ages,” said John Pecora, CFO, Saratoga Regional YMCA. “As part of our mission, we recognize the importance of a healthy environment and the role of clean energy in making that possible. Enrolling in a community solar program provides us with the dual benefit of saving money that makes our budget go further while also participating in the growth of much-needed clean energy on the grid.”
Four of the five YMCA buildings will receive credits through the program. The 6 MW community solar farm in Pendleton, like the dozens of other solar farms in New York and hundreds of solar farms across the country owned and operated by Nexamp, serves both commercial and residential customers.
“Just as the YMCA serves all residents without discrimination, community solar is making the benefits of clean energy accessible to all. We’ve seen that as more and more non-profits learn about the advantages of the program and how easy it is to get started, they realize how well it fits with their missions. It’s equally about saving money, saving the environment and helping communities invest in a cleaner, more resilient energy grid for the future,” said David Wells, Nexamp director of community solar in New York.
Additional capacity remains on Nexamp projects across multiple markets and utility service territories. Businesses interested in learning more about commercial offtake should visit www.nexamp.com/power-purchase-agreements.
Nexamp’s comprehensive solar and energy storage capabilities—including project development and acquisition, design, construction, and operations—enable clean energy savings and benefits for customers. It has more than 500 MW of renewable energy generating assets currently in operation. Its website is www.nexamp.com.