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Showing posts with label Amherst NY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amherst NY. Show all posts
Saturday, June 15, 2019
Monday, May 8, 2017
Solarize Amherst Workshops: A New Town Program to make it Easier and More Affordable to Purchase Rooftop Solar Panels
New program makes it cheaper for Amherst residents to
'go solar'
By Joseph Popiolkowski | Buffalo News Online
May 4, 2017
Installing solar panels on roofs in Amherst is about to get easier and more affordable with the launch of a new town program.
Participants in the "Solarize Amherst" campaign can expect to save 10 percent through discounted group rates the town negotiated with three installers: Solar by CIR, Solar Liberty and Frey Electric.
"The town is acting as a liaison between the installers and residents and commercial property owners to work together to set up their own contracts if they want to install solar," said Mike Delamere, the town's energy manager.
A kickoff event is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers at Town Hall, 5583 Main St., Williamsville, where residents may schedule a free solar evaluation, which includes a roof evaluation, preliminary site design, energy usage profile and financial analysis.
Workshops also will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. May 17 at the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20 in the Clearfield Community Center, 730 Hopkins Road.
To encourage participation, the town is also waiving its $200 electrical permit fee for property owners who sign a contract with one of the three installers by June 5. The program runs between May 9 and July 31.
A 4 to 5 kilowatt system is sufficient for most small residences and costs between $10,000 and $12,000, but that cost is cut by half after various rebates, Delamere said. Most homeowners can expect to recoup their upfront cost in four to five years, he said.
"Then after that it's all free electricity," he said. "The return on investment is about 4 to 5 years."
The roof-mounted photovoltaic panels degrade to about 80 percent efficiency after 20 years, Delamere said. An inverter in the basement to convert direct current to alternating current lasts between 10 to 15 years.
Installing a system can result in considerable savings for homeowners over the long term, he said.
"Any excess power that you produce actually reverses the electric meter," he said. "If you're producing more power than you're using, like on a sunny day in the summertime, you'll be reversing your electric meter so you get a credit for later on in the evening or different times in the year."
The solarize campaign is one of at least four initiatives the town's Clean Energy Communities Committee is completing for Amherst to become a Clean Energy Community, a program of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and become eligible for a $250,000 grant.
The Town Board on Monday will consider purchasing an electric vehicle for the town fleet. The town has also trained building inspectors to be qualified to review solar plans and do inspections of solar installations and is adopting a unified solar permit, which are standards from NYSERDA that municipalities should follow.
"The weather patterns are really changing so everybody's getting more interested in doing what they can to save the planet," Delamere said.
'go solar'
By Joseph Popiolkowski | Buffalo News Online
May 4, 2017
Installing solar panels on roofs in Amherst is about to get easier and more affordable with the launch of a new town program.
Participants in the "Solarize Amherst" campaign can expect to save 10 percent through discounted group rates the town negotiated with three installers: Solar by CIR, Solar Liberty and Frey Electric.
"The town is acting as a liaison between the installers and residents and commercial property owners to work together to set up their own contracts if they want to install solar," said Mike Delamere, the town's energy manager.
A kickoff event is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers at Town Hall, 5583 Main St., Williamsville, where residents may schedule a free solar evaluation, which includes a roof evaluation, preliminary site design, energy usage profile and financial analysis.
Workshops also will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. May 17 at the Harlem Road Community Center, 4255 Harlem Road, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20 in the Clearfield Community Center, 730 Hopkins Road.
To encourage participation, the town is also waiving its $200 electrical permit fee for property owners who sign a contract with one of the three installers by June 5. The program runs between May 9 and July 31.
A 4 to 5 kilowatt system is sufficient for most small residences and costs between $10,000 and $12,000, but that cost is cut by half after various rebates, Delamere said. Most homeowners can expect to recoup their upfront cost in four to five years, he said.
"Then after that it's all free electricity," he said. "The return on investment is about 4 to 5 years."
The roof-mounted photovoltaic panels degrade to about 80 percent efficiency after 20 years, Delamere said. An inverter in the basement to convert direct current to alternating current lasts between 10 to 15 years.
Installing a system can result in considerable savings for homeowners over the long term, he said.
"Any excess power that you produce actually reverses the electric meter," he said. "If you're producing more power than you're using, like on a sunny day in the summertime, you'll be reversing your electric meter so you get a credit for later on in the evening or different times in the year."
The solarize campaign is one of at least four initiatives the town's Clean Energy Communities Committee is completing for Amherst to become a Clean Energy Community, a program of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and become eligible for a $250,000 grant.
The Town Board on Monday will consider purchasing an electric vehicle for the town fleet. The town has also trained building inspectors to be qualified to review solar plans and do inspections of solar installations and is adopting a unified solar permit, which are standards from NYSERDA that municipalities should follow.
"The weather patterns are really changing so everybody's getting more interested in doing what they can to save the planet," Delamere said.
~ ~ ~
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Anti-Fracking Law: Public Comments Move Amherst Town Board to Revise
Planning Board to review draft of anti-fracking law
The Town Board during its meeting on Monday directed the Planning Board to review a draft local law that would ban hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking,” in Amherst.
Fracking is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks and release the natural gas inside. People who oppose the practice believe it poses many dangers to the environment and could result in health risks to residents.
During a public comment period, Rita Yelda, a member of the community group Amherst Against Fracking, said the draft, created by the Town Attorney’s Office, lacks strength because it doesn’t cite the proper definitions of hydraulic fracturing.
Several residents following Yelda reiterated the importance of creating strong legislation that bans hydrofracking and its wastes in the Town of Amherst.
Following the comments from the public, Deputy Supervisor Guy Marlette said the reason it was put on the board’s meeting agenda was to allow the Town Board to review it first to vet any issues, such as the ones that were addressed by residents.
Following the Town Attorney’s Office working with the Planning Board to possibly amend the draft, a public hearing will be held to allow further community input on the revised version.
Marlette added that although it has been about 13 months since the Town Board directed the Town Attorney’s Office to draft a law banning fracking in the town, it was not an excessive time period.
“Our intent is to pass a law and have all of the definitions in place for a strong law,” Marlette said.
Read the full report at the Amherst Bee
For earlier reports on the dangers of fracking waste, Click Here.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
PUBLIC MEETING: Amherst Town Board to Review Draft Hydrofracking Law
The Amherst Town Board will review a draft Local Law banning high-volume hydrofracking and fracking waste at the 7:00pm meeting on Monday, May 18 in the Amherst Municipal Building, 5583 Main St, Williamsville [Map].
The draft Local Law states the following Prohibited Uses:
The draft Local Law states the following Prohibited Uses:
- No land in the Town of Amherst shall be used for high volume hydrofracking (HVHF).
- To the extent not pre-empted by Federal, State or County rules, regulations or statutes, no byproducts of hydrofracking are permitted to enter or be disposed of in the Town of Amherst.
Citizens concerned about toxic and radioactive fracking waste from Pennsylvania being disposed in New York or spread on our roads should attend. Another concern is fracking of the Utica Shale which extends throughout our region.
We need the Town Board to subject the local law to a public hearing and a vote at their next meeting. If the local anti-fracking law passes the review today, it will be on the agenda for a public hearing and vote at the next Town Board meeting in two weeks.
We need the Town Board to subject the local law to a public hearing and a vote at their next meeting. If the local anti-fracking law passes the review today, it will be on the agenda for a public hearing and vote at the next Town Board meeting in two weeks.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
FIGHT FRACKING and its TOXIC WASTE in AMHERST
4 WAYS TO FIGHT FRACKING & FRACKING WASTE
in AMHERST, NY
in AMHERST, NY
1) Attend Open Public Meetings to Ban Fracking in Amherst, NY
Williamsville Public Library, 5571 Main St, Williamsville, NY 14221
Williamsville Public Library, 5571 Main St, Williamsville, NY 14221
Upcoming meeting of Amherst Against Fracking:
Thursday, 09/11/2014 at 6 p.m.
The town of Amherst, NY must pass a local ban to safeguard our resources
and health from the pollution and industrialization that fracking for
natural gas brings to communities. Over 170 towns and cities across NY
have stepped up to protect their residents
from fracking, and now it's time for the Amherst Town Board to do the
same. A town-wide ban on fracking & fracking waste disposal
(including road spreading) would protect residents from exposure to
harmful chemicals, airborne carcinogens, contaminated water,
increased municipal costs, and the list goes on. All Amherst and
Amherst-area residents are encouraged to join this coordinating meeting
to become part of the local movement against fracking.
2) Sign the Online Petition to ban fracking in Amherst here: http://bit.ly/1piVgQY
When an Amherst, NY resident signs the petition, it immediately emails the Town Board!
3) Attend the Amherst Planning Board Meeting on Town-wide Fracking Ban
Thursday, August 21st at 6:30 p.m.
Town of Amherst Municipal Building
5583 Main Street, Williamsville, NY 14221
On Thursday, August 21st at 6:30 p.m. in Amherst Town Hall, the Amherst
Planning Board will have a meeting where they will be discussing the
fracking & fracking waste ban for the town. This meeting is a
necessary step in the creation of a this new law because
some of the language it contains pertains to planning and zoning. The
Planning Board consists of a president and 6 members, none of whom are
elected officials. This means that they will not be familiar with the
harms of fracking or the legalities surrounding
banning fracking/fracking waste on a town-level that we've explained in
past Town Hall meetings. We need Amherst and Amherst-area residents to
attend and give public comment on why fracking and it's waste must be
banned in the town!
Join the Facebook event & invite friends:
https://www.facebook.com/
4) Call the Amherst Town Board -- Tell Them They MUST Ban Dangerous Fracking and Toxic Fracking Waste
Call Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
For detailed information, See This Flyer
Rita Yelda, Amherst Againgst Fracking / WNY Drilling Defense / Food & Water Watch
Rita Yelda, Amherst Againgst Fracking / WNY Drilling Defense / Food & Water Watch
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