RMI is the latest business to join the ranks of buildings around the region to use their south-facing roof to generate solar photovoltaic (pv) electricity. “Recycling is our line of work” said Shelagh Connelly, President of RMI. “This solar project feels like the ultimate example of re-using and recycling. The sun beats down on our roof most days, it makes good sense environmentally and economically to ‘re-use’ that solar power to produce all the electricity needed to run our main office, and then some!”
Ted Vansant of New England Commercial Solar Services of Holderness, NH compiled a local team to make the renewable energy installation happen. TG Design Carpentry & Solar of Holderness, along with Mauchly Electric of Plymouth designed and installed the 23.9kW solar array. According to the installation team, this solar array is the largest commercial solar installation in Holderness. It is comprised of (92) 260 watt solar modules made by USA manufacturer, Solar World, and will generate over 27,000 kWH of electricity annually. This solar electricity will back feed the electrical meter at RMI made possible by NH Electric Co-Op’s Net-Metering program.
“In addition to RMI receiving the monthly benefits of net-metering, this array will also generate at least 27 Renewable Energy Credits annually”, explained Sandra Jones from the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI), who supplied technical assistance and energy auditing services for the project. “NH Electric Co-Op (NHEC) must own a certain number of Renewable Energy Credits to meet NH’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and net-metered Co-Op members, like RMI, can help them meet their REC requirement by selling these credits to NHEC.”
The electricity produced by solar energy emits no pollution. According to the National Renewable Energy Lab, on average, every 1,000 kWH of electricity generated by solar power reduces emissions by nearly 8 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 5 pounds of nitrogen oxides, and more than 1,400 pounds of carbon dioxide. “RMI is proud to be part of this clean energy trend day in and day out” stated Charley Hanson. “Solar energy is a natural fit for our company because we are committed to improving the environment every day as we improve soils and crops with our organic products.”