New York Power Authority Installs
Solar Energy System at Brooklyn Children's Museum
Contact:
Paul DeMichele
914-390-8186
paul.demichele@nypa.gov
September 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
BROOKLYN—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today
announced the installation of a photovoltaic (PV) system at the
Brooklyn Children’s Museum. The PV system will be located in the
museum’s Plaza courtyard and will educate visitors on solar power
and produce a portion of the electricity used by the building.
When exposed to sunlight, the system will generate
up to 27 kilowatts (kw) of power—enough to support the needs of
about 20 households—and 23,000 kilowatt-hours of energy annually,
preventing the emissions of over 14.5 tons of carbon dioxide.
“Education and energy go hand-in-hand today, so we
are very thrilled to be working with the Brooklyn Children’s
Museum,” said Gil C. Quiniones, acting chief operating officer, NYPA.
“Educational efforts such as this one are critical to increasing
awareness about the benefits of clean solar power and in advancing
Governor Paterson’s strategy to expand the use of renewable energy
in New York State.”
The PV system exhibit is part of an extensive
renovation at the museum. Featuring all new exhibits and programs,
the museum will have its Grand Opening on Sept. 20. The PV exhibit
cost about $315,000, with roughly half the funding coming from the
New York State Energy Research Development Authority.
Most of the polycrystalline solar panels in the PV
system exhibit will be mounted on two of the large Plaza walls, with
the remaining panels affixed on two museum roof areas. A computer
screen will be located near the exhibit to display information
gathered from the panels and show visitors exactly how much
electricity is being produced at any given time.
Currently, nine PV systems, totaling 433 kw, have
been installed by NYPA in New York City since 1993, some of which
the operation has been turned over to the site’s facility managers.
About NYPA:
■ NYPA uses no tax money or
state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of
bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of
electricity. ■ NYPA is a leader in promoting
energy-efficiency, new energy technologies and electric
transportation initiatives. ■ It is the
nation’s largest state-owned electric utility, with 18 generating
facilities in various parts of the state and more than 1,400
circuit-miles of transmission lines.
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