GE’s renewable energy business will supply President Container Group (PCG), a manufacturer of corrugated shipping containers and point-of-purchase displays, with a new 2 MW ground-mounted solar installation outside its factory in Middletown, NY. The GE solar solution is expected to provide approximately 25% of PCG’s future energy needs.
The facility will become the first industrial scale solar project in Orange County and is fully qualified under NYSERDA’s NY-Sun Incentive Program, which helps reduce the costs of installing solar electric systems across New York State.
“Our company is growing, and our electricity costs were rising by about five percent a year as we expanded,” explains Larry Grossbard, general manager of President Container Group, Inc. “Working with GE, we saw an opportunity to take control of our energy future in a way that was both economic and sustainable. The GE team worked with us through every part of the process, from the incentive applications and zoning approvals, to the equipment and site engineering, all the way to today’s installation. We’re excited to become a leader in the solar space.”
As part of the agreement, GE is providing PCG a solar solution consisting of equipment, site engineering, construction and installation, commissioning, spare parts, and operations and maintenance support for seven years. The GE team also supported President Container Group during its application process with NYSERDA, through local zoning and permitting approvals with the town of Wallkill, NY, and throughout the utility interconnection and groundwater studies.
“This deal marks the first example where GE is offering a fully integrated approach in the solar space,” said Erik Schiemann, general manager of GE’s solar product line. “By acting as both a developer and equipment solution provider, we’re making it easier for commercial and industrial companies like President Container to invest in solar power.”
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the factory today to mark the beginning of the installation process. Commercial operation is expected to begin in the fall of 2015.