Encore Renewable Energy and the Greater Burlington YMCA have completed a new solar array on the rooftop at downtown Burlington.
Encore has worked extensively with the management team and construction contractors at the YMCA to integrate the solar project into the new facility that was built on a redeveloped property in downtown Burlington, Vermont.
The new rooftop solar array will provide cost savings for the YMCA on the electrical bills of the facility and the opportunity to acquire the asset at a future date, while complementing their sustainability goals to be energy efficient as well.
It also furthers the position of Burlington as a national leader in per capita solar installed, and supports the ambitious clean energy goals of the city.
“The Encore team worked in close collaboration with the Greater Burlington YMCA to deliver this renewable energy project on a challenging site and under tight construction timelines. It’s always exciting to continue to support our home city’s ambitious climate and clean energy goals. This project is another great example of the triple bottom line, win-win-win nature of clean energy projects.”
Chad Farrell, CEO and founder of Encore Renewable Energy.
“From the beginning, the quest to build a new Y has always been about the benefit to the community. Although not our core business, clean energy is important to the health of Burlington, and it felt like a squandered opportunity to not take advantage of our large, flat new roof. With all of the design and financial challenges of the building itself, we were struggling with attending to a solar project. We are deeply grateful to Encore for solving the funding and logistical issues and making this project work.”
Kyle Dodson, president & CEO of the Greater Burlington YMCA.
“Partnering with the Burlington YMCA on this project offers value alignment on multiple fronts. Providing the funding solution for a project like this goes above and beyond the financial value that the project offers, given the Y’s mission, we’re achieving various ESG metrics by supporting the sustainable development of Burlington in addition to participating in healing the climate.”
Sarah Valdovinos, founder of Golden Sail.
The project would provide renewable solar power to about 25 percent of the building’s energy needs. In addition to the economic benefits in the form of energy savings, the project also promotes the contribution of the YMCA to social responsibility by offsetting the carbon equivalent of fuel usage associated with 35 passenger cars annually, or about 17,500 gallons of gasoline consumption.
