Londonderry, NH – Wire Belt Company of America recently installed a 99.3-kilowatt roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system that is the largest solar array in New Hampshire. The new PV system, installed by Nexamp of North Andover, Mass., will offset approximately 20% of total electricity consumed each year at Wire Belt. It is comprised of 473 rooftop PV panels covering 3,784 ft.
“This solar array is just one part of our focus on being a ‘green’ company. It is our goal to cut our ecological footprint by 50% in three years,” said CEO David Greer. “This means cutting our waste stream and use of electricity, gas, and water usage in half.”
The system will produce an estimated 106,500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year. Based on the US EPA national average, the estimated annual C02 reduction will be 76.5 metric tons. This reduction is equivalent to taking 14 cars off the road each year, powering 10 average homes for one year, or planting 16 acres of evergreen trees per year.
“Nexamp is proud to support Wire Belt in becoming a clean energy leader,” said Nexamp President and Chief Operating Officer Dan Leary. Nexamp is a full-service clean energy company providing a wide range of solutions to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions for businesses, governments, and homeowners. “We encourage other companies to follow Wire Belt’s example and explore the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy solutions like solar energy, geothermal, and high-efficiency lighting.”
The solar PV panels work on a net metering system, so even when Wire Belt is not in production the solar panels are working to send electricity back to the grid and reduce overall consumption and energy costs. The up-front investment cost of a solar PV system is often discouraging to some companies, but Wire Belt has been able to take advantage of tax credits offered by the federal government to help lower the cost.