North Atlantic Corp (NAC), one of the largest millwork distributors and custom manufacturer of windows, doors, kitchens and stairs to the residential and commercial markets in New England, has partnered with Solect Energy of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to install a 1,551-kW solar energy system on the roof of its Somerset location. The solar array is projected to cover 90% of North Atlantic Corp’s annual electricity bill and will contribute to substantial savings on the company’s energy expenditures.
“NAC has been looking at solar the past five years and it made sense to move forward with solar due to current legislation and a reasonable payback,” said Karl Almond, Senior Special Projects Manager. Millwork inherently carries a high energy demand, often times occurring during peak demand times where electricity is delivered at a cost premium. As such, NAC followed through with their solar installation with the expectation to save substantially on their energy costs, with plans to reinvest their savings back into the business.
The installation comes at a particularly important time in NAC’s development, as their energy demands were expected to rise steeply with the completion of a 45,000 sq. ft. addition to their manufacturing facility. Now, they expect to see solar offset that increase dramatically.
In addition to offsetting their newfound energy requirements, NAC has shown a consistent commitment to the environment touting FSC certification and Energy Star partnership. They also have programs in place to recycle sawdust into furnace fueling pellets, and are committed to using water based coatings when pre-finishing their products.
“Solect is excited to have partnered with NAC on the development of their solar project, “said Bob Plakias, Director of Business Development, Solect Energy. “The financial benefits from this solar project provide them with a long term opportunity to reduce costs, and make investments in other parts of their business while making a significant environmental impact.”
In addition to benefiting from avoided electricity costs, NAC is also able to take advantage of state and federal tax and financial incentives, including SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates), which are financial incentives based on the amount of solar energy the system generates. Electrical utility providers in Massachusetts purchase SRECs to help them meet their state-mandated goals of a percentage of power coming from renewable energy sources.
News item from Solect