Empire State Realty Trust announced plans for a community solar project at its 287,351-square-foot office property at 500 Mamaroneck Ave. in Harrison, New York. The property improvement will serve as a new revenue source, contracted for the next 25 years, with approximately forty percent of the monetary credits generated by the project allocated towards the ongoing cost to power the Westchester office building. The rest of the credits will be available to residents to share in the solar project’s benefits, which include electricity cost savings. To be completed at no cost to ESRT, the project will feature a new parking canopy solar array that will provide year-round elemental shelter for roughly 500 vehicles, an 8.2-MWh battery storage system, and approximately 80 electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations for tenant convenience.
“Companies look to ESRT to help them achieve critical sustainability goals which attract and retain employees who value environmental leadership and action,” said Anthony E. Malkin, ESRT chairman, president and CEO. “This project helps ESRT meet our sustainability objectives, contributes renewable power to our community, will help to attract tenants and benefit our shareholders.”
The project, which is set to produce more than double the building’s annual energy usage, is just another way that ESRT innovates to achieve its sustainability goals, which include a target of net-zero carbon emissions for its entire portfolio by 2035, the company said.
The inclusion of battery storage and electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations ensures reliable power for resilient service and the ability to support the increased demand of EV transportation at no additional cost to tenants. The project is among the first installations in the state to incorporate the innovative mix of community solar, storage, and EV charging.
ESRT will partner with PowerFlex, a provider of onsite renewable energy solutions, to complete this project. PowerFlex is a subsidiary of EDF Renewables North America, an independent power producer and service provider with 35 years of experience. This project was a part of NYSERDA’s NY-Sun Program, which supports the affordability and growth of solar energy implementation across the state.
