December 19, 2024
The Meadow ridge Continuous Care Pension Community (CCRC) in Redding, Connecticut, has flipped the switch on solar energy. The carport and rooftop solar installation will provide 897,700 kWh of electricity each year, accounting for more than 20% of the facility’s energy.
The project is the long-term vision of the resident-led Solar Committee of Meadow Ridge and broke ground in August with the support of the retirement community’s ownership and management company, Senior Care Development LLC and Benchmark Senior Living. The solar panels at Meadow Ridge will save an estimated $7.6 million in electricity costs over the life of the project.
“This is an exciting day on many levels,” said Brett Mehlman, Chief Operating Officer at Meadow Ridge. “We can all feel good about making this investment in the future of our community and our planet, while realizing immediate benefits. By 2025, we expect that more than 20% of the power we use in Meadow Ridge will be generated by solar energy.”
At a ceremony attended by state and local dignitaries, Mehlman and resident Susan Auslander symbolically energized the project by flipping a giant switch. Two of the project’s three solar panels are located atop carports above employee parking spaces. The third is on the roof of Ridge Crest, Meadow Ridge’s subacute rehabilitation and nursing center.
“I am so proud that we are leading by example at Meadow Ridge,” said Auslander, who has been called the “Green Grandma” for her work leading the Solar Committee and her advocacy for the project. “It took both a shared vision and courage from the residents, ownership and management of Meadow Ridge to bring this project to life. I would also like to thank all the partners who helped make this possible.”
The project was designed and built by West Hartford-based Verogy, a solar developer focused on developing, constructing and owning commercial, industrial and small utility-scale projects.
“It was a pleasure to work with the Meadow Ridge community to bring this solar project to life,” said William Herchel, CEO of Verogy. “This system not only reflects Meadow Ridge’s commitment to sustainability, but also highlights what can be accomplished when committed individuals come together with a shared purpose. At Verogy, we are honored to play a role in helping Meadow Ridge residents reduce their carbon footprint while inspiring others to embrace clean energy.”
The project at the retirement community was funded through a combination of zero-emission renewable energy credits (ZRECS) through Eversource, investment tax credits and a commercial real estate assessed clean energy loan (CPACE) from the Connecticut Green Bank.
“At the Connecticut Green Bank, we are excited to see all the projects that support our state’s green economy become a reality,” said Bryan Garcia, president and CEO of the Green Bank. “This project is a special source of inspiration because it matches our vision: a planet protected by the love of humanity. It shows the heart behind the project and the collective effort of management, the installer and most importantly the residents who are a driving force behind this community improvement that will benefit Meadow Ridge for years to come. Congratulations to everyone who made this possible.”
Keywords: commercial and industrial
