MED still offers grants for solar power projects

MASSENA — The Massena Electric Department still has plenty of grant money left to offer 50-50 matches on solar projects in homes and businesses here, so the utility's board has decided to open up a second round of applications.

District residents who are interested in participating now have until March 30 to submit an application.

The New York Power Authority offered $125,000 in grant funding to each of the state's municipal electric utilities, including MED, to encourage small-scale solar power development in those communities. The funding will provide matching grants up to $40,000 toward the cost of installing a solar panel system as large as 10 kilowatts in size.

The Massena utility had solicited applications that originally were due Monday from residents and businesses hoping to participate in the grant program.

As of Monday, only three applications had been received — two from residential customers and one from a small business, all in the town of Massena. Those projects were approved for participation in the program during the Massena Electric Utility Board's meeting Wednesday.

But MED Superintendent Andrew J. McMahon said the three projects will use up only about $67,000 of the $125,000 NYPA has offered, leaving plenty of funding available for other participants. Some of the remaining money will help MED offset the cost of upgrading its infrastructure to be able to handle the additional solar generation, but a large portion of the unallocated $58,000 would be available for more grants, officials said.

"We're looking to open up a second round of applications to see if there is additional interest in the community," Mr. McMahon said.

If no other applications are submitted by the end of the month, MED may decide to use the money itself, to help add solar capacity in the district and to keep the funds in the community rather than let it go to waste.