$11.35 Million USD; 5.9 MW Manlius Solar Project Completed by PowerBank Hosts New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for an Exclusive Tour – PR Newswire

Project Report: Manlius Community Solar Initiative

Executive Summary

This report details the completion of the 5.9 MW Manlius community solar project in Upstate New York by PowerBank Corporation. The USD$11.35 million project, developed for Solar Advocate Development LLC, repurposes a former landfill and makes significant contributions to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The facility now provides clean, affordable energy to the local community, aligning with global sustainability targets.

Project Overview and Development

Site Tour and Collaboration

PowerBank Corporation recently hosted members of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Hub for a comprehensive tour of the active project site. The event included a detailed overview of the project’s lifecycle and a Q&A session with PowerBank’s Chief Operating Officer.

Development Process

The project’s development followed a structured process to ensure successful implementation:

1. Permitting and regulatory approval acquisition.
2. Site redevelopment, involving the repurposing of a closed landfill.
3. Construction and installation of the 5.9 MW solar array.
4. Connection to the local electricity grid and commencement of operations.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• The 5.9 MW facility generates sufficient clean electricity to power approximately 737 homes annually, ensuring access to modern and reliable energy.
• Through its community solar model, the project provides subscribers with a reduced cost per kW/hour compared to standard utility rates, directly enhancing energy affordability.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The project advances urban sustainability by productively repurposing a closed landfill, a form of brownfield redevelopment that revitalizes underutilized land.
• It provides inclusive and equitable access to clean energy for community members, including renters and homeowners, contributing to more resilient and sustainable local infrastructure.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• By generating 100% renewable solar power, the project directly displaces energy from fossil fuel sources, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to urgent climate action.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• The USD$11.35 million investment represents a significant development in building resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure.
• The project showcases an innovative approach to distributed energy generation and sustainable land use.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The project is a result of a successful public-private partnership between PowerBank Corporation, Solar Advocate Development LLC, and NYSERDA.
• It operates with incentives from the NYSERDA NY-Sun Program, demonstrating effective collaboration to achieve state and global clean energy targets.

Corporate Capacity and Future Outlook

PowerBank Corporation Profile

• PowerBank Corporation has a proven record of accomplishment, with over 100 MW of completed renewable and clean energy projects.
• The company maintains a substantial development pipeline exceeding 1 GW, indicating a long-term commitment to expanding clean energy infrastructure and advancing the SDGs across North America.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. The article highlights the “community solar” model, which allows “dozens or even hundreds of renters and homeowners” to access solar energy without installing panels on their homes. It explicitly states this model “allows homeowners to realize a reduced cost per kW/hour,” directly addressing the goal of affordable energy.
   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The article focuses on a 5.9 MW solar project, which directly contributes to increasing the share of renewable energy in the local energy mix. The company’s larger pipeline of over 1 GW further supports this target on a broader scale.
   • Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology. The project represents a significant “$11.35 million” investment in clean energy infrastructure. The involvement of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) through its NY-Sun Program demonstrates a structured effort to promote and finance such projects.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and processes. The development of a 5.9 MW solar facility is a direct example of building modern, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure. It represents the adoption of a clean and environmentally sound technology (solar power) to meet energy needs.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article states that the project “repurposed a closed landfill.” This is a direct example of sustainable land use and waste management within a community, turning a potentially hazardous or unused site into a productive, clean asset.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The project receives incentives under the “NYSERDA NY-Sun Program.” This shows that the project is aligned with and supported by a state-level policy and strategy aimed at promoting renewable energy, which is a key measure for climate change mitigation.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Installed renewable energy capacity: The article explicitly states the project’s capacity is “5.9 MW.” It also mentions PowerBank has completed over “100 MW of completed projects” and has a development pipeline exceeding “1 GW.” This directly measures the increase in renewable energy infrastructure (relevant to SDGs 7, 9, and 13).
• Number of households with access to clean energy: The article specifies that “the project produced enough electricity to power approximately 737 homes.” This is a direct indicator of progress towards providing access to clean energy services (relevant to SDG 7).
• Financial investment in clean energy: The project cost is stated as “USD$11.35 million,” which serves as an indicator for financial flows into clean energy infrastructure (relevant to SDG 7).
• Sustainable land use: The fact that the project “repurposed a closed landfill” is a qualitative indicator of sustainable land management and waste site rehabilitation (relevant to SDG 11).
• Reduced energy cost for consumers: The article implies a measurable indicator by stating that the community solar model allows homeowners to “realize a reduced cost per kW/hour from the power they consume,” which measures the affordability of energy (relevant to SDG 7).

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: prnewswire.com