Solar Consultant Wants To Work With Area Businesses

DANBURY — Seaboard Solar, LLC (formerly Solaire Development) has announced the grand re-opening of its headquarters in Danbury. According to Joseph Rio, a partner with the firm, the new name is one part of the overall reenvisioning of the company.

“We started this business in 2010 and the vast majority of our work has been in New Jersey. Today, with the Connecticut alternative energy initiative ready to place the state in the national solar spotlight, this is the perfect time to position our company here at home,” Mr Rio said in a release.

The company’s CEO, Stuart Longman, was the first person in Connecticut to receive a solar power grant in 2007 for his $8.5 million project on Shelter Rock Road in Danbury. A second project a few blocks away brought Mr Longman’s total solar production up to almost one megawatt, enough to power some 200 homes and effectively eliminate two million pounds of greenhouse gases from the environment every year of operation.

“The Connecticut energy bill focuses on commercial and industrial solar projects of one megawatt or less,” Mr Rio added.

Mr Rio noted that although the firm has been involved in much larger projects, renewable energy credits in Connecticut are only issued for the first megawatt of generating capacity. The challenge for companies will be navigating through the complex application and bidding process.

Seaboard Solar will concentrate its efforts on corporate and commercial installations. The company has recently hired five additional people as a result of the new legislation.

Mr Rio said that since state utilities do not purchase excess capacity generated by residential solar systems, the firm will not focus on that area.

“Individual homeowners will be able to use state issued loans to offset solar system installation costs,” Mr Rio said.

Contact Seaboard Solar at 203-648-4423 or learn more at seaboardsolar.com