GMDCNYC NONPROFITS AND SOLAR

NYC SOLAR SUMMIT | JUNE 17, 2008

GREENPOINT MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN CENTER

The Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design

Center is a 15-year-old nonprofit organization

dedicated to the preservation and creation of blue collar

jobs for low-income New Yorkers. To date, it has

renovated more than 700,000 square feet of space for small

manufacturers, artisans and artists. GMDC is currently

near completion on an $18 Million project at 221

McKibbin Street, a 72,000 SF industrial rehab that utilizes

New Markets and Historic Tax Credits.

221 McKibbin Street

GENESIS OF THE IDEA

•Nonprofits function as entrepreneurial risk-takers that can create replicable models for public and private sectors to emulate.

•Ample rooftop space on manufacturing buildings throughout the 5 boroughs.

•Potential insurance policy for GMDC tenants against electrical rate fluctuations.

•In 1999, GMDC thought 810 Humboldt Street would be a food production facility with heavy electrical loads.

810 HUMBOLDT STREET

•80,000 SF Industrial Bldg

•13 units ranging in size from 1,000 SF to 20,000 SF

•Predominantly woodworkers

•Irregular electrical load: little use on Sundays

•2 separate electrical services

SELECTING AND SCALING THE SYSTEM

Proposed 150 kW Array circa 2001

SELECTING AND RESCALING THE SYSTEM

Final 59 kW Array circa 2002

DIVIDING THE SYSTEM IN TWO

810 HUMBOLDT STREET

150 kW 115 kW 59 kW

1155 MANHATTAN AVE

56 kW

INSTALLATION AT HUMBOLDT

•Reverse power relayrequired by Con Edison

•Experimental zinc bromine battery storage modules installed

•Required approval from the NYC Bureau of Electrical Control

•Panels in place: 2002

•System activation: 2004

•Battery removal: 2006

•PV Surface Area: 5,900 SF

•New electrical panel and redistribution of tenant service

NEW ELECTRICAL PANEL

REVERSE RELAY

INVERTER/TRANSFORMER/SWITCHES

HUMBOLDT STREET PV PERFORMANCE

ANNUAL OUTPUT WEEKLY OUTPUT

1155 MANHATTAN AVENUE

•300,000 SF Industrial Bldg

•70 units ranging in size from 1000 SF to 20,000 SF

•Light industrial and artisanal tenants

•Very heavy and continuous electrical load

•56 kW PV installation: roughly 8% of building load

•No reverse relay

•System installed: 2005-2006

•PV Surface Area: 5,600 SF

PROJECT BUDGET

UsesHUMBOLDT:59 kW PowerGuard System/installation 319,229$ Battery 117,600$ Building Signage/outreach 5,000$

Humboldt Sub-Total 441,829$

MANHATTAN AVENUE:56 kW PowerGuard System/installation/publicity package 441,024$ Building Signage/outreach 5,000$

Manhattan Ave Sub-Total 446,024$

Total Uses 887,853$

Total kW 115

SourcesHUMBOLDT:GMDCEnergy Smart Loan Fund Enhanced Debt 149,229$ Clean Air Communities 175,000$ NYSERDA High Value PV 117,600$

Humboldt Sub-Total 441,829$

MANHATTAN AVE:Energy Smart Loan Fund Enhnaced Debt 138,624$ Clean Air Communities 125,000$ NYSERDA Sustainable PV Markets 182,400$

Manhattan Ave Sub-Total 446,024$

Total Sources 887,853$

Development Sources and UsesPhotovoltaic System

GMDC

PAYBACK

Humboldt ManhattanEst. Annual kWh Produced 32000 61000Est. kWh Rate 0.15 0.15Total kWh Income 4,800$ 9,150$ KW Reduced Annually 150 360Est. Demand Rate 20 20Total KW Income 3,000$ 7,200$ Total Income 7,800$ 16,350$ Total Equity Portion 149,229$ 138,624$ Basic Pay-Back Calculation 19.13 8.48

Payback AnalysisPhotovoltaic System

ISSUES WITH REPLICABILITY OF MODEL

•GMDC paved the way for larger commercial PV systems in NYC on a technical and logistical level, but less so on a financial level.

•GMDC had trouble taking advantage of tax credits as a nonprofit, as syndication/investment structures require restructuring of property ownership.

•GMDC’s nonprofit experience made us more comfortable with identifying and accessing available subsidies and low-cost debt than the average property owner would be.

•GMDC’s model is more relevant to industrial landlords with multiple tenants than to large single-use owner-operators.

LESSONS LEARNED

•Need to look carefully at load issues: hard to scale system without a lot of data.

•After you scale the system to the load, reduce it further. No net metering means wasted power if the system is too big.

•Avoid reverse power relays if you can.

•Avoid experimental technologies.

•Work out a clear strategy for data collection and billing in advance.

•Assume many delays.

•Assume unforeseen expenses: utility charges, electrical work, etc.

•Weigh PV product options based on your building and roof conditions.

•Check your system often to make sure it’s working.

GMDCNYC NONPROFITS AND SOLAR

NYC SOLAR SUMMIT | JUNE 17, 2008