GMDC

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GMDC
NYC NONPROFITS AND SOLAR NYC SOLAR SUMMIT JUNE
17, 2008
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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
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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.

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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

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SELECTING AND SCALING THE SYSTEM
Proposed 150 kW Array circa 2001
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SELECTING AND RESCALING THE SYSTEM
Final 59 kW Array circa 2002
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DIVIDING THE SYSTEM IN TWO
?
810 HUMBOLDT STREET 150 kW ? 115 kW ? 59 kW
1155 MANHATTAN AVE 56 kW
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INSTALLATION AT HUMBOLDT

• New electrical panel and redistribution of tenant
  service

• Reverse power relay
• required 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
REVERSE RELAY
INVERTER/TRANSFORMER/SWITCHES
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HUMBOLDT STREET PV PERFORMANCE
ANNUAL OUTPUT
WEEKLY OUTPUT
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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

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PROJECT BUDGET
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PAYBACK
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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.
• GMDCs nonprofit experience made us more
  comfortable with identifying and accessing
  available subsidies and low-cost debt than the
  average property owner would be.
• GMDCs model is more relevant to industrial
  landlords with multiple tenants than to large
  single-use owner-operators.

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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 its
  working.

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GMDC
NYC NONPROFITS AND SOLAR NYC SOLAR SUMMIT JUNE
17, 2008