1656f109277d48e4e95b8d9d9e0ab85d.jpg

CRANBURY: SolarCity brings new location to Cranbury

David Kilby, Managing Editor
   CRANBURY — Rep. Rush Holt, Sen. Linda Greenstein, Assemblyman Dan Benson and Cranbury Committeeman Glenn Johnson gave words of gratitude and commendation to SolarCity at the grand opening of its first New Jersey facility in Cranbury on Wednesday.
   SolarCity is a unique company in that it provides sales, installation and financing of solar panels for residences and commercial buildings. The new facility on Corporate Drive will bring 12 new jobs to the area.
   Residents can have their solar panels installed for free and save money on their electric bill by installing the panels. Through SolarCity, they would pay for their solar power by the month.
   SolarCity constantly monitors the residents’ system and maintenance costs, including inverter replacements, are free.
   The installed panels would not power an entire house, so residents would still pay two energy bills – one from SolarCity and one from their utility company.
   ”If you need 100 watts of power, (with solar panels) you will only need 50 watts from your utility company,” said Tim Grahl, SolarCity regional sales manager. “We install a system for free and you pay for the power at a price lower than you’d pay for utility.”
   Leon Keshishian, SolarCity regional director, said the demands for solar power in south and central New Jersey are what made SolarCity decide to open a facility in Cranbury. The company has already been installing systems in New Jersey since last March.
   ”Solar is no longer a novelty for New Jersey,” Congressman Holt said. “We recognize this is one of the important energy paths we’ll be following as a country and as a world. We’re pleased that the policies set here in the state gave us a head start. We’ve done a lot here in this state that should make this very fertile ground for a company like yours.
   ”I think you’ll like working in New Jersey. We look forward to the good that you’re doing for the environment and for consumers.”
   Sen. Greenstein said, “I’ve had the privilege to be a part of the Environmental Energy Committee on the State Senate, and we’ve been working to support companies like yours. We’re so glad to have you and all these workers here. I think you’ll enjoy working here in New Jersey. It seems we’ll continue to move in this direction.”
   ”SolarCity is going to become a great part of Central Jersey,” Assemblyman Benson said. “Some people may say why are you here, and I say location, location, location. Demand is here, the policies are right, and we have the workforce to make it happen.”
   He said about 13,000 solar panel systems have been installed in New Jersey, and he said he believes New Jersey is number one when it comes to solar power policy.
   Those who have solar power can receive solar renewal energy credits, which have intrinsic value and can be sold to utility companies, Mr. Grahl said.
   ”It’s exciting for us when a new business comes to Cranbury,” Committeeman Johnson said. “And it’s especially gratifying to have a business like SolarCity with us. While we’re standing in a small town in the middle of New Jersey, what you folks do kind of gives us a picture of America’s energy future. Cleaner energy is better for the environment and the people. I wish for SolarCity to give us a lot of good, clean energy, and give your investors a lot of good profits. Welcome to Cranbury.”
   ”This is a great time for us,” Mr. Keshishian said. “We’re moving very fast. A few weeks from now you’ll see a dozen or more trucks here.”
   Panels will be loaded into the trucks and delivered to the site where they will be installed.
   SolarCity offers Yingli and Kyocera solar panels and covers the sales, engineering and installation for residences and commercial properties. SolarCity also has clients in the government and nonprofit sectors.
   All of their solar power systems have a SolarGuard monitoring service that tracks how much energy the system is producing.
   The solar panels, or modules, are made with photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into direct current electricity. The electricity from the panels is then sent to an inverter where it is turned into standard alternating electricity, and that electricity then travels from the inverter to the building’s electrical cabinet, reads a SolarCity brochure.
   Any excess power a solar power system generates during the day flows back to the utility grid. Utility companies will then pay or credit the owner, reducing his or her electric bill.
   SolarCity’s 26 operations centers serve Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.
   SolarCity offers free consultation. For information call 888-765-2489 or visit solarcity.com.