Contracting in solar work yields savings for state An idea a few years ago to tap a resource that’s nothing new under the sun has blossomed into potentially great green savings for state parks. And, CSEA members have a key role in making it happen. State Director of Energy and Sustainability Management Mike Wise had a notion three and a half years ago to use solar energy as an alternate way of powering state parks after an initiative to be more energy efficient in state agencies was introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo and supported by Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey. After receiving an expensive quote of $200,000 from a private contractor for a relatively small job, it became clear to him that outsourcing the work may not be the answer. CSEA member Sam Mattina and co-worker Vince Iacovitti, electricians at Niagara State Park, were asked their thoughts. They agreed that keeping the project in-house or “contracting in” seemed more logical. How best to handle additional work and its necessary training while still maintaining the park was the challenge, but CSEA members got the job done, saving the state an estimated $133,000, plus yet-to-be realized energy costs. This story is a perfect example of how good labor-management relations leads to huge savings for New York state. “CSEA members are 100 percent the driving force of this program,” Wise said. Wise said the program now aims to eventually make as many state parks energy neutral as possible, which means reduced electrical costs to the parks and a surplus of power added to the grid. Most recently, CSEA members received recognition for installing an impressive 50-kilowatt solar panel array at Fort Niagara, the largest state employee installation yet. The system powers the entire building where it is installed and sends electricity to other parts of the park such as the pool, pumps and bathrooms. “I feel privileged to be doing this groundbreaking work. We proved it can be done and it feels great to know they trust in us and have faith in us to train us. I love the opportunity to learn,” said Mattina, an electrician who is now a NYSERDA approved solar installer. Mattina said he is excited knowing that the state has invested in him and his co-workers and it is an example of how it should be done. Twenty CSEA maintenance employees from across the state trained via a custom program designed for them by Alfred State College, condensing an entire semester of solar installation course work into one week and delivering the training on location at Letchworth State Park. The state park system now has 20 certified solar installers (generates electricity) and 24 certified thermal solar installers (generates energy to heat water) on staff as public employees — all CSEA members. “It was an opportunity for us to become part of something that is going to be here for a long time. Solar is the way of the future,” said Mattina. Huge savings “I never thought that this would be that big of a deal. I knew solar was a big and upcoming thing but not until the array we installed at the Discovery Center (Niagara Falls) powering the entire building, did I realize the impact this would have. We were fortunate to have a good relationship with management,” said General Mechanic Tim Ross, at Beaver Island State Park. “As each panel went down and each day followed we were more excited for the future because we started to see the growth and realize this program was going to take off,” Ross said. In fact, the next project is 10 times the largest solar array that has been installed yet. On Long Island at the Robert Moses Park, CSEA members are poised to install a 500 kilowatt solar panel array in June, which will make the park completely energy neutral. From left, CSEA Niagara Frontier Parks and Recreation Local members Mike Horne and Jim Gifford with a small section of a solar power system they helped install at Fort Niagara recently. Photo by John Normile. “This is a fantastic example of what can happen when labor and management work as a team. I am proud of these CSEA members who sacrificed a lot of time and energy for the good of us all,” said Western Region President Flo Tripi. “Every solar project we have coming out of New York state was born out of the conversation with two Niagara Falls electricians. Now we have some of the best solar installers in the entire state — private or public,” said Wise. “Everyone is excited. We are getting awards and CSEA members are not only doing this green, climate protective work but also saving the state at ton of money.” — Jill Asencio See related stories, pages 7 and 8. June 2015 The Work Force 9
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