As covered by Market Watch on February 15 2012.

MASPETH, NY— February 7, 2012 — Eldorado Coffee Roasters proudly announces the commissioning of a 240.24 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic PV system at its worldwide headquarters in Maspeth, Queens. The solar array will produce in excess of 280,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy annually, enough to satisfy the entire facility’s yearly demand for electricity. By choosing solar energy for its consumption, Eldorado Coffee Roasters becomes “the only green coffee roaster in New York City.” Andres Martin, the firm’s VP, says Eldorado Coffee Roasters is always seeking better ways to roast and pack “the finest coffees in the world,” and the solar project will be the “perfect fit” for its green initiative. Eldorado’s solar system will eliminate more than 500,000 lbs of CO2, 500 lbs of NOx and 2000 lbs of SO2 emissions from the air annually. “We will be much more energy efficient and be able to fulfill our commitment to the world and its environment,” said Martin.

The project was engineered, constructed, and financed by Solar Energy Systems (SES), one of NYC’s premier solar integrators. Headquartered in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, SES will operate and maintain the system, selling the solar kWh generation to Eldorado at a discounted rate via a power purchase agreement (PPA). David Buckner, President of SES, says “Eldorado continues to be a great partner in helping SES launch its first solar PPA in New York City. Its commitment to deliver a more environmentally responsible product has been the driving force behind the whole project. With funding provided by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), combined with federal, state and local tax incentives, the project is also a financial winner.”

To finance the project, SES obtained Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds through NYSERDA, and a federal tax incentive. “By investing in solar energy, the State is not only able to drive down the cost of doing business for Eldorado Coffee Roasters, but also helping to improve power reliability in New York City by reducing demand on the electric grid,” said Francis J. Murray Jr, President and CEO of NYSERDA. “The public-private partnership in these renewable energy projects is a critical component to New York meeting its renewable energy goals.”

About Eldorado Coffee Roasters

Founded in 1980, Eldorado Coffee Roasters is a full-line vertical coffee roasting firm.  From its large-volume capacity roasting plant in Maspeth, Queens, it roasts and packs for several hundred coffee services, food and vending services, and food distributors in 42 states.  Locally, Eldorado services tristate area restaurants, delis and supermarkets with its Eldorado-branded coffee products.

The money was awarded to solar installers, solar developers and real estate owners, including Solar Energy Systems, LLC (SES) of Brooklyn, NY. David Buckner, president of SES, says “SES has received a substantial financial commitment with this award that is now available for some of our projects currently under contract as well as for a few upcoming opportunities that will benefit from this funding.  NYSERDA and the PSC are making it possible for companies like SES to continue to grow and expand the clean tech sector of NY State.”

Potential projects include a wide variety of businesses, all of which are major consumers of electricity -- department stores, discount stores, apartment complexes, Postal Service distribution centers and other sites in New York City and the Hudson Valley. 

"The enthusiastic response to our solicitation confirms the important contribution that solar technology can play in addressing the energy, environmental, and reliability needs of the metropolitan New York City area," said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA.  "The success of this program is another example of New York's leadership in supporting investment in a wide range of renewable energy technologies."

Garry Brown, Chairman of the state Public Service Commission, said: "We are very excited about promoting the growth of solar energy in New York City and the surrounding region. Developing renewable energy resources is a primary goal of the Commission. Programs that encourage renewable energy development will help ensure a cleaner environment and will enable us to take command of our energy future."

In mid-2011, NYSERDA launched the $150 million RPS Customer-Sited Tier Regional Program encouraging large businesses, especially manufacturing facilities; colleges and universities; schools; and other large buildings to take advantage of renewable energy incentives specifically for New York City and the lower Hudson Valley. The incentives are for large-scale photovoltaic and biogas power initiatives, selected through a competitive process. The NYSERDA incentive pays up to 50 percent of the cost of a project, up to $3 million.

NYSERDA will award up to $30 million each year, of which $25 million is targeted for New York City or Westchester County and $5 million is for the Hudson Valley region. The goal is to promote more clean-energy production in a part of the state that traditionally has been a large consumer of fossil fuels. The projects are meant to produce power for on-site use, not for direct sale to utilities. Under certain circumstances, however, unused power can be added to the grid in exchange for future utility credit.

The program is funded under the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The RPS, created by the state Public Service Commission in 2004 to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, is administered by NYSERDA using a surcharge collected from ratepayers served by investor-owned utility companies. The funds help pay for more than a thousand clean-energy projects every year, ranging from large-scale wind farms to photovoltaic panels on private homes.

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.  NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. (TSI) announced the launch of its new ‘EcoSteps’ initiative, a fully integrated sustainability program. This industry- leading program will bring innovative processes, practices and solutions to TSI’s entire club network.

“A healthy planet means healthy living for all of us, which is why we’ve made a company-wide commitment to lessening TSI’s impact on the environment,” said COO Martin Annese. “EcoSteps is a natural extension of our company’s mission to improve health and fitness. More efficient, more environmentally sustainable clubs will give our members better opportunities to work toward both a healthier body and planet.”

TSI is committing to ambitious goals with its EcoSteps initiative. The company aims to reduce energy usage by 20 %, water usage by 5% and recyclable waste by 75% over the next 3 years. This long-term program, which TSI will be working on closely with community leaders and sustainability experts, will educate employees and members about how they can participate to help achieve these goals.