We are proud to welcome Norwich Solar Technologies as a Local First Promoter Sponsor! The White River Junction-based renewable energy company provides end-to-end solar solutions to businesses in Vermont, New Hampshire, and throughout New England. Norwich Solar Technologies (NST) supports local job creation, increased energy independence, and reduced pollution while following socially responsible business practices and is commitment to our community.
One example of NST’s commitment to community is their Community Impact Fund. The fund allows local investors to own community solar projects that expand participation to low-income residents, nonprofits, and start-up businesses while allowing investors to use their tax liability to make positive economic and environmental returns. The fund links mission-minded investors with high-impact projects that make the Upper Valley stronger.
The type of projects that the Community Impact Fund targets are projects that can generate broad benefits to the community such as economic development and greenhouse gas reduction. The fund has a 2019 target to finance $2.5M of non-traditional ventures, primarily focused on solar projects that can significantly lower electric bills of these underserved communities. While the fund is primarily focused on solar projects in 2019, the longer-term goal is addressing the “energy burden” transportation and housing put on low-income individuals and our environment. Low-income households suffer a disproportionate energy burden, defined as the percentage of gross household income spent on energy costs.
Since launching in December 2018, the fund has completed three projects serving a low-income community, an environmental nonprofit, and a human services nonprofit. Collectively, these initial projects will save their beneficiaries an estimated $600,000 over their lifetime and eliminate 950 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, two more projects are underway to serve additional low-income households and a local new business startup.
Read more about NST Community Impact Fund projects:
NST is also working with local schools, including projects with the Hartford Schools, Thetford Elementary School, Bradford Elementary School, Newbury Elementary School, Oxbow High School and River Bend Tech Center, the Mountain School, Plainfield Elementary School, Dublin School, KUA, and Cardigan Mountain. Norwich Solar provides more than solar installations at schools, they engage with the faculty and students to enrich STEM curriculum. They have built and provided hands-on interactive displays, taught classes, provided support to teachers with curricula materials, and given student assembly talks. Data from solar PV arrays can be readily integrated into the educational curriculum, and are easily coordinated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics initiatives.
NST is a member of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and proudly supports the following nonprofits with time and sponsorships: CHAD (Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth), Alzheimer Society, Norwich Historical Society, Vermont Public Radio, New Hampshire Public Radio, Vital Communities, and Upper Valley Aquatic Center.
Norwich Solar Technologies was founded in 2011 with a vision of developing and commercializing leading-edge innovations in Clean Technology to advance the integration and deployment of affordable Solar Power to help New England companies improve their Triple Bottom Line (financial, social and environmental goals). The reason is clear: today’s business leaders know that investing in clean energy creates good jobs, increases competitiveness, and is better for the environment. Norwich Solar Technologies provides companies with turnkey services as a trusted, long-term clean energy partner giving commercial and industrial customers Development, Design, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Power Purchase Agreements, Structured Financial Solutions, and Long-Term Operations and Maintenance services to help them meet their goals. Clients include schools, nonprofits, municipalities, commercial & industrial enterprises, farms, small businesses, and residential clients. Learn more about Norwich Solar Technologies here.
