Category Archives: Environment / Development

By Lisa Balschunat

National Commercial Solar Advisors Inc., with its office in Queensbury, is harnessing energy for businesses and residential properties in New York state, New Jersey and Vermont, and has its sights on Florida next, according to president and founder Brent McDevitt.

Established in 2019, the company has simplified the process of “going solar” for businesses, communities and public organizations by providing customers with a comprehensive proposal and package that makes the process seamless. With nine years of experience in the solar industry and previously aligned with Apex Solar, McDevitt said that he “knew the industry would pop” and wanted to be a part of it.

“When businesses invest in commercial solar energy they can significantly reduce their operating costs and potentially save tens of thousands of dollars over time,” McDevitt said. “This allows businesses to free up cash flow to use in other areas, and of course, utilize a green energy source that is good for the environment.”

Solar panels do not require any additional maintenance to a building or property and McDevitt stated that most systems are guaranteed for up to 25 years. 

“Businesses who invest in solar energy receive a 26 percent federal income tax credit and 100 percent bonus depreciation” he said.  The company offers customers looking to go solar with a total package of upfront services including a comprehensive proposal, site visit, design plans, state and federal application assistance through to a final contract.

“We’ve installed EV charging stations at The Sagamore Resort, The Inn at Erlowest, the Town of Queensbury, and at other hotels, resorts and bed and breakfasts in the Lake George region,” he said. “Right now, we are super proud to be working with our first five-star hotel, Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid, to establish commercial solar and EV Charging Stations there.

Stewart’s Shops is adding electric car battery charging statiuons across its many stores..

The company broke ground on its first NYPA EVolve Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Station on July 1 in Schodack. 

Officials said the chargers are powerful enough to provide a full charge to a electric vehicle in just 15 to 30 minutes.

The DC fast chargers have three kind of plugs to make sure an electric vehicle of choice can stop in and get a charge on the go. EVolve New York’s chargers are available to all non-Tesla electric vehicles.

Officials said  some charging stations will have a Tesla adapter. 

Stewart’s Shops currently has three Tesla supercharging stations throughout New York with plans to expand the program by installing two more by the end of 2021.

The Stewart’s Shops charging station in Schodack will be fully operational by September   and is just one of five EV charging stations that Stewart’s Shops plans to open by the end of the year.

The Schodack EV charging station is an extension of Stewart’s Shops current EV Charging program. As part of NYPA’s EVolve New York Clean Energy Initiative, they plan for other charging stations at Stewart’s Shops locations throughout New York state in Moreau, Latham, Keene and Clifton Park.

by Andrea Harwood Palmer

Glen Street Associates LLC is nearing completion on several projects in downtown Glens Falls.

Peter Hoffman, real estate developer and principal of Glen Street Associates LLC, with his wife Suzanne Hoffman,co-owner of the company, has been involved for several years in projects that involve renovation of older structures in the downtown area.

“It really is fun,” Hoffman said. “At my stage of life, I don’t want to build plywood buildings. I really love the restoration projects. When you get done and you see the vitality of the space—when you hear people say it’s fun to work in this space, with high ceilings, or post and beam, or brick walls—it becomes really gratifying.”

Hoffman said the renovation of the old Post Office building at 67 Warren St. is nearly complete. Historic features and the building’s character were preserved, while the infrastructure and utilities were thoroughly updated, he said.

When completed, the Social Security Administration will move into the ground floor. The second story of the building is currently occupied by Glen Street Associates, which relocated from its 100 Glen St. offices.

Hoffman purchased the building in 2011 for $150,000, from St. Mary’s Catholic Church located next door. The church was seeking permission to demolish the building when Hoffman learned of the plans and made an offer to purchase it.

Another project was the renovation of the former Red Cross building  at 74 Warren St. That is completed and  the space is rented. The ground floor is occupied by commercial tenants, while the second story is a  high- end residential apartment. The parking lot was recurbed and refinished with green space and new exterior lighting.

By Lisa Balschunat
When Atrium Properties of Clifton Park was awarded two town contracts, the company began working on the projects by incorporating new design techniques and technology that creates an efficient transfer of information,said Jacqueline Phillips Murray, a member of the Plank Road Centre LLC.
Rob Holbrook, president of V&H Construction, of Fort Edward, which built the new Common Roots Brewing Co. in South Glens Falls, agrees that new digital design techniques provide a field crew at the site with real-time changes they can pull up on a tablet, instead of waiting for a hard copy blueprint change as in earlier years.
“The change can be emailed to the project manager and the information can be given quickly to the guys at the site,” he said. “They can blow up a drawing or sketch and see the details on a tablet or smart phone easily … that was not possible Fyears ago with just a print.”

Expanding on its role in protecting Lake George from failing and aging septic and wastewater treatment systems, The FUND for Lake George unveiled a new basin-wide program dedicated to equipping and empowering property owners to ensure every private septic system in the basin is performing as needed to keep the Lake clean and healthy.
“One of the greatest threats to Lake George’s legendary water quality is the increasing levels of nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen escaping from failing and aging septic systems and treatment plants,” said Eric Siy, executive director of The FUND for Lake George.
“The increased nutrients pose a risk for the development of harmful algal blooms (HABs) like those that have devastated lake ecologies and economies across New York state and the country.”
The Safe Septic System Program features:
• A no-interest/low-interest loan program for septic system replacements in the Lake George basin in partnership with Adirondack Trust Co. and Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co.;
• The SafeSepticSystems.org website, an online guide to help homeowners ensure their systems are not harming the Lake.

The FUND for Lake George has presented nearly $500,000 in grants to seven organizations and municipalities to assist in their work to keep the lake clear and clean.

The FUND has now invested more than $7 million in Lake-protection initiatives since 2013.
“The FUND for Lake George not only advocates for the protection of this priceless natural resource, we act, with direct investments to secure the Lake’s signature water quality,” said Executive Director Eric Siy. “We are grateful to our many donors who make these grants possible by trusting us to invest in initiatives that make a sustaining difference for the Lake and our Lake-based economy.”

Officials said this year’s grants included:

• Science of Solutions Grant: $285,000 to The Jefferson Project—a landmark collaboration between IBM, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and The FUND — that has made Lake George “the world’s smartest lake” through the deployment of a highly advanced environmental monitoring system in the water and throughout the watershed.

• Invasive Species Grant: $90,000 to the Lake George Park Commission for aquatic invasive species prevention and milfoil removal initiatives.

by Christine Graf
Lehigh Cement Co. LLC in Glens Falls received state approval in July for a modification to its state air emissions permit.
The company said it allows them to begin using an alternative fuel in addition to natural gas and coal.

The application was submitted in November to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to company spokesman John Brodt, “We had asked for a modification to our state air emissions permit that would allow us to begin using an alternative fuel in addition to our current fuel sources which are natural gas and coal. This is fuel that is used to fuel our cement kiln to produce our product. We have the ability to burn either one of those fuels or both at the same time. We make our selections based on cost, market price, and availability.”