The Meadow Ridge continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Redding, Connecticut, has flipped the switch on solar. The carport and rooftop solar installation will supply 897,700 kWh of electricity each year, providing more than 20% of the facility’s energy.
The project is the long-time vision of Meadow Ridge’s resident-led Solar Committee and broke ground in August with the support of the retirement community’s ownership and management company, Senior Care Development LLC and Benchmark Senior Living. The solar arrays at Meadow Ridge will save an estimated $7.6 million in electricity costs over the life of the project.
“This is an exciting day on many levels,” said Brett Mehlman, chief operating officer at Meadow Ridge. “We can all feel good that we are making this investment in the future of our community and our planet while realizing immediate benefits. In 2025, we expect that over 20% of the power we use at Meadow Ridge will be generated by solar.”
In a ceremony attended by state and local dignitaries, Mehlman and resident Susan Auslander symbolically energized the project by flipping a giant switch. Two of the project’s three solar arrays are on top of carports over employee parking areas. The third is on the roof of Ridge Crest, Meadow Ridge’s sub-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing center.
“I’m so proud that we are leading by example at Meadow Ridge,” said Auslander, who has been dubbed the “Green Granny” for her work leading the Solar Committee and advocating for the project. “It took both shared vision and courage for the residents, ownership and management of Meadow Ridge to bring this project to life. I’d also like to thank all of the partners who helped make this happen.”
The project was designed and built by West Hartford-based Verogy, a solar developer focused on developing, constructing, and owning commercial, industrial, and small utility-scale projects.
“It has been a pleasure to work with the Meadow Ridge community to bring this solar energy project to life,” said William Herchel, CEO of Verogy. “This system not only reflects Meadow Ridge’s dedication to sustainability but also highlights what can be achieved when committed individuals come together with a shared purpose. At Verogy, we are honored to play a role in helping Meadow Ridge’s residents reduce their environmental footprint as they inspire others to embrace clean energy.”
The project at the retirement community was financed through a combination of zero-emission renewable energy credits (ZRECS) through Eversource, investment tax credits, and a commercial property-assessed clean energy (CPACE) loan from the Connecticut Green Bank.
“At the Connecticut Green Bank, we are excited to see all projects that support our state’s green economy become reality,” said Bryan Garcia, president and CEO of the Green Bank. “This project is a special inspiration because it connects to our vision statement: a planet protected by the love of humanity. It shows the heart behind the project and the combined effort from the management, the installer, and especially the residents who are a driving force for this community improvement that will benefit Meadow Ridge for years to come. Congratulations to all who made this happen.”
Tags: commercial and industrial
