Lewisboro's Onatru Farm Park shines with new solar array

SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - A new solar roof project at Lewisboro’s Onatru Farm Park was completed last week, thanks to a $100,000 state grant secured by Sen. Pete Harckham. Installed on the park’s main building, the 36-panel solar array is expected to generate more than 23,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually—enough to meet all of the park’s energy needs and save the town approximately $6,000 a year.

“Moving to solar power is a smart, strategic economic decision,” Harckham said. “Solar energy reduces monthly utility bills and saves money for ratepayers - and taxpayers. It is well-known that a kilowatt of solar energy costs less to produce than a kilowatt of energy created from natural gas combustion or nuclear fission. The more we add solar to our mix, the more downward pressure there will be on energy costs. Plus, solar is the fastest to scale for use and meet rising energy demand. I congratulate Supervisor Gonçalves and the Lewisboro Town Board on the completion of this solar roof project, a practical, cost-effective solution that is focused on a more sustainable future.”

With the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) grant funding secured by Harckham, along with a federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) incentive, the Town of Lewisboro is expected to save approximately $180,000 over the life of the solar array.

Lewisboro Supervisor Tony Gonçalves said, “This new solar installation at Onatru Park is an important milestone for our town—a tangible investment in clean energy that will help reduce our carbon footprint, lower energy costs, and demonstrate what a municipality can accomplish when we make sustainability a priority.”

“At a higher level,” continued Gonçalves, “we’re committed to working toward cleaner air, a healthier community, greater energy independence, good-paying jobs and an opportunity to reduce energy costs over the long term. Senator Harckham has reflected all of this in his work, and we’re happy to thank him for his support and ensuring this wonderful new addition to our beloved town park.”

Onatru Farm Park was donated to the Town of Lewisboro for open space and recreational use by Alice Lane Poor, a longtime local civic leader whose father, Edward Lane, owned the property. The park preserves and honors the rural and natural character of the area while providing playing fields for baseball, soccer, lacrosse and other sports, as well as tennis courts. The original farmhouse on the property is the site of the annual Lewisboro Library Fair and home to the town’s Parks & Recreation Department.

Robert Fischman, founding principal at Sustainable Promise, said, “On behalf of the Town of Lewisboro Sustainability Committee, we are grateful for the support of Sen Harckham offered through the CREST grant. The solar array that has just been turned on will generate more than 30,000 kilowatts a year and save the Town approximately 6,000 in electric bills.”

Rafael Polanco, project manager at Accord Power, said, “It was a pleasure working with the Town of Lewisboro to bring benefit to this public works and participate in the development of solar in Westchester County. We’d like to thank the Town of Lewisboro and Senator Harckham for this opportunity, plus special thanks to Robert Fishman.”

The project was funded through the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability, and Technology (CREST) program. Harckham has secured more than $40 million in capital grants for towns, cities and villages across Senate District 40 through CREST, the Local Community Assistance Program (LOCAP) and State Aid to Municipalities (SAM) grants since taking office in 2019.

Article courtesy of the Office of Senator Pete Harckham.