Surfside resort’s solar project is biggest in LG Village
Resort invests nearly $500,000 in rooftop panels
The Surfside Resort in Lake George Village has installed a rooftop, solar power system, 417 panels large.
“It’s the biggest commercial PV project in the Lake George area,” said Dan Barusch, Director of Planning and Zoning for Lake George. PV is the abbreviation for photovoltaic solar which converts sunlight into electricity.
Brent McDevitt, president of National Commercial Solar Advisors, called the project at the 154-room resort a “landmark installation.”
“To our knowledge this is the first Solar PV install of any real size to occur at any resort, or business in Lake George,” McDevitt said in a press release.
Resort owner Salim Amersi invested close to $500,000 on the installation.
“It’s a statement to both our community and guests that Surfside on the Lake is environmentally conscious, reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to a sustainable future,” Amersi said.
Incentive rebates from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, tax benefits from federal tax and amortization credits make solar installation a good, viable investment, and incentives in the federal Inflation Reduction Act have been instrumental, both Amersi and McDevitt said.
The system can produce 200.16 kilowatts of electricity and is expected to produce over 240,000 kilowatt hours on an annual basis, or about 20% to 25% of the resort’s electrical use, McDevitt said..
Barusch described the permit process for solar as “pretty simple.” He and members of the Lake George Planning Board support a move toward solar energy and hope that other businesses follow Amersi’s lead. Thus far, Barusch has not heard from other commercial property owners on whether they will make the transition.
“There’s a few others out there with solar on the roof, like Dilligaf, Breakfast Spot,” at the intersection of Canada and Amherst streets, Barusch said, “but not as many as I’d like to see.”
Amersi said his investment will clear the path for other properties to do the same.
“Some people feel that solar cell photo panels are obtrusive and an eye sore, but it is only a question of time until we see them everywhere in the northeast, and will be part of all new construction for both business and residential homes,” Amersi said.
McDevitt said he has identified several candidates on Canada Street that could benefit from solar power due to the high use of electricity to operate those businesses.
In 2015, Amersi put $10 million into renovations.
“I have worked with hundreds of business owners now in my career. Salim sets the stage when it comes to understanding putting money back into one’s property,” McDevitt said.
The next step is to install two electric vehicle charging stations in coming months. As well, Surfside can may invest in battery storage, making the resort more independent from the power grid, which is beneficial in a currently volatile energy market, Amersi said.