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Emergency Healthcare Agency Harnesses Solar Energy; Powers 20% of Its Electricity Needs

Posted on: Wednesday, 20 July 2005, 15:00 CDT

NEPTUNE, N.J., July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- MONOC, the largest emergency medical services agency in New Jersey, has flipped the switch on a 119- kilowatt solar energy system that will generate about 20 percent of its electricity needs and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment.

MONOC, the Monmouth Ocean Hospital Service Corporation, is believed to be the only major healthcare organization in the state to invest in such a renewable energy system. MONOC provides ambulance and paramedic services for more than 100 municipalities in New Jersey, as well as medical and specialty care transport programs for over 20 hospitals in the state.

For Vince Robbins, chief executive officer of MONOC, it was a natural next step in his personal and professional commitment to improving the environment.

"Our business is healthcare. Besides helping people in emergencies, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to contribute to the health of our residents by reducing man-made pollution," said Robbins, who has led MONOC since 1990.

The roof-mounted solar energy system at the Wall Township headquarters was designed and installed by Dome-Tech Solar of Edison, a leading company providing solar energy solutions to businesses and corporations. The solar panels are supplied by RWE Schott Solar.

Tom Kuster, president of Dome-Tech Solar, said more than 700 solar panels were installed on the roof of the MONOC building to produce 119 kilowatts of energy. On a sunny summer day, solar energy could generate as much as 20 percent of the electricity needed to run the building, which is in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Solar power is a renewable and clean energy source," said Kuster. "There are enormous benefits to installing and using solar energy, both from the tangible cost savings on a company's electric bill and the intangible but tremendously positive commitment to the environment today and for the future."

In addition to these benefits, Kuster cites the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program, which also encourages and supports solar energy usage with a number of financial incentives and technical support. The Clean Energy Program offers rebates to defray up to 60 percent of the initial cost of a solar energy system. Once the system is up and running, the Clean Energy Program also supports the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs): clean energy credits that can be sold to electricity suppliers in New Jersey that need to invest in a minimum amount of solar energy to comply with New Jersey's Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS).

Solar energy is just the latest project for Robbins, a long-time environmentalist. He has always encouraged MONOC employees to use as little paper as possible at work. Visitors will find no paper plates or paper cups in the company cafeteria. At home, Robbins and his wife eat vegetables raised in their organic garden, and recycle household waste in four different bins. They are also investigating adding to the solar panels they installed on their home in 2004.

When Robbins approached his board of directors with the request for a solar energy system for the building, he says they readily agreed, knowing that the project was completely worthwhile, and that the CEO would not give up on it.

MONOC is the largest agency providing emergency medical services and medical transport services in New Jersey. The organization serves more than 4.3 million residents along 2,500 miles of New Jersey's northern, central and southern shore. MONOC employs more than 850 people, and responded to nearly 130,000 requests from emergency and medical transport services in 2004. More information on MONOC is available at http://www.monoc.org/.

Dome-Tech Solar is a premier provider of solar energy systems serving commercial, institutional and industrial businesses, and is the largest North American integrator of RWE Schott Solar panels and mounting hardware. Dome- Tech Solar is managing numerous solar installations across the tri-state area, including the largest ground-mounted solar installation in the state for New Jersey American Water in Somerset, NJ. Founded in 2004, Dome-Tech Solar specializes in analysis, design, engineering, development, financing and implementation of solar photovoltaic systems. Visit http://www.dome-techsolar.com/ for more information.

Note: Photos are available upon request.

Dome-Tech Solar

CONTACT: Maggie Landis, +1-609-452-8500 x 101,mlandis@princetonpartners.com, or Rita Manno, +1-609-452-8500 x 115,rmanno@princetonpartners.com, both for Dome-Tech Solar

Web site: http://www.monoc.org/

Web site: http://www.dome-techsolar.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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