McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP Works with Manhattanville College to Complete Innovative Solar Project

White Plains law firm McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP is pleased to announce the completion of a solar carport project at Manhattanville College in Purchase. Land use approvals for the innovative project were secured by Seth M. Mandelbaum, a partner at the firm who specializes in alternative energy projects.

Several of the campus parking lots at Manhattanville College are now covered with 3,600 solar panels that will provide 1.1 megawatts of sustainable, emissions-free electricity. With
the new solar panels, the college can source 20 percent of its electricity from renewable power. According to Mandelbaum, solar carports are attracting very strong interest among a wide variety of businesses and educational institutions, as well as other large-scale energy users.

“This project is a great example of how relatively easy and cost-effective it is to take advantage of already developed areas, such as parking lots that get maximum sunlight,” Mandelbaum said. “An added bonus is that these solar canopies provide welcome shady parking spots covered from precipitation.”

“We’ve been engaged in the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment since 2009 and we’ve reduced carbon by nearly 50 percent in that time,” said Greg Palmer, Vice President, Facilities and Operations, Manhattanville College. “With this project, along with other improved technology, such as re-lamping with LED bulbs, more efficient boilers, and energy efficient windows, we’re confident that we can reach our goal of carbon neutrality. This is a great project that will encourage our students and others to be more conscious of our sustainability imperative. It will assist both the college and our region in minimizing carbon impact and will be a source of pride to us all.”

Mandelbaum was able to shepherd the project through the approval process in the Town of Harrison in just four months. The Town Planning Board gave its unanimous approval to the carport plan in the Spring of 2016 and the installation began this summer.

While some solar systems are set up to sell electricity back to the grid, this one is self- contained and provides electrical power directly to campus dorms and classrooms.