Robert Martin Partners with G&S Solar to Launch Largest Community Solar Initiative in County

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From left, front: John Faltings, President of G&S Solar; Abe Naparstek, Chief Operating Officer, G&S Solar; Greg Berger, President of Robert Martin Company. From left, back: David Katz, Senior Director, Renewable Energy, G&S Solar; Jeremy Frank, Vice President – Investments, Robert Martin Company; Damian Finley, Vice President – Construction and Development; Laurence Gottlieb, Managing Director – RMC Bio1, Robert Martin Company

Robert Martin Company (RMC), Westchester County’s largest commercial property owner, is embracing sustainable energy production and green technologies in a very big way.

The Elmsford-based company, which owns and manages more than 60 office, industrial, multifamily, and retail properties in Westchester and Fairfield counties, has launched a multi-faceted renewable energy program. The centerpiece of the program is a new partnership with G&S Solar – a national solar developer – resulting in the installation of Community Solar projects across RMC’s Westchester flex/industrial portfolio.

The Community Solar program relies on area non-profit Sustainable Westchester’s success in connecting these solar projects to local residents and small businesses owners who are interested in saving money by purchasing the solar-generated electricity within their utility service territory which encourages the development of solar facilities and helps New York State reach its ambitious climate sustainability goals.

Initial solar projects include installations at RMC’s 1.3 million square foot Cross-Westchester Executive Park in Elmsford and 770,000 square foot Mid-Westchester Executive Park in Hawthorne. “When all of the proposed solar projects are completed throughout Westchester County, it is estimated the installations will be capable of generating over 10 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power 1,700 homes” according to Robert Martin VP Jeremy Frank.

“Tackling climate change globally will require rethinking locally how, when and where we generate and distribute energy,” noted Robert Martin Company CEO Tim Jones. “It’s an ambitious undertaking, but for the past 60 years, the company’s formula for success has been putting the needs of the community first, knowing that the financial success will follow.”

In addition to the solar energy program, Robert Martin announced that it has recently completed the replacement of over 3,100 exterior and interior light fixtures across its portfolio with new energy-efficient LED fixtures. The LED lighting project is equally an energy- and cost-saving initiative. The new fixtures will save over 1,200,000 kWh/year of electricity, which translates to an annual energy cost savings to the company of approximately $240,000.

Robert Martin is collaborating in the solar development with G&S Solar, an owner/operator of solar facilities throughout the East Coast, and Sustainable Westchester, a nonprofit consortium of Westchester County local governments that facilitates effective collaboration on sustainability initiatives.

“We have developed hundreds of solar projects across the East Coast, but it is most gratifying that we are now rolling out a portfolio of projects in our backyard, Westchester County,” said G&S Solar President John Faltings.

Sustainable Westchester’s Director of Solar Programs, Nina Orville, added, “We are proud to help bring Community Solar to Westchester County. Community Solar makes the benefits of solar available to everyone and we are pleased to partner with G&S Solar and Robert Martin Company on this exciting project.”