Bus Company in New Windsor, NY Goes Solar
Leprechaun Bus Lines is a third-generation, family-owned transportation company in New Windsor, NY. Started in 1934, the company owns and operates school, transit, and charter buses. Frank Gallagher, owner and CFO, is constantly looking for ways to reduce his company’s expenses. Watch as he explains the economics behind his decision to go solar.
* - Larger than 200 kW
71% installation cost covered by tax credits & grants
5 yr. expected time for system payback
22% ROI
804 solar panels and 8 inverters
253.26 kW System
Projected Production: 289,466 kWh annually
Tons of CO2 Offset / Year:
225.1 Tons
Tree Offset / Year:
5,239.3 Trees
Barrels of Oil Offset / Year:
474.7 Barrels
Leprechaun Bus Lines is enjoying numerous benefits from switching to solar.
“To me, Paradise Energy is the go-to source [because of] their business ethics, the straightforward and painless way they conduct themselves, the speed of which you get a quote, the speed at which the system is installed.”
Frank Gallagher
CFO of Leprechaun Bus Lines
After a 2012 fire destroyed their building, Leprechaun Bus Lines was forced to design and construct a new office and service facility from the ground up. Frank Gallagher took this as an opportunity to design an energy-efficient building that would reduce overhead costs and increase comfort for his staff. Alongside radiant heating, LED lighting, and auxiliary heating sources that use recycled oil, Frank designed the roof of this new building with solar in mind. The low-slope roof is oriented toward the southwest and built with standing seam metal, which would make installing solar panels easier.
With the building nearing completion in 2015, the plan was to install a solar array in the next 5 years, when Gallagher believed it would make more financial sense. But he never imagined solar would make sense so soon.
In August 2015, Gallagher went to a solar open house hosted by Paradise Energy’s New York Team.
The event was held at Ray’s Transportation, a new solar installation just across the street from Gallagher’s almost-finished building. At this event, Frank Gallagher met with a Paradise Energy Solar Consultant, who showed him how it was the perfect time to switch to solar in New York state. Thanks to generous incentives, tax credits, and grants, he could save up to 75% on the installation of a solar array system for his new building. After looking at the numbers, Gallagher was convinced solar was the right move; he signed a contract and we started designing the system.
Our staff took care of all the permits and paperwork for the project, including the 167-page application for the federal USDA grant. In 2016, Gallagher was awarded a USDA REAP grant for $158,000 – more than 25% of the installation costs. Combined with credits and other incentives, Gallagher saved 71% of the cost of their solar installation.
The first step in switching to solar is to receive a no-obligation quote. We’ll evaluate your current energy usage, conduct a site assessment, go over financing options and incentives, and provide you with a free quote.