Ridgelines #219

Building a Brighter Future

At Mohonk Preserve, sustainability is in our nature. In 1998, this conservation ethos carried over to construction of our Visitor Center, which featured many of the environmentally friendly practices now promoted through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). We were early adopters of geothermal heat exchange via 480-foot-deep wells that use the constant temperature of the earth to heat and cool the Visitor Center, eliminating the need to burn fossil fuels.

Continuing this commitment to conservation, Mohonk Preserve worked with Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions to complete installation of a new 132kW ground-mounted solar array at the Preserve’s Spring Farm Trailhead in the Town of Marbletown. This project marks the Preserve’s first major solar energy installation and represents an important step toward the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

This installation includes 226 state-of-the-art bifacial glass-on-glass solar modules, each with a rated capacity of 585 watts. These innovative panels capture sunlight on both sides, significantly boosting energy output. Once operational, the system is anticipated to offset 84 percent of the Preserve’s total electric usage, generating an estimated 168,085 kWh and avoiding 70 metric tons of CO2 each year. This is equivalent to preventing 176,000 miles driven by gas-powered vehicles each year.

“This project is a powerful example of how renewable energy can help provide energy independence while saving money,” said President and Founder of Hudson Solar + Battery Solutions Jeff Irish. “We’re proud to support Mohonk Preserve in taking a meaningful step toward their goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while also setting an example for other conservation organizations.”

Carefully sited to minimize visual and ecological impacts, the new array required no tree removal and features a wildlife-friendly perimeter fence. The project is part of a broader strategy that includes electrifying the Preserve’s vehicle fleet, transitioning historic buildings to heat pump systems, and enhancing forest and farmland management for greater carbon capture and climate resilience. Additional clean upgrades to the Preserve include renovation of the Brook Farmhouse for its conservation and land protection programs, including the installation of air-source heat pumps for clean heating and cooling and high-efficiency envelope upgrades.

“This solar project is an essential part of our Carbon Neutral 2030 program,” said Mohonk Preserve President and CEO Kevin Case. “It brings us closer to eliminating on-site combustion, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring our operations reflect the same commitment to environmental stewardship that guides our land protection and conservation work.”

“We are proud to see this solar array come to Marbletown,” said Town of Marbletown Supervisor Rich Parete. “It represents not just clean energy and cost savings, but a real investment into our community. Thank you Mohonk Preserve for helping to protect the environment for generations to come.”

The $330,000 solar panel system is expected to generate $42,000 worth of electricity annually, valued at the retail level. After discounts for remote crediting, it will save the Preserve an estimated $15,000 annually in energy costs. This project was made possible through a combination of state and federal funding, including grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Building Cleaner Communities Competition, and the Zoos, Botanical Gardens & Aquaria Capital Grant Program administered by the NY State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, as well as the Federal Tax Investment Tax Credit.

“NYSERDA is thrilled to support the integration of clean energy at Mohonk Preserve as part of their ongoing conservation and sustainability efforts,” said New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “By adopting high efficiency building upgrades and innovative onsite solar, the Preserve will reduce its carbon footprint and save on energy costs while staff and visitors get to experience first-hand the benefits of these features with better indoor air quality and improved comfort.”

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Expanding Watershed Education

Mohonk Preserve has a long history of watershed research, education and management. Building on the success of our programs, such as StreamWatch and Pond Keepers, in July of this year, Mohonk Preserve was awarded a $87,418 grant from the NYS DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Management Grants program for our new Hudson River Watershed Education Project.

As part of this three-year project, the Preserve will provide place-based watershed education starting from the headwaters of the Coxing Kill and following through to the Rondout Creek and the Hudson River. Participating students will learn about the basics of watershed science in the classroom and then make field trips to multiple sites along the watercourse and other relevant locations to engage in hands-on learning that involves data collection and analysis, exploration, conservation solutions and teamwork. For some students, their unit will culminate in a trip aboard the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater “Sailing Classroom,” where they will learn about the river’s natural wonders and cultural significance.

The project will also increase public awareness and engagement in watershed education and conservation through a series of public programs, event tabling, community science, and publicity. Public programs will include watershed themed guided hikes, lectures and webinars. The Preserve will also engage Arm-of-the-Sea Theater for performances exploring themes of environmentalism, focusing on water and soil health.

The Hudson River Watershed Education project will expand upon the existing StreamWatch community science program, which was launched in 2017 with support from a DEC Estuary grant and consultation with the DEC that resulted in the Preserve’s first watershed conservation plan. StreamWatch community science volunteers, working in small teams, trained and led by professional conservation staff, collect and analyze data such as water PH, turbidity, temperature, identify vulnerable or invasive species, determine the need for riparian buffers and changes to current agricultural practices to monitor watershed health and change.

Under the leadership of Mohonk Preserve Director of Conservation and Community Education Paloma Krakower and Associate Director of Community Education Kim Tischler, we look forward to collaborating with our friends and colleagues to continue the legacy of study and support of our critical watershed.

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