NNY Business April 2017

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Y usIness

// 20 QUESTIONS INTERVIEW: DPAO founder Joe Rich pg. 28

APRIL 2017 Volume 7 No. 5

nnybizmag.com

A Renewable Northern New York $2.95

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// NORTHERN NEW YORK’S PREMIER BUSINESS MONTHLY //

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April 2017 | NNY Business

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Inside APRIL 2017 13

14 36 34 |

COVER |

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BUSINESS BRIEFCASE |

36 GREEN EDUCATION NNY higher education focuses on renewable and sustainable energy sources in the classroom.

14 RENEWABLE NNY Tri-county residents utilize renewable energy sources that protect the environment and save money. |

12 5K DONATION Donation to Save The River’s In the Schools program. |

SMALL BIZ STARTUP |

13 ORGANIC WELLNESS 1000 Islands entrepreneur creates essential organic oil products.

FEATURES |

34 METHANE CONVERSION DANC landfill provides methane for energy production.

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TOP TRANSACTIONS |

23 JEFFERSON COUNTY The top 10 property sales in Jefferson County topped more than $3 million in February.

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BUSINESS SCENE |

44 NETWORKING, NNY STYLE From Jefferson to St. Lawrence Counties, businessmen and women connect for success. |

ENERGY FEATURE |

36 NYSERDA AUDITS NYSERDA audits help lower energy bills. |

ONLINE |

NNYBIZMAG.COM Connect with us online for daily updates, more photos and exclusive Web content.

April 2017 | NNY Business

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BusIness

CONTRIBUTORS

www.nnybizmag.com

Lance M. Evans is executive officer for the Jefferson-Lewis and St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors. Each month he writes Real Estate Roundup.

Holly C. Boname is associate magazine editor for NNY Magazines.

This month she writes Small Business Startup St. Larry’s Laura Cerow.

Kylie Peck is executive director for the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. Every other month she writes Commerce Corner.

Nicole Caldwell is a writer and editor based out of Better Farm in Redwood, NY. Reach her at nicole. caldwell@betterfarm. org. She writes this month’s cover story.

Chairman of the Board John B. Johnson Jr.

Editor & Publisher John B. Johnson

Co-Publisher

Harold B. Johnson II

Magazine Editor Brian Kelly

Magazine Associate Editor Holly C. Boname

Editorial Design Holly C. Boname

Joleene Moody is a freelance writer who lives in Pulaski with her husband and daughter. Each month her column Entrepreneur’s Edge is featured.

Jay Matteson is the agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Industrial Development Corp. Each month his column Agribusiness is featured.

Norah Machia is a freelance writer and veteran Watertown Daily Times reporter. This month she writes about green education at area colleges.

Photography

Amanda Morrison, Justin Sorensen

Director of Advertising Michelle Bowers

Advertising Graphics

Brian Mitchell, Rick Gaskin, Heather O’Driscoll, Scott Smith, Todd Soules

Circulation Director Mary Sawyer

Bob Gorman is president and CEO of United Way of Northern New York. Every other month he writes his column, Nonprofits Today.

Jennifer McCluskey is a certified business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton.

Angela Underwood is a freelance writer who lives in Watertown. She’s a former South Jeff Journal reporter. Contact her at reporterangelaunderwood@ gmail.com.

MARKETPLACE

American Paver.............................................44 Bonnie Castle Resort......................................40 Clarkson University...........................................7 Coleman’s Corner..........................................41 Conboy, McKay, Bachman and Kendall LLP ..........................................................................39 Dr. Guitar.........................................................41 Evo Payments International..........................41 Fairgrounds Inn...............................................41 Fourth Coast Inc.............................................48 Foy Agency Inc..............................................40 Fuccillo Automotive.......................................27 Fuller Insurance..............................................40 Goodfellos.......................................................41 Goodrich Refrigeration..................................41 HD Goodale Co..............................................40 High Peaks Solar.............................................12 High Tower Advisors.......................................28 Hospice of Jefferson County.............................9 Jefferson Community College......................45 LoFink Ford Mercury........................................25

6 | NNY Business | April 2017

National Grid.....................................................4 North Country Storage.....................................41 Nortz & Virkler...................................................27 Overhead Door Company.............................41 Proven Energy Systems...................................31 Sea Comm Federal.........................................24 Shred Con........................................................43 Snapshots Photo Booth....................................23 State Farm Insurance......................................40 SUNY Potsdam...................................................8 Tunes 92.5........................................................26 Waite Motor Sports...........................................38 Waite Toyota....................................................39 Watertown Savings Bank.................................2 Watertown Spring and Alignment..................27 TF Wright & Sons...............................................42 WWTI ABC50......................................................3

NNY Business (ISSN 2159-6115), is published monthly by Northern New York Newspaper Corp., 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, a Johnson Newspaper Corp. company. © 2010-2017. All material submitted to NNY Business becomes property of Northern New York Newspaper Corp., publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, and will not be returned.

Subscription Rates 12 issues are $15 a year and 24 issues are $25 for two years.

Call 315-782-1000 to subscribe.

Submissions Send all editorial correspondence to hboname@wdt.net Advertising For advertising rates and information in Jefferson and Lewis counties, email mbowers@wdt.net, or call 315-661-2345 In St. Lawrence County, e-mail blabrake@ogd.com, or call 315-661-2507 Printed with pride in U.S.A. at Vanguard Printing LLC, Ithaca, N.Y., a Forest Stewardship Certified facility.

Please recycle this magazine.

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INTERVIEW

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ABOUT THE COVER

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28 DPAO FOUNDER RECALLS Joe Rich recalls the beginnings of DPAO which has helped thousands of children with disabilities and their families. Talks career highlights and economic impact of agency’s concert series. |

COLUMNS

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32 NONPROFITS TODAY 25 AGRIBUSINESS

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DEPARTMENTS

8 9 10 12

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EDITOR’S NOTE PEOPLE ON THE MOVE ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT BUSINESS BRIEFCASE

om

ving.c

.nnyli www

24 SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS 33 ENTREPRENEUR’S EDGE 38 COMMERCE CORNER

We’re looking ahead to

The annual Golf edition of NNY Living

13 26 42 44

SMALL BIZ STARTUP REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP CALENDAR BUSINESS SCENE

For this month’s cover story, NNY Business spoke with Davidson’s Automotive Group about their solar grid, located behind Davidson’s Chevrolet.

Freelance writer Nicole Caldwell interviews Fourth Coast Inc., High Peaks Solar about the installation and business behind renewable energy sources, and talks business development with JCIDA’s Donald Alexander.

From wind power to solar, Clarkson leads New York in clean energy Learn why technology, economics and psychology impact sustainability through the Institute for a Sustainable Environment.

To find out more about sustainable initiatives go to

clarkson.edu/ise

will publish the week of May 21 Highlighting Northern New York Golf Courses throughout Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Oswego Counties.

If you have a charity golf event scheduled for 2017, please forward the information to: hboname@wdt.net with the subject line of “Golf Event.” We need to know: the date, name of the tournament, name of golf course, contact name and phone number.

April 2017 | NNY Business

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E DI T OR ’ S NOTE

F

or many people who lived through the 1970s, the concept of solar power had something of a disco-era, subcompact car aura to it.

It was something that Californians mostly experimented with, putting solar panels on the roofs of their split-levels to warm their pool water by capturing the state’s abundant sunshine.

In the midst of the decade’s energy crisis, President Jimmy Carter’s administration had offered tax credits to people who installed energy-saving solar devices on their homes and even some north country homeowners and builders came to believe solar power was the future, an efficient way to save money while preserving natural resources.

By the 1980s, oil prices had stabilized and President Ronald Reagan’s administration allowed the tax credits to lapse and the race for newer solar installations slowed. But even as the industry’s growth slackened, improvements in the technology continued to drive prices down while increasing energy output.

Today, as we learn from freelance writer Nicole Caldwell’s cover story for this issue, solar power is the fastest

growing renewable energy sector in New York State. Businesses like Davidson Automotive Group are learning that solar power benefits both the environment and the bottom line. School districts and municipalities are aligning to build solar arrays that not only meet their energy use demands, but save money for taxpayers.

Hydropower has long been a mainstay of the north country, but wind power could come to rival it in the decades ahead.

There are at least eight wind Brian Kelly farm projects on the drawing board in the tri-county area and, while some may never make it out of the planning stages, others will join the existing Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Lewis County.

Also this month, we talked to Joe Rich, founder of the Disabled Persons Action Organization, about the economic impact that the agency’s concert series has on the community. A recent study

by the Center for Community Studies at Jefferson Community College found that the series has had a $10.2 million impact on the local economy over the past five years, benefiting restaurants and hotels while raising money for DPAO. On a side note, if you are ever looking for an amusing couple of hours and are able to corner Joe, ask him about some of the performers he has worked with on the concerts over the years. I know enough about libel law to know I can’t repeat these tales here, but the stories, like Joe Rich, are legendary.

Enjoy,

n n n CORRECTION: A photo caption on page 42 in the March issue incorrectly identified Melanie Saber and Carrie Edick as nurses at Carthage Area Behavioral Health Center. As was correctly stated in the accompanying story, Ms. Saber is a licensed master social worker and behavioral health clinic manager at the center and Ms. Edick is a family mental health nurse practitioner.

NE XT M ONTH

I

n May’s issue of NNY Business, the focus of the magazine is on the St. Lawrence Seaway and shipping industry.

Also coming next month: n 20 QUESTIONS: Learn more about Jeff Garnsey a third generation fishing guide after returning to the 1000 Islands after 26 years in the Submarine force with the U.S. Coast Guard.

n PLUS: NNY Snapshot, Economically Speaking, Entrepreneur Edge, Commerce Corner, Nonprofits Today, Small Business Success, Real Estate, Agribusiness, and Business Scene. n VISIT US ONLINE at nnybizmag.com.

Follow us on Twitter for daily updates at @NNYBusinessMag, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nnybusiness, and view eEditions at issuu.com/NNYBusiness.

Earn your Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Joint A.S.S./B.S. Program with SUNY Jefferson • Class Schedule at your convenience • Full/Part Time Enrollment Options • Travel to Potsdam NOT Required All classes offered at JCC and online Contact us to Learn More! watertown@potsdam.edu • (315) 786-2373 8 | NNY Business | April 2017

P E O P L E O N T H E M O VE River Family Health Center welcomes Dr. David Wallace River Hospital and River Family Health Center welcomed Dr. David Wallace to its team of quality providers. Dr. Wallace began seeing patients on March 20.

Wallace Dr. Wallace is currently accepting new patients and will provide full-spectrum family medicine for patients of all ages. He joins RFHC after previously practicing at USA MEDDAC Guthrie Clinic in Fort Drum, NY. Dr. Wallace served in the United States Army on active duty for 24 years, and transferred into the Reserves in 2015. He is looking forward to providing healthcare to local veterans and the civilian community.

“We are excited to continue welcoming providers like Dr. Wallace to River Hospital,” Ben Moore, III, chief executive officer of River Hospital, said.

“We have confidence in the quality and capability of our providers, and we appreciate the strong service they provide to our patients and the role they play in our organization’s ongoing growth.”

Dr. Wallace is board certified in family medicine. He received his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. Dr. Wallace completed his residency in family medicine at Martin Army Community Hospital in Fort Benning, GA.

A New Voice to Host TUNES 92.5 & 104.5 FM’s ‘The Morning Drive’ TUNES 92.5 & 104.5 FM’s current morning show host, Adam Cornell (Adam in the A.M.) will be ‘passing the torch’ to local musician, Ryan Grant.

Adam Cornell will relinquish morning show duties in order to pursue a new opportunity with his design company, ‘XL Design & Marketing’.

“My time at Tunes 92.5 has been amazing. I’ve gotten the opportunity

Got business milestones? n Share your business milestones with NNY

Business. Email news releases and photos (.jpg/300 dpi) to associate magazine editor Holly Boname at hboname@wdt.net. The deadline for submissions is the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue. Photos that don’t appear in print may be posted on our Facebook page.

Grant and Cornell to interact with so many great listeners and advertisers. But my work as a designer and writer continues to increase. As soon as I felt that I couldn’t bring 100 percent to the morning show, I knew it was time to step aside.

As a fan of the station, I’m excited

about what’s to come.” said Adam Cornell of the new move.

Ryan Grant, a name heard around the NNY area for his career as a full time musician, will begin his new career as a radio personality starting early April.

Adirondack Museum Names Ausra Angermann Director of Marketing Ausra Angermann has joined the Adirondack Museum as director of marketing, bringing 28 years of related experience to her position. She will oversee all promotional and public relations Augermann efforts for the museum, which will open a new 19,000-square-foot interacPlease see PEOPLE, page 40

COMPASSIONATE PERSONALIZED QUALITY CARE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Hospice of Jefferson County delivers compassionate, personalized, high-quality care. Hospice is committed to comfort, privacy, dignity and control.

SERVICES AVAILABLE IN YOUR HOME OR AT THE HOSPICE RESIDENCE

April 2017 | NNY Business

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Average New York surrogate* price for on-highway diesel

$1.90 in February 2017 $1.98 in January 2017 $1.59 in February 2016

$2.77 in February 2017 $2.79 in January 2017 $2.20 in February 2016

19.5%

Average NNY price for gallon of regular unleaded gas

Vehicles crossing the Thousand Islands bridge

24.2%

107,498 in February 2017 113,635 in January 2017 101,880 in February 2016

21.5%

Vehicles crossing the Ogdensburg-Prescott bridge 43,330 in February 2017 45,569 in January 2017 35,173 in February 2016

Average NNY price for gallon of residential propane

31.6%

Vehicles crossing the Seaway International (Massena) bridge

Source: NYS Energy Research and Development Authority

167,531 in February 2017 180,156 in January 2017 155,949 in February 2016

Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors single-family home sales 60, median price $105,000 in February 2017 94, median price $110,000 in January 2017 61, median price $85,699 in February 2016

U.S.-Canadian dollar exchange rate (Canadian dollars per U.S. dollar)

22.5%

$1.32 in February 2017 $1.30 in January 2017 $1.35 in February 2016

Price

St. Lawrence Board of Realtors single-family home sales 44, median price $92,385 in February 2017 52, median price $97,500 in January 2017 51, median price $95,000 in February 2016

Nonagriculture jobs in the Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence counties area, not including military positions

2.8%

92,000 in February 2017 91,800 in January 2017 94,500 in February 2017

Price

Source: NYS Department of Labor

NNY unemployment rates

United States

4.8

4.9 February 2016

8.2

New York State

January 2017

January 2017

February 2017

7.4

7.8 January 2017

February 2016

7.7 February 2017

7.4 February 2016

7.7 January 2017

8.0

8.7

Lewis County 9.1

St. Lawrence County

4.7

Source: Jefferson-Lewis / St. Lawrence boards of Realtors Inc.

Jefferson County

2.4%

February 2017

Sales

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of N.Y.

4.9

13.7%

2.2%

February 2016

Sales

7.4%

Seaway International Bridge Corp.

4.6

1.6%

23.2%

Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority

January 2017

$3.46 in February 2017 $3.20 in January 2017 $2.63 in February 2016

5.5%

Source: T.I. Bridge Authority

4.4

$2.60 in February 2017 $2.59 in January 2017 $2.14 in February 2016

February 2017

ECON SNAPSHOT

Average NNY price for gallon of home heating oil

February 2017

$2.41 in February 2017 $2.43 in January 2017 $1.94 in February 2016

26%

*Prices are the composite area that includes New York, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

Source: U.S. DOE, Energy Information Administration

Source: NYS Department of Agriculture

10 | NNY Business | April 2017

(Percent gains and losses are over 12 months)

Average per-gallon milk price paid to N.Y. dairy farmers

February 2016

NNY

Economic indicators

Source: U.S. Department of Labor and New York State Department of Labor (Not seasonally adjusted. Latest available data reported.)

Note: Due to updates in some “Econ. Snapshot� categories, numbers may differ from previously published prior month and year figures.

Economic indicators New automobiles (cars and trucks) registered in Jefferson County Cars 354 in February 2017 444 in January 2017 286 in February 2016

23.8%

Trucks 74 in February 2017 127 in January 2017 99 in February 2016

NNY

25.2%

Source: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office

No airport data

n Passenger totals for Watertown International Airport were unavailable at press time this month due to a later release of information by American Airlines.

2,264 in February 2017 2,242 in January 2017 2,317 in February 2016

2.3%

Source: Social Service Depts. of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties

DBA (doing business under an assumed name) certificates filed at the Jefferson County Clerk’s office Mar. 1 to Mar. 28, 2017. For a complete list of DBAs filed in past months, visit WWW.NNYBIZMAG.COM.

MAR. 28: Fine Art Farm, 11526 Fuller Road, Adams Center, Benson V. Peyton, Jr., 11526 Fuller Road, Adams Center.

Recreational Parts and Motorsports, 814 Academy St., Watertown, Joshua J. Sweeney, 814 Academy St., Watertown.

MAR. 27: Sweet Sally’s, 322 State St., Carthage, Gerald Jackson, 5384 Stone St., Lowville, Daniel Gibeau, 35946 State Route 26, Carthage, Susanne Valliere, 447 South James St., Carthage.

MAR. 14: Weird Labs Studios, 13949 State Route 11, Adams Center, Jonathon P. Sullivan, 13949 State Route 11, Adams Center.

MAR. 10: Cheires Craft Closet, 118 Patrician Lane, Brownville, Cheire H. Bochette, 118 Patrician Lane, Brownville.

Badbombs Bath Company, 17481 State Route 11, Lot 9N, Watertown, Alyse G. Salmons, 17481 State Route 11, Lot 9N, Watertown.

Janie M Photography, 187 Cedar St., Watertown, Jane M. Morgia, 187 Cedar St., Watertown.

Widrick Fabrication, 14398 State Route 11, Adams Center, Earle R. Widrick, 14398 State Route 11, Adams Center.

NNY Armory, 24428 State Route 11, Calcium, Thomas M. Zecher, 26817 Libby Lane, Evans Mills.

Grandma Carla’s Childcare, 32749 Railroad St., Great Bend, Carla J. Brower, 32749 Railroad St., Great Bend.

MAR. 24: NNY Multimedia, 22153 Patricia Drive, Watertown, James P. Knox, 22153 Patricia Drive, Watertown.

MAR. 9: McMacken’s, 33761 Lamb Rd., Carthage, Matthew McMacken, 33761 Lamb Rd., Carthage.

Kinnie Creations, 231 Rexford Pl., Watertown, Matthew J. Kinnie, 231 Rexford Pl., Watertown.

DP3 Motorsports, 10570 County Route 97, Rodman, Brianna L. Dinzler, 10570 County Route 97, Rodman.

MAR. 23: Two Guys Property Management and More, 27425 Madison St., Chaumont, Nicholas M. Pickett, 25044 State Route 12, Watertown, Samuel Kroeger, 27425 Madison St., Chaumont.

Sharp’s Sweets, 6472A Smallwood Ct., Fort Drum, Daphnie A. Sharp, 6472A Smallwood Ct., Fort Drum.

Anderson Electrical Contractors, 12034 Road 472, Dexter, Lisa G. Anderson, 12034 Road 472, Dexter, Richard E. Anderson, 12034 Road 472, Dexter.

MAR. 8: Michael Fox Construction and Masonry, 528 Alexandria St., Clayton, Michael L. Fox, 528 Alexandria St., Clayton.

MAR. 22: Erinn LaRue, 323 John St., Clayton, Erin W. LaRue, 323 John St., Clayton.

River Tronicz, 682 East Broadway St., Cape Vincent, JoAnna K. Lee, 266 West Lake St., Cape Vincent.

MAR. 21: Jahzign Studios, 11770A Orchard Drive, Fort Drum, Jennika A. Smith, 11770A Orchard Drive, Fort Drum.

Niers Property Maintenance, 640 Adelaide St., Carthage, Justin C. Nier, 640 Adelaide St., Carthage.

MAR. 20: Churchill Farms, 18161 County Route 156, Watertown, Roland G. Churchill, 18153 County Route 156, Watertown.

Deluxe Sealcoating, 35155 Lewis Loop, Carthage, Stacy J. Faunce, 35155 Lewis Loop, Carthage.

MAR. 17: Connected, 17801 County Route 75, Sackets Harbor, Mary I. Pennock, 17801 County Route 75, Sackets Harbor.

Geek Sprites, 17997 Van Allen Road, Watertown, Dustin Burdick, 17997 Van Allen Road, Watertown.

MAR. 16: Saint Lawrence Consulting, 332 South Indiana Ave., Watertown, Todd R. DMar, 332 South Indiana Ave., Watertown.

Just Duckie Cleaning Services, 13 Grove St., Adams, Ashley Compeau, 13 Grove St., Adams.

Faster Thank You, 1708 Ohio St., Apt #41, Watertown, Kyle Beaumont, 1708 Ohio St., Apt #41, Watertown.

MAR. 7: Easy Tech, 912 Arsenal St., Watertown, Parviz Jafarov, 522 Washington St., Apt #208, Watertown.

R & S Property Services, 16600 County Route 156, Watertown, Sandra D. DeLong, 16600 County Route 156, Watertown.

MAR. 6: Diamond Cut Lawn Care, 20534 Weaver Rd., Watertown, David M. DeMarse, 20534 Weaver Rd., Watertown.

Davis’s Lawn Care, 307 South Rutland St., Watertown, Anthony S. Davis, 307 South Rutland St., Watertown.

Hunter’s Automotive, 27624 State Route 342, Calcium, Jeffrey D. Hunter, 45396 County Route 2, Redwood.

MAR. 3: Hotsy Totsy, 32152 Hell St., Cape Vincent, Karen M. Carson, 32152 Hell St., Cape Vincent.

Adirondack Outpost, 27029 North Croghan Road, Natural Bridge, Teri L. Ellis, 27029 North Croghan Road, Natural Bridge.

Soo Woofing Cute, 25372 Virginia Smith Drive, Apt #5, Calcium, Toni Ann R. Burchell, 25372 Virginia Smith Drive, Apt #5, Calcium.

MAR. 2: Holdown Upstate, 134 Keyes Ave., Watertown, Mykel Q. Myrick, 134 Keyes Ave., Watertown.

Laura Fischer Photography, 26789 Anable Ave., Evans Mills, Laura A. Fischer, 26789 Anable Ave., Evans Mills.

JC Tech, 519 Plum Ave., Watertown, Justin M. Crandall, 519 Plum Ave., Watertown.

TRANSACTIONS

DBAs

Open welfare cases in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties

April 2017 | NNY Business

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BUSINESS BRIEFCASE Jefferson Community College Men’s Basketball Team Raises Funds for Boys & Girls Club SoZo Teen Center

Thursday from 2:30 to 8:00 p.m., and on Friday until 9:00 pm. Activities include recreation, computer access, games, life skills, homework assistance and tutoring.

Snacks and hot meals are served daily.

Alex Hazard Dream Chaser’s Scholarship Program Receives Donation

The Jefferson Community College men’s basketball team recently held a free throw competition to raise funds for local nonprofit agencies, including the Boys & Girls Club SoZo Teen Center.

The team presented a check for $400 to Teen Center representatives.

The Boys & Girls Club SoZo Teen Center, an affiliate of the Children’s Home of Jefferson County, is a drop-in center open to area teens at no charge. Located in the rear of the Marcy Building, 167 Polk Street, Watertown – just off Public Square - the center is open Monday through

Save the River Recieves $5k Donation The Alex Hazard Dream Chaser's Scholarship is provided through the Northern New York Community Foundation to a high school student interested in pursuing a non-traditional career (i.e. TV, radio, music, art and writing).

“In addition to providing the scholarship opportunity, I think it is equally important to provide educational oppor-

• Financing Available • Reduce Your Electric Bill • Local NOW SERVING BOTH RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

Customers in and near Watertown

12 | NNY Business | April 2017

tunities. For example, last year we worked with the Clayton Jazz Fest to provide a clinic with one of the jazz musicians,” Alex Hazard said. “Maggies on the River is a great supporter of both sides of this.”

Every Wednesday a "jam night" is held on The Alex Hazard DreamChaser Stage where anybody is welcome to get up and "Jam" with the house band.

“It is my belief that the only way to get better at performing in front of a crowd, is to perform in front of a crowd. Maggies also donates 10 percent of proceeds from this night to the scholarship every Wednesday,” Mr. Hazard said.

John Nuber, CFA Senior Financial Associate, Watertown office of RBC Wealth Management, presented a check for $5,000 to Board President Jeff Garnsey and Executive Director Lee Willbanks to support Save The River's In the Schools program.

The program provides hundreds of area school children with an opportunity to learn about and be on the St. Lawrence River, many for the first time.

St. Lawrence Health System CPH Employee of the Year St. Lawrence Health System has awarded CPH’s employee of the year to Cynthia Swinyer, unit clerk. Swinyer was chosen from 12 finalists who all received special recognition as fellow employees of the quarter throughout the past year.

Colleagues recognized Swinyer for her attention to detail, and exceptional management of information. “Cindy is a kind, compassionate, and dedicated member of the CPH family and I’m proud to call her a friend,” said Hospitalist Imrė RaineySpence, MD.

SMAL L BU SIN E SS S TA RT UP

“These very plants, when concentrated into essential oils, become something powerful, and yet also almost magical in their beauty.”

-Laura Cerow

JUSTIN SORENSEN n NNY BUSINESS Laura Cerow stands in her kitchen where she makes organic creams, lotions and potions.

BUSINESS

St. Larry’s INITIAL IDEA Having grown up along the banks of the St. Lawrence River, Laura Cerow always had a love for the natural world and fascination with gardening and horticulture. After retiring from a successful career as the Jefferson County Department of Social Services commissioner, Mrs. Cerow spent more time with her passions and began developing organic, or wild-sourced, products for the skin and home.

“I started taking essential oil certification classes, where you conduct labs and begin to learn the process of making products,” Mrs. Cerow said. “I was retired at the time and it was something that I could do on my own and it was fun.”

From there, she began to create products and provide them to her friends and family.

The feedback, she says, was so positive that St. Larry’s Organic, Lotions and Potions was born.

THE JOURNEY While gaining momentum with her studies of essential oils and receiving rave reviews from local residents, Mrs. Cerow developed her own lab at home and began to develop recipes for her organic products, using only the highest quality ingredients, sometimes from her own garden.

“I started gardening when I was still in elementary school,” she said. “I studied horticulture as an undergraduate at Cornell University, and have had a large flower,

on social media.

“It’s really been an education in social media posting, website development and all aspects of owning a small business,” she said. But the help and support of her fellow women in business along the St. Lawrence River in the Clayton community has leveraged her confidence as a small business owner to where she is today.

Her products can now be found in local stores like Reinman’s and Freighter’s in Clayton and her online store is flourishing.

TARGET CLIENTELE As for her target clientele, Mrs. Cerow says that her products are for anyone who wants to remove harmful products and chemicals from their daily lives and enjoy knowing how and where the ingredients come from.

“My products are for the conscious consumer,” she said. “They are for someone who has decided that they understand about the skin barrier and how chemicals can enter the body through products that aren’t made with non-harmful, organic ingredients.

I want people to embrace organic skin products and foods, and to think holistically about their health.”

vegetable and herb garden at my home for over 25 years, maintained without any chemicals.”

It was that understanding of naturally grown, chemical free botanicals that inspired her to provide products that were all natural and healthy for the skin and body.

IN FIVE YEARS “These very plants, when concentrated As St. Larry’s is gaining momentum and into essential oils, become something powerthe production of her products grows, Mrs. ful, and yet also almost magical in their Cerow says that she would like her small beauty. We carry only pure, organic essenbusiness to remain manageable by herself, tial oils, and we can tell you how and when as it truly is from a deep love and underthey were made, and where they came standing about health and wellness and a from,” she said. rewarding aspect to her daily life.

She decided that she would start her “It’s gotten to the point now where the small business because of the help of friends stress of producing a new product is crated and family, Mrs. Cerow says. with ease,” she said.

“Fellow entrepreneur and business owner Emily Cardinaux said she would guide me ~Holly C. Boname on my way to opening an online store and logo development,” Mrs. Cerow said. “And I got the name for my brand from my daughter Alison.”

With a deep knowledge of the natural plant world and their healing properties, Mrs. Cerow says the hardest part of launching the business has been to develop her online store and the development of branding JUSTIN SORENSEN n NNY BUSINESS

WHERE 1000 Islands, Clayton NY | OPENED April 2016 | WEB www.stlarrys.com

April 2017 | NNY Business

| 13

The BIG

BUSINESS

Of RENEWABLE ENERGY

BY NICOLE CALDWELL | NNY BUSINESS

JUSTIN SORENSEN n NNY BUSINESS Deryck Montante and Anthony Robbins do solar work on the roof of Fourth Coast Inc. in Clayton.

14 | NNY Business | April 2017

April 2017 | NNY Business

| 15

COV E R STORY SUSTAINABILITY IS HARDLY A BUZZWORD ANYMORE. The term—which, at its most literal, refers to any action that can be repeated indefinitely—has caught on as more than a lifestyle trend or fringe movement. The reality is, sustainability is smart business.

Its pragmatism grows clearer by the day, as we hear of increasing environmental crises, energy costs, and conflicting corporate interests that are the antithesis of circular systems. And sustainability’s largest arm—renewable energy—is catching on quickly for Northern New York companies.

Renewable energy will be the fastestgrowing power source through 2040, according to the United States Energy Information Administration. In addition, companies that commit to running on renewables are proven to be more attractive to potential customers. Whether a holistic

approach for an entire corporation’s ethos or a singular “going green” initiative, companies that utilize renewable energy are benefitting in a number of ways.

By 2010, around 94 percent of grid-tied electricity being commercially produced in the north country came directly from renewable resources. Businesses that similarly tap into that boundless energy can better predict annual utilities costs while tracking usage more efficiently than ever before. For larger businesses, renewable energy can equate to thousands in savings monthly or yearly. And for companies like Davidson Chevrolet, switching to renewables is one giant leap toward offsetting the very carbon dioxide emissions their chief products are producing.

A COMMON-SENSE APPROACH TO A CARBON-EMITTING INDUSTRY

When Davidson Automotive Group owners invested millions in 16 solar-array

projects at locations throughout Central and Northern New York, it was big news.

Think about it: a company selling products that release carbon emissions, going green? But this was hardly the result of a lifelong call to environmental activism, nor was it a political statement or publicity stunt. It was just good business.

“Like many things in life, it happened by accident,” co-owner Donald R. Davidson said. “In 2012 when we were putting in new buildings, our contractor actually brought it up and said, ‘Would you be interested in having the conversation?’ I said sure, conversation’s free. So we met [with the High Peaks Solar staff] and they discussed the general theory of solar. It sounded interesting, so we asked them to put some prices together. Which they did, and so we decided to try it on the two buildings we were building in Watertown.”

The Watertown installation, completed

WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES PHOTO A work crew with High Peaks Solar, Troy, installs additional panels to the solar grid behind Davidson Ford in 2015.

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C O V E R S T O RY

by High Peaks Solar and DC Building Systems, was such a success at Davidson Chevrolet that the owners decided to do more at that location. The array today is more than 1 megawatt in size, utilizes ground-mount and roof-mount systems packed with roughly 5,500 individual panels, and feeds multiple Davidson Automotive buildings along Route 11. But the company didn’t stop there. Davidson Automotive now boasts more than 16 completed solar-array projects at locations throughout Central and Northern New York.

“I think customers are looking at their own situations needs,” Mr. Davidson said. “There are certainly people who are buying electric and fuel-efficient vehicles who are really into the environment.”

For those clients, Mr. Davidson said, the renewable energy grid the company has constructed is an added incentive to shop at Davidson Chevrolet for a fuel-efficient Chevy Spark, hybrid Volt, or all-electric Chevy Bolt. “For us, it was a great way to bring down our energy costs while also benefitting the environment.”

HOW NORTHERN NEW YORK BUSINESSES USE ENERGY

New York state is the United States’ fifth-largest user of renewable electricity, producing almost 23 percent of its electrical power with renewable sources.

That’s mainly from hydroelectricity, followed by wind, biomass, geothermal and (the fastest-growing market) solar. Every renewable system significantly reduces carbon emissions while allowing power to be produced and predicted on-site at a fraction of the cost of other natural resources.

Municipalities that tap into renewable resources lower utilities costs for area consumers (business and resident alike) while also offering job opportunities in new and expanding markets.

Hydroelectric power plants generate electricity from falling water that in turn drives turbines. New York was recently ranked fourth highest in hydropower capacity by the International Energy Association.

Wind drives turbines with moving air.

Potential for harnessing even more of that power in New York is measured to be significantly higher than the amount we are currently tapping, driving industry to aggressively pursue on- and off-shore,

JUSTIN SORENSEN n NNY BUSINESS Members of the Davidson family stand infront of a solar array located behind Davidson Chevrovlet. From left to right: Jon, Doug, Dwight, Don and Eric Davidson.

commercial wind-generation plants.

Biomass power is harnessed during the process of burning wood, plant matter, or combusting biogas such as sewage, manure or other methane-producing materials. In addition to utilizing a renewable resource, biomass-produced power saves on spending for waste disposal and management of what is otherwise considered a waste product, such as sewage.

Geothermal systems capitalize on the stable temperature of underground water by utilizing piping systems called “loops” to circulate water that heats or cools spaces, depending on the season. Instead of, say, heating an office space when the outside air temperature is minus 10 degrees—or cooling it when it’s 90 degrees

out—heating and cooling commences from a constant, underground water temperature of between 50 and 60 degrees.

That makes geothermal significantly more efficient than any heating or cooling source that’s reliant on huge fluctuations in outside air temperature.

And last, but perhaps most familiar, is solar technology. The sun is Planet Earth’s most reliable and abundant source of energy—and harnessing the sun’s power is a business that’s been growing in leaps and bounds over the last decade as incentives grow and prices shrink. The sun continues to be a largely untapped resource in spite of this: Bill Gates, following a meeting with Caltech Professor Nate Lewis in March,

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS People stop to talk about the new renewable energy plant on Fort Drum while on a tour with ReEnergy.

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C OV E R STORY

JUSTIN SORENSEN n NNY BUSINESS Fourth Coast’s A.J. Veith, renewable energy design and sales, stands in the warehouse with boxes of solar panels for future projects.

reported that more energy from the sun hits the Earth in one hour than humans use in an entire year. Finding efficient and inexpensive methods for tapping that resource puts us in a perfect position to harness boundless amounts of what Mr. Gates termed a “clean, affordable and reliable energy source for the future.” To sidestep the pesky issue of the sun setting each night and the reality of low-light, cloudy days, engineers are looking at the potential of solar fuels, which would have a higher density than batteries and could therefore store and transport significantly higher amounts of solar power.

As we await those fuels (which scientists are unsure can be made), businesses are harnessing the sun’s rays through panels attached to ground- and roofmounted systems and solar farms. These arrays create easy-to-use power for the grid, private residences, municipalities and companies. Solar photovoltaic systems (installations of which have grown every year since 2000, according to Scientific American) generate electricity; while active solar panels warm air or liquid that then warm spaces like buildings or water tanks.

Utilities reimburse photovoltaic owners for produced electricity they’re not using, which turns the grid itself into a form of energy storage. This setup benefits everyone; as the biggest drain on the electric grid also occurs when the most solar can be produced: hot days with plenty of sunshine.

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RENEWABLE INSTALLERS ENJOY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS SENSE

The north country is rife with businesses looking to renewable energies to power their plants, storefronts and offices. But renewable energy has become big business for the companies performing the installations, as well.

“You could describe it as a lifelong passion,” said Robert J. Campany, project manager at Fourth Coast Inc., a Claytonbased company started in 2008 that specializes in installation of renewable energy systems that include solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and geothermal.

“With energy prices continuing to rise and the uncertainty of supply, it became clear [to partner Augusta “Gus” Withington and me] that particularly solar energy/photovoltaics were going to become a large part of energy production. And with our engineering backgrounds, we saw the simplicity of solar as an added bonus.”

Starting Fourth Coast grew out of necessity, Mr. Campany said. “Quite honestly, one of the reasons we started was that Gus and I both wanted to install solar on our homes and we couldn’t find anybody to do it. There wasn’t anyone in Northern New York we could have gone to. We certainly saw the need from both the environmental and the practical standpoint, but also from a business standpoint. We saw an underserved market.”

Fourth Coast’s biggest business is in solar installation. But Mr. Campany said

he’s also excited about geothermal, which is becoming more mainstream—especially when paired with solar to cover increased electrical costs to run pumps.

“Geothermal is exciting because you can create all your solar electric via your solar panels and actually use that energy with the geothermal to heat in the wintertime and cool in the summertime. So you’re at net-zero, and you’re not dependent on fossil fuels at all. Basically, any property will support geothermal. It’s just a matter of the design of the in-ground system, and whether you use vertical, drilled wells or horizontal, dug trenches. We have never run into a property that we couldn’t come up with a solution for a ground source,” he said.

The prospect for renewable energy doesn’t stop at individual businesses or homes, either. Fourth Coast has bonded together 11 municipalities with solar— “over a quarter of a megawatt, or 250,000 watts,” Mr. Campany said—and worked on a number of similarly large projects throughout Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Onondaga counties. “I want to stress the municipal market,” Campany said, “because while municipalities can’t take advantage of a lot of the tax credits, these installations benefit every taxpayer in that municipality. So one of our passions is to work with the municipal market as much as we can.”

Campany’s being earnest. He, along with other workers in his field, certainly likes the profits. But what’s especially exciting is experiencing customers’ satisfaction.

“Just being able to work to complete our customers’ dreams is the best,” Mr. Campany said. “So many of our customers are so excited about it, and to be able to see their dreams come to fruition, it’s a great feeling. Gus and I both relive the excitement every time we throw the switch for the first time. To see those customers so gratified… and then to get the phone message or the text six months or a year later saying, ‘It worked just as you said!’—that’s the best.”

CONSUMERS ARE SEEING GREEN

A whopping 81 percent of consumers say they’re willing to make actual, personal sacrifices in order to address social and environmental issues, according to a 2015 study conducted by Cone Communications and marketing-analytics specialist

C O V E R S T O RY Ebiquity. Nine in every 10 people, according to that study, expect companies to address social and environmental issues in addition to turning profits. Globally, 84 percent of consumers claim to actively seek out responsible products that were produced ethically or “green” and/or do not incorporate sweatshops, animal abuse, or contribute to greenhouse gases in their transportation and use.

With numbers like that, it behooves every business to consider its increasingly sophisticated base.

And although millennials, born to Baby Boomers in the early ‘80s and mid-90s, have come of age in the most challenging economic climate in the last century, a 2015 global study by Nielsen found 75 percent of this generation is actively ready and willing to pay extra for sustainable services and goods. That’s up 25 percent from a similar Nielsen study in 2014. But that doesn’t exclude Baby Boomers aged 50 to 64, 51 percent of whom are also happy to pay extra for businesses that invest in sustainably produced products.

And in the case of renewable energies, you have businesses whose investments in sustainability will be made back within a decade—meaning customers are willing to pay more, while the business is, theoretically, actually paying less.

NORTHERN NEW YORK’S NOT NEW TO RENEWABLES

Most folks in this area have at least a cursory knowledge of renewable energy potential. We’ve all heard murmurs of windpower controversies that have sprung up

JUSTIN SORENSEN n NNY BUSINESS

around the region in the last decade, and each of us knows someone using solar to charge a boat battery, power a camp, or offset a National Grid bill.

That’s because throughout the state, you can see the renewables energy game playing out.

Solar power in New York State has risen by 800 percent between 2011 and 2016, with this state’s solar industry fourth largest in the country. That’s created more than 8,200 jobs statewide, according to the governor’s office—a rise of more than 3,000 jobs since 2013. The jump in solar projects includes more than 64,926 installations procuring 744 megawatts of output. The north country alone is responsible for more than 1,063 of these projects, surpassing an output of roughly 13 megawatts.

As numbers continue to come in for 2016, projections suggest that year will have produced another 1,000 jobs related to New York’s solar project pipeline.

Needless to say, New York (and specifically Northern New York) is hardly new to the discussion of renewable energy and its implementation.

ReEnergy Black River, located on Fort Drum, has 60 megawatts of generation capacity and produces around 422,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, which is enough power for more than 50,000 homes. To generate this level of power, the facility used to burn coal for its electricity; but since November of 2014 ReEnergy has invested more than $34 million in renovations to develop greenenergy production for power. That project, a 20-year, renewable energy supply

agreement, assures ReEnergy will supply 100 percent of Fort Drum’s electrical load.

That’s the biggest renewable energy project in United States Army history.

In Massena, Curran Renewable Energy has since 2009 utilized bioenergy from forest cuttings, agricultural waste and other organic material to produce fuel for heating, cooling, electricity and fuel. The company buys its feedstock from its sister corporation, Seaway Timber Harvesting.

Philadelphia’s Indian River Central School District in 2016 purchased a 2,112-panel, 68-megawatt array to completely power Indian River Intermediate School.

The town of Malone, along with the North Country Library System, is estimated to generate 223,586 kWh of power annually with a new solar array.

That’s equal to taking 25 cars off the road entirely.

Maple Ridge Wind Farm on Tug Hill is the state’s biggest wind farm. With 195 wind turbines, the farm at full capacity has an output of 322 megawatts. That’s enough to completely power 140,000 New York homes every year. And despite reports of mixed reviews from the wind farm’s neighbors, installation of the turbines brought $55 million into the local economy through the purchase of materials; and produced more than 400 construction jobs and almost 35 full-time, local positions. The combined income for landowners with turbines on their properties totals more than $1 million annually; with millions distributed as tax payments to schools, municipalities, and counties involved.

Fourth Coast Inc installed solar panels on this boathouse on Seaway Avenue in Clayton. The boathouse location was less shaded than the house it powers. | NNY Business | 19

April 2017

PROPOSED WIND PROJECTS LEWIS COUNTY:

NAME: Copenhagen Wind Farm DEVELOPER: EDF Renewable Energy LOCATION: Town of Denmark SIZE: Up to 47 turbines STATUS: Construction possible in 2018 NAME: Number Three Wind Farm DEVELOPER: Invenergy Wind North America LOCATION: Towns of Lowville and Harrisburg SIZE: 35 to 50 turbines STATUS: Construction possible by 2019 NAME: Deer River Wind Farm DEVELOPER: Avangrid Renewables (parent company is Iberdola) LOCATION: Towns of Harrisburg, Montague and Pinckney SIZE: Up to 40 turbines STATUS: Still in early development NAME: Roaring Brook Wind Power Project DEVELOPER: Avangrid Renewables LOCATION: Town of Martinsburg SIZE: 39 turbines STATUS: Proposed in 2007, could be built in conjunction with Deer River

JEFFERSON COUNTY: NAME: Galloo Island Wind DEVELOPER: Apex Clean Energy LOCATION: Town of Hounsfield SIZE: 32 turbines STATUS: Still under development NAME: Horse Creek Wind Farm DEVELOPER: Avangrid Renewables LOCATION: Towns of Clayton, Brownville, Lyme and Orleans SIZE: 60 to 72 turbines STATUS: Still under development NAME: Mad River Wind Farm DEVELOPER: Avangrid Renewables LOCATION: Towns of Redfield and Worth SIZE: Up to 125 turbines STATUS: Still under development

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY: NAME: North Ridge Wind Farm DEVELOPER: Avangrid Renewables LOCATION: Towns of Parishville and Hopkinton SIZE: Up to 40 turbines proposed STATUS: Still in early development, with construction possibly to begin in 2020 20 | NNY Business | April 2017

COV E R ST O RY North from Maple Ridge Wind Farm is the Number Three Wind Farm, in development now by Invenergy in Lewis County; and the proposed Copenhagen Wind Farm. Projects like these would put New York state well on the way to meeting Gov. Cuomo’s goal of the state meeting a full 50 percent of its energy needs with renewables.

A ground-mounted, $7.6-million solar array was begun last October at BOCES’ Watertown campus to provide 2.5 megawatts of energy to lower power bills by about 40 percent for taxpayers in municipalities throughout Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Franklin counties.

The Adirondack North Country Association in 2016 received funding from the Conservation Fund and CSX Transportation to purchase equipment and supplies for a solar-powered, refrigerated truck that will transport food in a farm-to-fork cooperative kitchen from independent farms and producers to communities throughout Northern New York. The funding, part of the Transporting Healthy Food grant, allows producers to increase revenue by expanding delivery radiuses while bringing healthy, local food to consumers.

The North Country Regional Sustainability Plan, produced as part of the statewide “Cleaner Green Communities” initiative created by Gov. Cuomo and called “Our Economy,” details initiatives drawing on leadership from a sevencounty consortium. With help from the Adirondack North Country Association, Ecology and Environment, and hundreds of participants across the region, “Our Economy” outlines the entire north country’s vision for a more sustainable, environmentally viable future.

Sections of the report address subjects like energy, water and transportation and include plans like removing the burden on schools to pay for unsustainable (financially and environmentally) oil heat and instead invest in renewable, woodbased biofuels.

“Our Economy” also maintains that the north country could easily position itself as New York state’s greenest energy economy. Echoing the sentiments of business owners and politicians, the report claims it would be more cost-effective to pay for the installation of renewable energy systems to power municipalities throughout the state than to make neces-

sary upgrades to existing, unsustainable power grids.

And last month, New York City hit a milestone when residents and businesses surpassed generation of more than 100 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable solar power, according to an announcement from Con Edison. Con Edison customers there have completed 9,700 projects totaling 101.2 MW. That’s enough to power more than 15,000 homes.

THE MACRO STRENGTH OF MICROGRIDS

But there’s another use for renewable energy that has only just begun to get real attention; and that’s the potential for “microgrids”—small, centralized sources of electricity capable of functioning independently for a small network of users— to power clusters of homes, businesses and municipalities, while additionally providing energy during natural disasters like ice storms.

“Unfortunately, most of what you read is an anti-wind position,” said Donald C. Alexander, CEO of the Jefferson County Industrial Agency (JCIDA). “But really, that is a very small part of what we are proposing to do in the energy sector. We see two major development areas for the economy: valuated agriculture, and alternative energies. Mother Nature was really kind to give us some really wonderful, natural attributes to produce energy: hydro, biomass, photovoltaic, wind and geothermal.”

From Mr. Alexander’s perspective, this region is in a unique position to produce its own energy and to sell it elsewhere; like to cities downstate.

“There is huge potential for this area to produce energy and bring it to places that need it,” he said. “For example, the north country could produce power that’s sold to New York City. We are in a very enviable position to be able to generate a good deal of this type of very soughtafter energy now. The old, hydrocarbon industry—the coal, the oil—has been polluting the environment for a very long time. And people have been saying that in order to protect what we have, we have to do something different. Picking up the slack, we believe, will be alternative energy.”

Mr. Alexander points to renewable energy efforts throughout New York State to bolster what he believes will be a

C O V E R S T O RY JUSTIN SORENSEN n NNY BUSINESS Fourth Coast Engineer Rob Campany visits Swan Bay Estates and Marina where they installed a solar array.

game-changer for the North Country.

“The governor (Andrew Cuomo) is trying to revitalize the energy in New York state,” he said. “The reason he is doing it is because it has been estimated that to improve the infrastructure for us to maintain our current energy system, we would have to expend more than $100 billion in order to upgrade. Frankly, you and I would pay for that through rate structures that utilities would have to charge.”

The alternative to upgrading outdated systems could be micro generation, or “micro-grid” generation, in which energy is produced on-site and distributed to customers. The prospect of cheap, renewable resources at home encouraged Mr. Alexander and others more than a decade ago to start dreaming up plans for a microgrid in Watertown.

“At one point, we moved from computers that went to a big mainframe,” Mr. Alexander said. “And now, you have small computers that stand on their own.

We’re doing the same now with power.

We generate locally, we distribute locally, and we eliminate the need to upgrade our old system. Instead of paying someone in the Middle East to take the oil out of the ground… why don’t we pay someone in Jefferson County to produce energy?”

power multiple buildings (dealerships, car washes and collision centers) is a microcosm of what municipalities are now looking to do for clusters of homes, businesses, schools and hospitals.

“Obviously,” Mr. Davidson said, “the cost-benefit of producing your energy from the sun versus National Grid was substantial. So that led us to doing it on all 11 of our buildings. After the first two, which was new construction, we liked the idea and it was working and generating power. So we added it to all our buildings.”

But wasn’t it scary? Who drops millions of dollars on solar panels without any knowledge of how well they might work?

“The first one, obviously was just a venture we knew nothing about,” Mr. Davidson said. “The conversation made sense. The financial benefits made sense, over time, once you paid for it. So by having a couple in the beginning; that allowed us to know that it worked. Our original installations will have paid for themselves by 2020. Without question, it was a little intimidating at first. But energy costs are just going to keep coming up. Renewable energy is worth the investment.”

NNY BUSINESSES KNOW: THERE’S NO PROFIT WITHOUT RISK

RENEWABLE ENERGY FEEDS BUSINESS OWNERS’ PASSIONS

What Davidson Automotive has produced with its extensive solar arrays is essentially a series of individualized microgrids. Building solar fields that connect to roof-mounted systems and

For most successful people, their business grows from a national passion. “Do what you love,” they say, “and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

So it goes for High Peaks Solar’s lead system designer, Kevin Bailey. “I was lucky,” he said. “I knew what I wanted to do when I got out of college, and that was somehow working in solar. I took some classes at SUNY Albany, and thought it would be a great field to get into. Not really knowing where to start or having a technical background, I saw an ad for this thing called SolarFest in Vermont. It was a 100 percent renewably powered music festival. So, I went up there and met a man who lives off the grid and had been working in solar for 20 years already. He offered me an unpaid internship. I took it and worked up there in building off-grid solar systems for cabins. I eventually got a technical degree from a community college, and filed my business.”

Mr. Bailey said the Davidson Automotive project is High Peak Solar’s biggest undertaking to date—and, he surmises, probably one of the largest privately owned facilities in the state. “We did it in pieces,” Bailey said, “because NYSERDA’s [New York State Energy Research and Development] program changed and allowed for larger sizes to be incentivized. We started by doing a system on the roof; then, when [NYSERDA] expanded the systems, we did the ground mount system out back. It was about a four-year process.”

But how efficient are solar panels today? Can they meet electricity needs 100 percent of the time?

“It’s a sharing thing with the grid,” Mr. Bailey explained. “It [solar] puts power April 2017 | NNY Business

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AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS Jefferson County Industrial Development Agency CEO Donald C. Alexander has hopes for networks of microgrids being developed in industrial parks around the north country.

into the grid at times, and the buildings take power from the grid at other times.

During summer stretches, those systems are probably producing three or four times the power being consumed. Most people who have the grid don’t do storage. In a few cases our customers have opted for it, and we do offer that, but storage batteries are still relatively expensive. In most situations, the grid actually acts as your battery.”

To showcase the different options available to customers, High Peaks Solar has a showroom set up in Wynantskill, N.Y. displaying some of the newest photovoltaic technology on the market.

That includes inverters, charge controllers, solar modules and mounting options. The company’s technicians have done PV installation work in New York, Vermont, Haiti, Tanzania, and Colorado, and they’re so serious about renewable energy they even use 99 percent biodiesel made from used cooking oil as much as possible in company vehicles.

NOT JUST FOR PROFIT, BUSINESSES CAN USE RENEWABLES TO GIVE BACK

Some businesses don’t stop at profit margins gleaned from renewable resources.

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Instead, they’re finding ways to give back that utilize the same green endeavors that have made them money. Case in point: High Peaks’ Mr. Bailey, who in 2006 started The Sky Is Not Limited. That non-profit brings clean water to at-need communities by utilizing renewable energies to power water projects.

The premise for The Sky Is Not Limited is simple: Mr. Bailey’s well aware that 1 billion people worldwide have no access to clean or running water. So his organization has since 2011 donated about a dozen deep, solar-powered wells with five more planned in 2017 to the Mkuranga district of Tanzania in a partnership with the African Reflections Foundation.

The wells offer fresh, clean water to entire villages that include schools.

SMALL SYSTEMS CAN PACK THE BIGGEST PUNCH

From Mr. Alexander’s vantage point, investments by municipalities, businesses and residences in renewable energy are one-time payments for what will be longterm, (virtually) free usage.

“Once we build the plants to take advantage of these hydros and biomasses,” he said, “the cost of the energy material is

free. Our agency has been looking at this since 2004, and we’ve been examining the whole market about how to develop this.

We have done a great deal of homework.”

Part of that “homework” included a 2006 “regional scoping analysis” of things like energy requirements for and capacity of a microgrid at the Jefferson County Corporate Park off outer Coffeen Street in Watertown. “From that scoping analysis,” Alexander said, “we began to develop a strategy. Four or five years ago, we hired Arcadia to help us develop the first microgrid to be used at our corporate park.

It is just about ready! We will distribute this locally, reduce costs, stabilize the supply of energy—there’s no worry about hurricanes or ice storms—and have backup systems in place so if one element fails there is backup. This could include solar photovoltaic, wind, or geothermal.”

That microgrid is set to offer power to Jefferson Community College and the town of Watertown’s Fire District Station 3, in addition to local businesses including North American Tapes, Car-Freshner, Timeless Frames, Allied Motion and Henderson Manufacturing.

“The financing is developed, but it will probably be a couple of years by the time

C O V E R S T O RY we sort out all the sources of generation, the infrastructure, and underground power lines connecting all of these entities,” Mr. Alexander said. The plans, he added, will continue regardless of legislation or disagreements in political circles.

“We will continue to do this,” he said.

“No matter what anyone in Washington says, we are so dependent on the Middle East for power. God knows what will continue happening there, but we can be sure of continued risks to relying on tenuous energy agreements. Additionally, the global environment is only going to get worse if we don’t change. As a very practical matter, why would I want to send my money overseas for energy instead of paying someone in New York for these utilities?”

“The substation on Coffeen Street, which is owned by National Grid, has some problems. And it needs to be upgraded. It is sending intermittent—I’ll call them pulses—energy stops for moments here and there, in ways you never see, but they’re momentary interruptions that stop their equipment. And it takes, say, $1,000 to $2,000 to restart it. And this happens frequently! These are things we are all paying for in our energy bills. The microgrid eliminates that, because energy is being generated right at the grid,” Mr. Alexander said.

THINKING OF TAKING THE PLUNGE?

For businesses considering the renewables market, Mr. Bailey said the main consideration should be how long you’ll be in the building you’re in now. “You have to want to be in the place for a while—don’t move in couple of years!

This is an investment in your business’ future.”

Starting costs for renewable-energy systems can be as modest as $5,000 for a small installation. “The one thing that always stays constant is that if you use energy efficiently, you’ll require less,” he said. “As soon as you flip the switch, you’re supplementing grid power. So it’s pretty much an instant savings. The upfront investment is money you’re going to spend over time anyway. So in this case you’re just kind of pre-buying your energy.”

Part of the incentive of going with renewable energies are the tax incentives available to people buying the equipment. “A tax-paying business or indi-

vidual can get a system cost down very low by getting tax credits,” Bailey said.

“They are the key to making the economics work. Incentives are still available, and will be for another two or three years before they’re scheduled to expire.”

In addition to taking advantage of those tax breaks, businesses investing in renewables enjoy a plethora of other benefits. Those include everything from a positive reputation and higher consumer demand to tremendous cost savings with lower energy bills. For a giant example of that, look at chemical company DuPont.

That business saved more than $3 billion over the course of 20 years by reducing carbon emissions and capping energy spending.

“Renewable energy is becoming more mainstream and people most definitely recognize it,” said Fourth Coast’s Mr. Campany. “Like anything, any good business owner is skeptical of anything new and they want to make sure it’s a valid technology. And in the last few years, renewable energy has gained a lot of credibility. Business owners are switching over now more than ever. All installers can tap into NYSERDA credits if they pay into the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).”

For those who don’t know, on every National Grid bill sent to customers, there is an RPS item line. “What that is,” Mr. Campany said, “is money is collected by National Grid and redistributed to people who want to undertake renewable energy projects.” In other words, your installer can help you tap into that money, which would be used to offset costs of setting up renewable-energy systems at your business or home.

“Any good business owner is going to look at the economics,” Mr. Campany

said. “You can fix your energy costs from year to year so you’re not guessing at what your cost of electricity is going to be. And certainly, businesses should strive to be responsible from an environmental standpoint and feel responsible for helping to minimize fossil fuel use.

Most business owners are very conscientious. And oftentimes, explaining the economics gives them what they need to move forward. The reality is, with these incentives and credits most commercial and residential systems pay for themselves in less than 10 years.”

RENEWABLES ARE A WIN-WIN FOR NEW YORK BUSINESSES

Mr. Davidson of Davidson Automotive said he sees switching to renewable energies as a win-win for Northern New York businesses. He noted that in addition to attracting customers by being “green,” companies could bring energy costs down to what is essentially net-zero once the renewable installation has paid for itself.

“If the panels don’t last or there are a lot of repairs, we could experience a different result,” he said. “But even if the panels diminish each year in productivity, systems will still pay for themselves.

Energy costs are just going to keep going up. There are still a lot of unknowns. But I can say that our systems are definitely producing energy, and producing exactly what they told us it would produce.”

Whether for reasons related to cost, reputation or ethics, renewable energy is a boon to New York businesses—and for business heads like Mr. Davidson, seeing green comes, at its most basic, with a big return on investment.

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S M A LL B US INES S S UCCESS

New Business Advisor Advances Online Marketing Strategies

B

rick-and-mortar stores looking to revitalize our downtowns sometimes overlook the power of the internet in bringing in new customers. I have seen several stores in the north country that don’t have a solid website or engaging social media. If this is the case for your shop or business, it might be time to think about improving your online presence. Think about this: If a tourist drives by, will your pizza place pop up on their smartphone when they are looking for lunch? If not, your local Small Business Development Centers can help you bring in more tourists and more locals, too, by assisting you with your online marketing strategy.

At the SUNY Canton SBDC, we have a new business advisor who is doing just that. Her name is Renee Goodnow and she is working with small businesses in St. Lawrence County to help them improve their online and social media presence.

The position was funded through a grant from the Alcoa Foundation, which is looking to help small businesses in the region expand their services beyond brick-and-mortar stores into e-commerce, where they can reach a significantly larger customer base.

Renee has a background in industrial design and has also helped run a local small business, so she comes to the SBDC with a wide range of skills that she will use to assist business owners in meeting their internet marketing goals. Renee can assist with website design, the revamping of an old website for a more modern look, and also help you learn how to market the site to reach more customers. For those of you who would like a website or a stronger social media presence, but don’t have

24 | NNY Business | April 2017

the time to do it yourself, Renee can help you get connected with a local web developer who can be a long-term resource for your business.

Renee can also connect your busiJennifer McClusky ness with local resources in the community, such as photographers and videographers, who can improve the way your business communicates visually with the world. She can help you craft your message and your brand by helping you communicate what is unique about your business. She can also help with logo design, or hook your business up with a local company for logo and other branding designs. Just as with the rest of the services the Small Business Development Center provides, there is no charge for this assistance.

Renee can meet with you one-on-one and can assess your needs. Some of the ways she is helping clients already include: • Working with several business owners to help them develop their first websites.

• Talking with business owners about setting up and marketing their business Facebook pages.

• Helping business owners decide which social media outlets are right for them and how to maximize their presence on each.

• Logo development.

• Assistance with creating compelling

photographs and videos for marketing.

• Teaching business owners how to rank higher on search engines through search engine optimization (SEO) techniques.

Renee also will be setting up free training at different locations around the county to help business owners learn how to better market themselves online. The first training in January about social media marketing, presented by Molly Williams from Railroad Productions, was a great success drawing over 30 business owners who learned how to use Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets to better share their voice and their brand with customers. The second training in March, with co-presenters Nate Lashomb from the Massena Chamber of Commerce and Jason Hendricks from H3 Designs, also drew a wide variety of business customers and covered a lot of information about web design and search engine optimization.

If you are interested in developing your social media presence, brand, or would like to have Renee assist your business in improving your online presence, you can contact her at the Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton at (315) 386-7312 or via email goodnowr@ canton.edu. Keep an eye on the SBDC’s Facebook page to find out about more upcoming trainings. The Watertown SBDC at Jefferson Community College also has many resources available to assist your business with your online presence, and can be reached at 315-782-9262. n JENNIFER MCCLUSKEY is a certified business advisor with the New York State Small Business Development Center at SUNY Canton.

Contact her at McCluskeyj@canton.edu.

AG RIBU S I NE S S

Agriculture Gearing Up for the Event Season

W

arm weather is on the way!

At least by July the snow will be gone and it’ll be time to get outside. If you visit www. jeffersoncountyagriculture. com and click on the calendar tab at the top, you’ll be taken to our calendar of agriculture for Jefferson County and Northern New York. Here are a few of the many events, found on the website, which you can look forward to in 2017.

On April 21, the annual Jefferson County Agricultural Development Conference will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Watertown. From 9 to 10:45 a.m., Chris Lorence from Christopher A. Lorence PR & Marketing Services will provide a workshop on advanced use of social media for marketing and advertising in agriculture. Mr. Lawrence will take course participants on a journey exploring how to use social media for advanced advertising of products and services offered by farms and agribusinesses. The workshop is free, but participants must register in advance due to limited seating capacity.

Following Mr. Lorence at 11a.m., Christine Watkins, executive director of Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation, will provide a presentation on the environmental stewardship efforts of our agricultural industry, highlighting the tremendous work and expense our farms put forward to maintain and improve the quality of the environment in which we live. Mrs. Watkins presentation will be geared both for the public and farm community. Following Mrs. Watkins there will be a light lunch for conference participants. During lunch, I will present my annual overview of our agricultural industry report, discussing the challenges and highlights from 2016 and looking forward into 2018.

Our keynote presentation at the Agricultural Development Conference will feature a panel presentation from Nichole Hirt and William Stowell. Mrs. Hirt is the agricultural program teacher from Jay Matteson Indian River High School and Indian River FFA advisor. Mr. Stowell is the South Jefferson High School agricultural teacher and FFA advisor.

Together Mr. Stowell and Mrs. Hirt will look at agricultural education in our local area and across New York State and share with our audience their thoughts on how agricultural education in our classrooms relates to workforce development in the agricultural industry and the challenges and opportunities we face.

While the Agricultural Development Conference is free, advanced registration is required by April 14. Those interested may register by calling 315-782-5865 or emailing coordinator@comefarmwithus.com.

On Saturday, May 6, Old McDonald’s Farm Agricultural Education Center near Sackets Harbor will open its doors for the season, weather permitting. If you have not visited Old McDonald’s Farm, it is a real treat. As one of the largest agricultural education centers in New York state, it is a fantastic place to take your children to have fun and learn about agriculture. Visit their website at www.oldmcdonaldhasafarm. com.

Planning has started for the Jefferson County Dairyland Festival and Parade on

Friday, June 2. The festival kicks off at 9 a.m. at the Dulles State Office Building on Washington Street in Watertown. The festival is geared for children ages pre-school through sixth grade. The festival includes interactive exhibits, displays and demonstrations related to our dairy industry and agriculture.

Schools may register their classes by visiting www.jeffersoncountyagriculture.com and clicking on the festival link on the right hand side of the home page. Classes must register to attend before May 5. The second part of the exciting celebration is the Dairy Parade which kicks off at 7 p.m. The parade lines up at Watertown High School and proceeds down Washington Street, ending at the State Office Building. The judging stand is directly in front of the State Office Building, where our Master of Ceremonies provides live narration of the entire parade. The parade is full of exciting and fun entries, including marching bands, HUGE farm equipment, fire trucks, live animals, floats, youth groups and businesses. Anyone wishing to enter the parade may also visit www.jeffersoncountyagriculture.com and follow the directions on the festival page. Entry forms must be submitted by May 22. The parade is a “points parade” for local fire departments. At 8 p.m., the Jefferson County Dairy Princess and her court will dish out free ice cream sundaes in the Dulles State Office Building for everyone as long as supplies last.

There are many more events, activities, workshops and meetings that may be of interest to you. Check the calendar on our website to keep track of what is happening that you might be interested in. There is a lot to do in our great agricultural community! n JAY M. MATTESON is agricultural coordinator for the Jefferson County Local Development Corp. Contact him at coordinator@comefarmwithus.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

April 2017 | NNY Business

| 25

R EA L E STATE ROUNDUP

Tax Breaks You Can Only Claim as a Homeowner

T

here are many benefits associated with homeownership. The American Dream offers financial gain, stability, and many social benefits. One of the biggest benefits associated with homeownership can be found when filing your taxes and, depending on your situation, there may be thousands of dollars coming back your way.

“Homeownership is an investment in your future,” said Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors President Vickie Staie. “It is where we make memories and feel comfortable and secure, it strengthens communities, and it offers homeowners financial security. Tax breaks are just one of many benefits of being a homeowner, and even those who have owned a home for years may be unaware of all of the opportunities for savings.”

As the deadline to file taxes approaches, the Jefferson-Lewis and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors want to remind homeowners of the many tax benefits, savings and deductions they can take advantage of simply by owning a home.

THE MORTGAGE INTEREST DEDUCTION (MID) This may be the most notable and advantageous tax benefit that homeowners enjoy.

The MID allows homeowners to deduct the interest paid on a mortgage debt of up to $1 million on a primary residence and one additional residence. It is especially helpful in the early years of a mortgage when the monthly payment goes largely toward interest.

PROPERTY TAXES It is widely known that being a homeowner means paying taxes on your

property to local government, whether it is the city, county or state. What you might not know is that these taxes are entirely deductible from your federal income tax, which is more great tax news for homeowners.

Lance Evans

MORTGAGE INSURANCE PREMIUM DEDUCTION Homeowners with incomes of no more than $100,000 can deduct their mortgage insurance premiums if they were required to obtain insurance as a condition of receiving financing for the home. With the current obstacles that prospective homebuyers face, such as student loan debt, the deduction is a benefit that can save homeowners a great deal of money.

“If you are on the fence about buying a home, taking advantage of these tax benefits can help put your dream home within reach,” said Debbie Gilson, president of the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors.

“By working with a Realtor, a member of the National Association of Realtors, you can better understand the home-buying process and the many benefits that come with owning a home.”

Congress is considering eliminating or curtailing some or all of these tax benefits. Members of Congress from both Houses and both parties have expressed a high level of interest in reforming the tax system. Many Washington observers

point to Republican-control of the House, Senate, and White House as the primary reason a version of tax reform may finally be enacted. Much work remains before any tax reform plan comes up for any votes.

This ongoing debate places a variety of tax laws, including those affecting commercial and residential real estate, under increased scrutiny.

Realtors are working to preserve these benefits. American homeowners already pay between 80 and 90 percent of all federal income taxes. Without the MID, for instance, that figure could rise to 95 percent. It’s particularly troubling considering the fact that more than half of families who claim the MID earn less than $100,000 per year.

The state and local property tax deduction is essential to homeowners as well. While paying property taxes is a part of owning a home, knowing that those payments to state and local governments can be deducted from their federal income tax brings some peace of mind. Without that deduction, homeowners would get taxed on the income used to pay their property taxes. This is a form of “double taxation” that hits home for lower- and middle-income households.

The value of these tax incentives is already figured into home prices, meaning there’s a very real likelihood that eliminating those benefits could cause home values to plummet. Please contact Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and let them know that these deductions are important and need to be preserved. n LANCE M. EVANS is the executive officer of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Realtors and the St. Lawrence County Board of Realtors.

Contact him at levans@nnymls.com. His column appears monthly in NNY Business.

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R E A L ES TATE / TOP T RAN SAC T IO N S The following property sales were recorded in the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office in the month of February:

The following property sales were recorded in the St. Lawrence County Clerk’s Office in the month of January:

$615,000: Feb. 17, Village of Cape Vincent: No acreage listed, Broadway, Claudia J. Blodgett, Cape Vincent, sold to Brian W. Ernisse and Silke G. Ernisse, Wilson.

$2,635,000: Jan. 5, Town of Fowler: 9 parcels, unknown address, bounded by County Route 22, Hampshire Paper Company Inc., Dover, N.H., sold to KE Emeryville LLC, Lewiston, Maine.

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$560,000: Jan. 19, Town of Parishville: Parcel 1) 465.60 acres more or less, Parcel 2) 23.67 acres more or less, Lot 14 and Lot 16, bounded by White Hill Road, Seaway Timber Harvesting Inc., Massena, sold to Charles A. and Julianne Rutley, Potsdam.

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$460,000: Feb. 23, Town of Watertown: 5.001 acres, Woodruff Settlement Road, Anel M. Abreu and Lara T. Abreu, Pleasanton, Calif., sold to Eduardo Barayauga, Watertown. $334,500: Feb. 1, Town of Watertown: 8.53 acres, Weaver Road, Daniel S. Dickinson, III, and Patricia M. Dickinson, Watertown, sold to Karen Lyons and John D. Lyons, Fort Drum. $300,000: Feb. 1, Town of Henderson: 4.44 acres, County Route 178 (Military Road), William A. Dallas and Cynthia E. Krake as trustees of William A. Dallas Living Trust, Watertown, sold to John S. Krake and Cynthia E. Krake, Watertown. $316,000: Feb. 3, Town of Champion: 0.8 acres, Cole Road, Taylor Park LLC, Carthage, sold to John H. Barnes, Jr., and Mia L. Barnes, Carthage. $290,000: Feb. 7, Village of Sackets Harbor: 0.233 acres, Monroe St., Karyn M. Mintz, Sackets Harbor, sold to Matthew E. Cain and Dana L. Patrick, Carthage. $289,997: Feb. 13, Town of Hounsfield: 0.8 acres, 21695/701 Storrs Road, Sackets Harbor, Daniel S. Dickinson, Watertown, as referee for James E. Ellinger, Jr., Jenna M. Mooney and Ryan Mooney, sold to U.S. Bank Trust N.A., as trustee for LSF9 Master Participation Trust, Oklahoma City, Okla. $285,000: Feb. 23, Town of Watertown: 2.781 acres, Swan Road, Timothy R. Galligos and Kelly H. Galligos, Fort Wayne, Ind., sold to John W. Dille and Maria E. Dille, Watertown. $275,000: Feb. 21, Town of Brownville: No acreage listed, Perch Lake Road, Robert A. Brown, Jr., Lee, N.H., sold to Russell T. Greeley and Krystal Greeley, Grovetown, Ga. $270,000: Feb. 23, Town of Orleans: 0.13 acres, Front St., Douglas J. Reed and Sharon M. Reed, Punta Gorda, Fla., sold to Gene R. Fruehling and Jacalyn W. Fruehling as trustees of the Revocable Living Trust Agreement of Gene R. Fruehling and Jacalyn M. Fruehling, West Palm Beach, Fla.

$267,000: Jan. 18, Town of Morristown: 1.35 acres more or less, bounded by New York State Highway 37, Robert P. and Mary Bridget Dolan, Ogdensburg, sold to John J. and Jane C. Inghem, Boca Raton, Fla. $250,000: Jan. 9, Village of Potsdam: 0.70 of an acre more or less, bounded by Market Street, Shockpin C. Chungfat III, Potsdam, sold to Raquette River Real Estate LLC, Ogdensburg. $190,000: Jan. 3, Town of DeKalb: 20.28 acres more or less, Lots 422 and 423, bounded by County Route 19, Fredericks S. Morrill, DeKalb Junction, sold to Christopher Perrigo, Gouverneur. $180,000: Jan. 9, Village of Massena: 0.47 of an acre more or less, Lot 18 and Lot 19, bounded by Churchill Avenue, Megan E. Smith, Massena, sold to Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc., Morris Plains. $147,931: Jan. 9, Town of Lisbon: Unknown acres, bounded by Sparrowhawk Point Road (foreclosure), Richard V. Manning Esq., referee in action, Norman M. Kulba et al, no addresses given, sold to MTGLQ Investors L.P., no address given. $145,000: Jan. 9, Town of Colton: 0.50 of an acre more or less, Section 13, bounded

by River Road, Scott M. and Katie M. Geidel, Potsdam, sold to Megan E. Thayer, Colton. $143,000: Jan. 5, Town of Stockholm: Unknown acres, bounded by Green Lot, Rick Seguin, Brasher Falls, sold to Kristopher R. and Brittany L. Boettcher, Potsdam. $125,000: Jan. 9, Village of Massena: Unknown acres, bounded by Bayley Road and Merritt Street, St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Church, Massena, sold to Boys and Girls Club of Massena Inc., Massena.

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20 QU E STIONS

A RICH LIFE OF GIVING DPAO founder recalls service to comAMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS

M

ore than 40 years ago, Joe Rich left a successful broadcasting career to start Disabled Persons Action Organization. Today, the agency helps hundreds of children and adults with disabilities. To help fund the services, the agency hosts a concert series that a study has found pumps millions of dollars into the local economy. We spoke with Mr. Rich about the concerts and his career.

NNYB: How did you come to start DPAO?

RICH: There was a boy by the name of Ronnie Donato who was accidently shot in a hunting accident and had spinal injuries and as a result of that he was destined to stay in hospitals the rest of his life. He couldn’t even breathe on his own. I was working at WWNY radio and television and I asked my boss, who was Bob Tompkins at the time, I said, “Would it be possible if we had a fundraiser and raised some money?” And he ran it up the flagpole and said, ”Sure,” and we raised enough money to put an addition on his home on Lillian Street and buy life-support equipment. We had contractors and everyone donated enough so that we could do that. He was able to come home and live at home. But after we did that, the phones wouldn’t stop ringing. “Joe, what about my son?

What about my daughter? Can you help them?”

And at the time, one of the biggest needs I 28 | NNY Business | April 2017

n

munity and lasting impacts. found were people who fell in the cracks and couldn’t be helped by existing agencies, so we started a DBA agency known as Foundation for the Handicapped and we became incorporated and a 501(C)3 and all that. We changed it to Disabled Persons Action Organization.

NNYB: Leaving a position as a broadcaster was a bold career move. Was it a difficult decision?

RICH: Very difficult. I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing (with DPAO) and keep working there. So I kind of ended my own career at Channel 7. I gave up (broadcasting), but I also wanted to do something positive for people. For the first I don’t know how many years, more than five years, I didn’t get paid. There always seemed to be someone there to help and the one primarily there to help was my wife. She put up with an awful lot, I’m not kidding you, over the years.

NNYB: Did you ever envision that DPAO would grow into an organization with 150 employees and one that now serves more than 500 children, adults and their families?

RICH: You know what the interesting part is, if you figure out with respite how many people we actually impact, it’s well over 1,000. You count the 500; what about mom and dad crying

on my shoulder saying, “What can you do for me?” So, no. The answer is no. But I knew this: That once we stopped growing, we were fading away. Did I ever expect that we would have six locations, too? We’ve got four in Jefferson and two in Lewis (counties.) But, you know, because we do the concerts, we get calls from New York (City), we get calls from all over. We’re credited with actually being one of the very first agencies to start family support services.

NNYB: You’ve retired as DPAO’s executive director, but are still actively involved in the organization. What is your current role?

RICH: Right now, I’m president of the DPAO Foundation. The foundation’s made up of a board of directors and I’ll tell you why we set one up. The state comes in and says, “These funds are our funds.” And we were saying, “No they’re not, they’re donations that were made to DPAO or money we raised in concerts.” So we figured out what that amount was, and we transferred that amount over to the foundation. So when Cindy (Fitzpatrick), as (DPAO) director, needs funds for whatever—payroll, whatever it might be—she asks us for the funds.

NNYB: A recent survey conducted by the Center for Community Studies at Jefferson Community College found that DPAO’s Con-

2 0 Q U E S T I O NS cert Series has had a $10.2 million impact on the area’s economy over the past five years. Did that number surprise you?

and people like that we rely on, to know what we were doing for the community. We couldn’t do the shows without sponsors.

RICH: No. The year they used in the paper, last year, was our worst year ever. Lady Antebellum, it was a nightmare. To continue our niche— which we figure is our bigger show—it was costing us $400,000 per show. Alan Jackson is one, Reba McIntire was another, Journey was another. All those, 400 grand. And it became a situation where we really, honestly, had to take a look at it and say, “Are we really going to keep doing this?” The Lakeview Amphitheater (in Syracuse) has got something going on constantly. They have something going on all the time.

But also Turning Stone. Our dilemma is how many people go from here to there, where’s the cutoff point we both draw from—the Syracuse Amphitheater, Turning Stone, and there’s now one in Waterloo. They draw from Syracuse north, we draw from probably as far as Lowville and Pulaski. We also draw, for Alan Jackson— the comment made on Alan Jackson—was you couldn’t find a hotel room from Alexandria Bay to Binghamton. That’s how big this show was.

NNYB: Although the concerts clearly benefit the area, both economically and culturally, is it a growing challenge for DPAO to make money for its programs through the concerts?

NNYB: What was the purpose of conducting the JCC survey? What were you hoping to find out?

RICH: The reason we wanted it was because we wanted people to know what we were doing for the community. Here’s the main thing, and it’s a three-prong thing: We are able to help our kids. No one pays for repairs to our six buildings for the sake of the people who use those buildings. No one replaces the furniture that is ruined, no one replaces that. We need that money desperately. So, I knew we had done a study many years ago and it was over $1 million then, so I knew it had to be around $2 million a year now. What we wanted is for our sponsors,

RICH: Right now, it’s being discussed as to whether or not we might want to do special events, as well as concerts. Like, for example, an air show, something the general public would find very good. The Syracuse Amphitheater, they had one show, Brantley Gilbert. We had the same show a couple months later, and we sold out. So I don’t know the dynamics. It’s something that I’d like to figure out, but it is a concern. But the board is also quite savvy about what’s going on, and what do we do, and how do we survive. For example, one thought I had—and I don’t even know if it’s possible to do this—­if they put a covering over the ice (at the Watertown arena), that would extend my season, be able to do more shows. There’s somebody coming up from Syracuse that wants to talk to me about an outlet mall in the town of LeRay and he wants to put in an amphitheater. He asks me, “What do think about an amphitheater, how’s it going to do?” Well, I don’t know how it’s going to do, I really don’t.

NNYB: Are the concerts in jeopardy?

RICH: You know why it’s still a question, is because there are pockets of entertainment that are not being done in Syracuse. Shows like Shinedown, some of those shows that (Jefferson Community College) can’t afford to do. Maybe there is a way we could cooperate with the college in doing some of those shows.

Someone suggested maybe smaller concerts, and trying that out and having a number of

those. There are so many genres of music that we could do. What about Big Band? We used to do Big Bands, and they don’t do that there (in Syracuse.) But now the competition is not only Syracuse and Turning Stone, it’s these small events that are held, like Savory (Café) has rock shows all the time, the Franklin County Fair does something, the Lewis County Fair’s doing Charlie Daniels. I don’t give up. That’s why I had to have aortic valve replacement in my heart. Honestly, that’s why. It doesn’t run in the family.

NNYB: What is the money raised through concerts used for?

RICH: It’s, number one, if a child or an adult needs to go to another city for surgery, we help.

We had one severe case and the boy had to go to Boston Children’s Hospital. I contacted a person at Ramada Inn, they called the Ramada (in Boston) because the parents couldn’t afford to stay. They got a room for them free. But we had to pay something in addition to that, and the mileage and all that stuff; we gave them money for food so they could be with their child for the surgery. The child, some insurance covered it, some didn’t, but I don’t think we’ve turned away anybody. There’s no state money. There’s no money from the state to fix up our buildings and things like that. We had our building here sided; it was falling apart. This building was built in 1880-something; it was the first Sacred Heart Church, it was hauled over by a team of horses. I contacted friends and those friends gave me enough money to put siding on this. So I’m good for that, too.

NNYB: What is the cost of a typical concert?

RICH: If it’s indoors, it’s usually no more than $125,000 to $150,000. For an outdoor show, I would say it could be as much as $400,000.

The Joe Rich File AGE: 75 JOB: Founder and retired executive director of Disabled Persons Action Organization; president of DPAO’s Foundation.

FAMILY: Wife, Carol; children, Steven and Nicole; grandchildren, twins Jason and Daniel, 13, Joseph, 12, and Luke, 11.

HOMETOWN: Watertown EDUCATION: Attended Brown Institute of Broadcasting at the University of Minnesota; B.A. in journalism from Empire State College.

CAREER: Left a successful career in radio and television broadcasting in the early 1970s to focus on starting and expanding DPAO.

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS

LAST BOOK YOU’VE READ AND WOULD RECOMMEND: Anything written

by Ken Follett, as well as any works by James Michener.

April 2017 | NNY Business

| 29

20 QU E STIONS But we could also consider doing a show in the park. The problem is getting people from (Interstate) 81 to Thompson Park, because they come up from 81 from all over the place or down 81, so it might be a tricky thing to put in the park and figure out a way to get people to the park. Also, there’s no parking in the park.

NNYB: How much planning is required for each show?

RICH: Tremendous. Tremendous amount of planning. The riders that go along with these concerts are so thick. The problem we’re facing is this: Nobody wants to come to Watertown,

New York. I don’t mean to put it that way, but they want to go to Rochester, Buffalo, where they can not only make their money, but get their percentages on top of that. So, what we’ve got to do is figure out immediately how much is that show going to cost, and you’d better be able to pull the trigger. OK? You’ve got to pull the trigger. We’re not in the business where we just have to wait; you’ve got to pull the trigger on those shows or you’re not going to get them.

NNYB: Which shows are the most popular?

RICH: Well, classic rock is very popular, but even their prices have gone up. Shows that we

haven’t had before would be good ones to bring in. When we brought in Heart, that year we did very well. It’s almost like we made a lot of money that year and lost it the next. Anyway, country; young country is really hot right now.

The older country is still costing a lot; we just checked on a couple of shows and they’re at least $200,000 even for the Alabamas. Alabama and those like that are still up there in price. So, I would say about $125,000 to $150,000, maximum. We try to keep it $100,000 or under.

NNYB: How do you make a successful concert series in Watertown?

RICH: You do your best to try to figure out what people want. It’s just like a business. And then you figure out where they’re coming from, how many people can I expect. Does it have appeal across the board? What do the radio stations say? I call them constantly, all over, just to find out. And they give us a good idea of what’s popular and what isn’t popular. And I also do my own surveying. We are looking at special events, though. We’re thinking of doing two big shows and having special events for the others, but I don’t know how the sponsors would take that. That’s the problem you have, but we couldn’t do anything without them. Not only the sponsors, but we have people who have been coming to our shows for 40 years, 40, 50, years. They keep coming to help. You could bring anybody in and they’d still come.

NNYB: There has been talk over the years about the need in the area for a multipurpose facility to host events like concerts. Is there a need for such a facility, or do venues like the Watertown Municipal Arena fit the bill?

RICH: The answer is, by not having a multipurpose facility that will hold 6,000 people, it makes it almost impossible for us to have a concert series with big names, because the names all cost over $200,000. All the big names are over $200,000. So without having a facility like that and having competition in Syracuse—it makes it very, very difficult. But not only in Syracuse and Turning Stone in Verona—not only there— but also in Kingston. You’ve got the K-Rock Centre, that draws a lot of people as well. Plus, you’ve got your Jefferson County Fair, Lewis County Fair. Lewis and Franklin County Fairs have already announced big shows. Then you’ve got Fort Drum, and you’ve got other people.

The competition’s never been more difficult. I don’t want to do something that’s going to be bad for the taxpayer, who is struggling in some cases, because that’s not what I want to do. So if we can figure out a way to do it that benefits everyone, that’s not a burden on the taxpayer, then I’m in favor of it. And I‘m not trying to be political here. I would feel terrible thinking that somebody down the street can’t afford an extra tax on top of what they’re already paying. I wouldn’t be who I am if I thought that way.

NNYB: You have a special plan for the April

30 | NNY Business | April 2017

2 0 Q U E S T I O NS 21 concert featuring the Lettermen. Can you share some details?

RICH: This is what I always wanted to do.

Many people say, “We’re in the high-rises, we’re in the nursing homes, different apartment complexes, we can’t afford to go to your shows and we have no transportation to get there.” So I said, “Why don’t we do a show for them?” And I said, “How much can they afford?” Maybe 20 bucks. I said let’s have a show at the State Office Building, every seat is 20 bucks, we’ll bring the Lettermen in; people kind know who that is, older people kind of know who the Lettermen are. Anyway, I got Freeman Bus to pick them up and bring them back home to the high-rises. I don’t know what time to start that process, but that’s what we’ve got planned.

NNYB: Has there been any concert that has been especially memorable for you?

RICH: Oh, geez, so many of them, so many.

Loretta Lynn, back in the day, did a free show for DPAO. The reason she did it was because I had referred her son to a doctor in New York City for an ailment he had and she was just taken by that, that I would do that. She did a free show at Bonnie Castle and she said, “Please don’t tell my agent; he’ll want a cut.” We were in a boat, we’re heading over to Boldt Castle.

I’m sitting next to her and she says, “Oh, what a pretty castle. How much does that little castle cost, anyway?” She wanted to buy the castle.

That isn’t the end of the story. So, we’re walking around Boldt Castle, she likes to talk about her Native American heritage. She‘s picking up fossils along the way and giving them to me— bugs, I don’t know—she gives me a handful. I threw them back down—I don’t want to bring off anything you’re not supposed to bring off—so I threw them back down. We’re on the boat, heading back, and she says, “Joe, where are those rocks I gave you?” And I said, “Oh, I didn’t know you wanted me to keep them. I just threw them back.”

NNYB: You are also a co-founder of the 1 World Foundation, a global initiative to support the disabled. How did that come about?

RICH: I went down to the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1972 for the altruistic purpose of buying land. And I had a grand total of $500 on me because I had read in Life magazine you could buy land for $500 in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I was there for a while and I noticed that kids were running around with some pretty serious health issues. We had a small base down there to help track submarines going into Cuba—and other traffic—and it just appalled me to think that we had a base there and we couldn’t spend a few dollars trying to help some of the kids in the islands. I just promised myself if I was ever in a position to be of help there I would. Anyway, I contacted an organization called Ongwanada and the executive director thought it was a great idea

for us to get together those agencies that were interested in helping, and sharing information on best practices in serving people with special needs. That developed into Canadian-American exchanges where we would maybe have a twoor three-day session with a whole schedule of meetings, speakers and so on, and then I said, “I wonder if there’s something we can do in the Turks and Caicos Islands to help some of the kids?” The Turks and Caicos government said, “We’d love to have you help us until we can sustain those services ourselves.” The biggest thing they needed was a small clinic—not even a full hospital—a small clinic. Anyway, we started doing that and we had one concert a year out at Bonnie Castle trying to raise enough money to try to send people down. Now in more recent years they pay for the full shot themselves. 1 World is still based right here in Watertown, at our (DPAO) building.

NNYB: You’ve been at this more than 40 years.

What gives you the motivation to continue?

help with the human condition, and that I gave back to the community in doing so. If anyone deserves recognition, apart from me, it’s my wife.

Honest to God, it’s not me. I would have not been able to do half the things I’m doing now without her and I feel very strongly about that.

All along my career it seems as though there’s always been someone to guide me. All along the way, there was always someone to help me.

NNYB: You haven’t been very good at this whole retirement thing. Any chance you will be slowing down any time soon?

RICH: No. No. We really want to slow down, because I think I’m being a pain in the ass to a lot of people by staying on. I mean that sincerely. Every once in a while, you hear feedback: “When are you going to retire, when are you going to get away from everything?” And sometimes I’m scared stiff of what’s going on.

It’s something I started. It’s something I want to keep going strong. I’m making a concerted effort not to be involved so much anymore and to try to help other agencies in the county, one of them being the library. I’d love to be able to something for the Flower Library and I’m trying to work on that now. They can handle it here.

They do a great job for us. I think the world of them.

RICH: I guess when you start something— you’re the mother or the father of the agency— it’s hard to give it up. That’s why I’m doing it for nothing. And I’m not only doing that, I‘m doing things for other agencies, as well. Right now, I’m trying to figure out a way to help the Flower Memorial Library. I want to do ~Interview conducted by Brian Kelly. Edited for clarsomething for them. But, I guess it’s a thing ity and length to fit this space. where I want things to go right. And if I can impart any information that helps them, ROVEN NERGY and not take away from their ingenuity and Y S T E M S St. Lawrence, not take away from Jefferson Counties S OLAR & GEOTHERMAL SPECIALISTS what they’re trying to and Northern WWW.PROVENENERGYSYSTEMS.COM do, that means a lot N.Y.! to me. So, I don’t plan to get in their way, but I’m chairman of the CALL FOR A QUOTE! board, so I do have an oversight responsibility to make sure we’re • Solar Systems doing the right things • Geothermal Systems to raise money to keep our programs going. I’ll be getting off that, and hopefully off 1 World.

Don’t forget, I’m also on the board of SUNY Canton and I’m an emeriti at Watertown Savings Bank. But I’m very much involved in what I do.

P

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Serving

(315) 771-6483

NNYB: You are already a member of Watertown High School’s Wall of Achievement.

What do you hope your legacy will be?

RICH: Honestly, that I did my best to try and

Cut Your Electric Bill

Drastically

Current incentives and tax credits are making our systems more affordable!

April 2017 | NNY Business

| 31

N ON PR OFITS TODAY

World of Working Poor Misunderstood

T

he late Art Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a millionaire many times over, lived in the same house on the north side of Pittsburgh from the 1930s until his death in 1988.

That seemingly insignificant fact is actually an example of a very significant point made in the book “Our Kids, The American Dream in Crisis” by Robert Putnam.

Children in America today don’t experience the same variety of life—and views—as children did decades ago because they no longer live around families of different economic standing. Anybody living today in the same economic stratosphere Rooney conquered years ago would never live in the same neighborhood for 50 years, surrounded by an increasing number of unknown neighbors who can only afford to live where property values are declining.

Through voices and statistics, Putnam shows how we have become a nation of economically segregated communities.

The world of the impoverished and the working poor is all around, but it is misunderstood and misinterpreted by those well off because often our only interactions – if there are any at all – are through the service industry. We only speak when you take my dinner order or when you show me in which aisle I can find light bulbs.

If asked, we can give myriad examples of how the world has changed dramatically over the last 30 years because of the digital revolution. We get our money out of an ATM, our music out of a phone, our weather forecast out of an app. Communication isn’t the same; sports aren’t the same; medicine isn’t the same, education is not the same.

But with poverty, many of us are guilty of thinking the same things we thought 30 years ago.

Such as, poverty can be ended overnight, if only: 1) People would stop being lazy and pull themselves up by their bootstraps, and 2) Government would stop giving away so much welfare.

32 | NNY Business | April 2017

Except there is this: The economic decline of the U.S. since the 1980s has ensured that more people do not have the wherewithal to be self-sufficient. The ability for thousands of Bob Gorman north country citizens to create sufficient wealth—such as that produced on assembly lines at Air Brake, General Motors and a myriad other businesses in the north country— has disappeared.

With the loss of stable, 40-hour-a-week jobs that included health insurance and pensions, thousands of people under the age of 40 have entered a job market that bears no relationship to the world their parents entered. Meanwhile, the ability to hand down financial support from one generation to the next is eroding as well.

And that trend will continue, as outlined in the book “Humans Need Not Apply” by Jerry Kaplan, who has been at the epicenter of the creation of “artificial intelligence” for the last 40 years.

While government crows loudest when employment is highest, business is most

profitable when it employs the fewest people possible. And artificial intelligence – from the airline and concert tickets you buy online today to the driverless vehicle you will buy/rent in a few years – is eliminating one job after another, particularly those that the working poor are most able to do.

(Just to be fair, Kaplan points out that artificial intelligence will eventually be providing the majority of initial medical diagnoses and routine legal work, knocking off a lot of jobs in medicine and law too.)

This is producing one massive conundrum: Government is trying to move those in poverty and the working poor toward jobs that are being eliminated by artificial intelligence.

Right now around 100 citizens in Watertown are taking part in a program that is trying to find local answers to that very issue. The Watertown/Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative (ESPRI) is one of 16 such studies going on in New York that are giving communities an opportunity to receive state funds if they can develop a plan to make more people self-sufficient.

Locally the program is being administered by the United Way of NNY and directed by former YMCA Executive Director Peter Schmitt. Dozens of meetings are being held to discuss four primary areas: housing, transportation, education and workforce development.

With continued progress, a road map for Watertown will be submitted to the state this summer and programs will be funded and begin soon after.

There is no guarantee that anything can be done to reduce poverty in Watertown. But as Putnam and Kaplan show us, doing nothing will allow the problem to become worse.

n BOB GORMAN is president and CEO of United Way of Northern New York.

Contact him at bgorman@unitedway-nny. org or 315-788-5631.

E N T RE P RE N E U R’S E D G E

5 Reasons Why No One is Visiting Your Website

Y

ou want more sales. More visitors to your website. You want people hungry for your product to eat right out of your hand.

As you sleep, you imagine your email list growing and growing, with an email open rate larger than your biggest competitor. You have everything you need to achieve this: the website, the perfect optin, a high-demand product, everything.

Or doooo you?

If your traffic is nil and your numbers on Google Analytics are making you cry, you need to find out why, most ricky-tick.

Based on past clients who have struggled with this very issue, we have compiled the top five reasons why no one is visiting your website, and what you can do to turn things around.

1) YOUR BRANDING IS LACKLUSTER Branding is often misunderstood. Ask someone about their brand, and you might hear them talk about their logo. This is because the traditional definition of branding is based on the color, shape, size, and font used to create a logo.

But my friends, branding is so much more.

While the logo is certainly an element of your brand, it isn’t the end-all, be-all.

Branding is how you are able to control the way people think and feel when they see your logo or hear your company’s name.

That means when they visit your site, they need to be pulled in by your message and your mission. One should know within five seconds of landing on your home page what it is you do. If this isn’t happening, your branding may be out of sync. Maybe even non-existent.

Clear, crisp branding also makes you stand out like an expert. If you were to visit a website that lacked character versus a website that pulled you in with plenty of character, which site would you peruse?

Get clear on your branding and invest in the change. The sharper you look, the more traffic you’ll see.

2) YOU’RE NOT BLOGGING I saw that eye roll. I see it quite often, actually. Business owners think blogging is for the birds. Some are under the

misconception that blogging is a complete and total waste of time.

But what if I told you that a single blog post could be your ticket to a sale?

Blogging is a Joleene Moody highly encouraged form of inbound marketing that uses targeted content. Targeted content is the kind of content internet users seek when they sit down with Google. For example, if someone Googles the term “need website visitors,” Google will send out a bunch of bots to find legitimate, purposeful content that matches that search.

By writing blog posts with targeted content, you’re essentially opening the door to your website to invite people in. The more you blog, the more you become BFFs with Google.

impression. If it’s clunky, your visitors will think the work you deliver is clunky, too.

3) YOUR WEBSITE IS CLUNKY Think about the way you navigate a website when you land on it. You see the home page first, look for the menu bar second and click on your desired location third. Sometimes you might see an image you want to click on, so you head over to it. Other times you might get distracted by an opt-in, so you sign up for the offer and move on.

No matter where you go or what you might get distracted by, the website you land on should be navigable at all times from all angles. It should be easy to look at and easy to search.

If your website is poorly designed, doesn’t load quickly, and gets people lost almost immediately, you’re compromising one of the most important pieces of your business.

The truth is, you have approximately seven seconds to grab the attention of your visitor or they’re gone. They’ll zip back out into cyberspace to find a website that is user-friendly, easy to navigate, and doesn’t look like a fifth-grader built it.

Your website is most often your first

5) YOU’RE USING THE WRONG KEYWORDS Keywords are tricky. We get it. Over the past 10 years or so, the use of keywords in web content has changed. Site builders used to use a method now dubbed as keyword stuffing, where they would stuff the same word (or series of words) over and over again into as much content as possible all over the site.

Google won’t let you pull this stunt anymore. That’s why using long-tail keywords to help narrow down a search is where it’s at. This is because these keywords are associated with more qualified traffic.

For example, thousands of search options will pop up if you use the words “cake maker.” But if someone is searching for a cake maker in Virginia, using keywords in blog posts like “cake maker in Virginia” will knock other prospects out of the way and shoot you to the top of a Google search.

Using keyword research tools is helpful, too. Don’t go it alone.

4) YOU’RE NOT SHARING ON SOCIAL MEDIA Social media can be a bear. With so many social channels to choose from, it can be overwhelming for some. As a result, we resist sharing and eventually give up because we think it does no good.

I encourage you to not give up.

Creating a presence on social media takes time. But even if you have a small following, sharing and engaging with others is the secret sauce to your success. Start by choosing three social channels that resonate with the work you do. Decide to put a few hours a week into posting your content.

But coupled with this, decide to like, share and comment on others’ content.

Make friends with others. Play nice.

Build relationships. If you stick to this strategy, you’ll soon discover that many people out there are on your side and happy to share your content. Before you know it, your Google Analytics numbers will increase, and you’ll be a happy camper.

n JOLEENE MOODY is a freelance writer, blogger, and speaker who lives in Oswego County with her husband and daughter. Learn more at: www.takeyourvoiceback.com April 2017 | NNY Business

| 33

NORTH COUNTRY TRASH brings

F E AT UR E

ENERGY OPPORTUNITIES

BY JOLEENE MOODY | NNY BUSINESS

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS Jason Akins, landfill gas technician, stands by a methane well at the Development Authority of the North Country's landfill in Rodman, which pumps methane gas to the landfill gas-to-energy facility.

BEFORE 2008, IF YOU DROVE ALONG ROUTE 177 TOWARD THE TUG HILL REGION, YOU LIKELY SAW WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS A FIRE BURNING OFF IN THE DISTANCE TOWARD RODMAN. The red-hot

flames spouting high above the trees prompted many a driver to call 911, certain there was trouble abound. But there was no trouble. What drivers were actually seeing was a landfill flare, a 35-foot flame used for combusting methane gas that is naturally created from a municipal landfill.

The flare was coming from the Development Authority of the North Country’s 75-acre Solid Waste Management Facility in Rodman. Today the flame is rarely lit, thanks to the original 2008 renewable energy collaboration between a landfill-gas power plant operated by Aria Energy (formerly Innovative Energy Systems Inc.) and DANC. Now, instead of burning the methane gas into the atmosphere, the facility is converting the gas into energy, and it’s lighting and heating thousands of north country homes.

“As garbage in the landfill decomposes, there’s a process called anaerobic digestion that takes place that creates a methane-rich landfill gas,” said Emily Zambuto, the manager of environmental programs at Aria Energy. “Some people are under the misconception that we’re directly burning trash to make energy. But that’s not what we’re doing. It’s a much cleaner process.”

The joint venture began nearly ten years ago as a 10 million dollar project, the majority of the financial burden shouldered by the landfill-gas power plant. Today, the 34 | NNY Business | April 2017

project has grown by leaps and bounds, with new wells being added or maintained, and four generators at the plant bearing the responsibility of converting gas to energy.

THE PROCESS WORKS AS FOLLOWS: Waste is placed in the landfill. The four biggest volumes the Solid Waste Management Facility receives are: • Municipal solid waste • Demolition debris • Sewage sludge • Petroleum contaminated soil After a period of time, a biological process takes place (anaerobic digestion) that will naturally break down and decompose all of these volumes of garbage. As the garbage decomposes, it creates two different gases: 50 percent methane and 50 percent carbon dioxide. The gases are collected via a series of 134 underground wells and then directed by pipelines to Aria, the landfill-gas power plant located directly on site.

Gas isn’t the only product created during waste composition. A liquid called leachate is also produced during the process. Leachate is a liquid that drains, or ‘leaches,’ from a landfill. It varies widely in composition, based on the age of the landfill and the type of waste it contains. Ultimately, to protect the integrity of the biological greenhouse gas, the leachate and the gases need to be separated. Thanks to those

F E AT UR E 134 intricately built thick, plastic wells, some of which go as deep as 90 feet, the process of separation is done efficiently and effectively.

“The collection of methane is done via a vacuum that is put on the well and, in essence, sucks the methane out of the trash around the well,” said Richard R. LeClerc, Manager of the DANC Materials Management Division. “You can’t effectively do that through liquid, so we need to pump the liquid out. Once the liquid, or leachate, is collected, we haul it to the waste water treatment plants for disposal.”

LANDFILL LIFECYCLES While the process of “turning garbage into power” is certainly a unique way to create an alternative energy source, it can only work if: 1) The landfill is large enough to generate sufficient quantities of methane.

2) There’s enough interest in private operations (like Aria) to put in a generator.

If these site-specific characteristics are in place, landfills can power thousands of homes for decades. But at some point, the life cycle of the landfill will come to an end, and the process will need to begin either by expanding the current acreage of the site, or investing in a new landfill. As it stands now, DANC is waiting for the approval of an expansion footprint of 100 acres to the south so that the Rodman facility can continue to operate beyond its original site life date.

“In 2008, the projected site life was to expire in 2018,” Mr. LeClerc said. “In 2010, DANC embarked on the proposed expansion and started the process. In 2010, that projected site life had changed to 2021. This past year, as we continue to go through the southern expansion application process and try to get the final permit, there have been continued revisions every year on the estimated site life, and right now, that projected site life is for 2027. But methane can still be produced after that date. On average, once you stop adding waste to a volume, the methane will continue to produce on a declining basis for 20 to 30 more years.”

Aria Energy is hopeful that the permit will be issued sometime this year. In the meantime, they are running three of the four generators at the site, cycling the fourth in and out for maintenance and repair. Three generators, operating at 4.8 megawatts, roughly suggests that one megawatt will power approximately a thousand homes.

“That’s a lot of power,” Ms. Zambuto said. “The gas collected is combusted inside the plant and converted into electricity. The power is then distributed to the grid. We can physically move the power to New England or keep it in New York to power all of those homes.”

Motorists driving along Route 177 toward the Tug Hill region may still be able to catch a glimpse of the 35-foot landfill flare at least twice a year when it’s fired up for testing and maintenance. Otherwise, the flare remains dormant, allowing the joint venture of Aria and DANC to work its magic and produce renewable electricity for years to come.

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS A methane flame at the Development Authority of the North Country's landfill in Rodman.

AMANDA MORRISON n NNY BUSINESS

ABOVE: Tony Frederick, Plant lead operator for Aria Energy, works on fixing up an engine at the landfill’s gas-to-energy facility. | 35 | NNY Business

April 2017

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TARA FREEMAN/ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY Students take notes ion their biology class on top of Whiteface Mountain as part of their required curriculum.

FE AT U R E

LEARNING and LEADING A SUSTAINABLE PATH

BY NORAH MACHIA | NNY BUSINESS

THIS YEAR’S GRADUATING CLASS AT ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY, CANTON, will mark the first group of students that have fulfilled the college’s environmental literacy curriculum requirement.

In 2013, the college incorporated environmental literacy as a requirement for all students to graduate. There are currently 79 courses that have been approved by the faculty to meet that requirement, said Ryan Deuel, SLU director of media relations.

They cover a wide range of subject areas, including anthropology, art, African studies, biology, chemistry, environmental studies, economics, English, geology, global studies, history, philosophy, physics and sociology, he said.

“This requirement is for all St. Lawrence University students, regardless of their major,” Mr. Deuel said.

As part of these courses, students must demonstrate an understanding of issues such as the consequences of human activities on natural systems. They must also demonstrate an awareness of the cultural, economic and political forces that affect environmental policies, and an understanding of natural systems and the im36 | NNY Business | April 2017

pacts they can have on the environment, human life, health and welfare, he said.

The environmental literacy graduation requirement is one of several initiatives taken by St. Lawrence University in recent years that helped it earn a spot in the 2016 edition of “Princeton Review Guide to 361 Green Colleges.”

Clarkson University and the SUNY Potsdam were also listed in the 2016 edition. The Princeton Review developed the “Green Rating” for each school to recognize both student-driven and school initiatives that focus on environmental issues and sustainable practices.

The Princeton Review’s “Green Colleges” edition was started after the company conducted a survey of college applicants during the 2007-08 school year. On that survey, many prospective students indicated that a school’s commitment to the environment was one factor that could impact their decision about attending a particular school.

Sustainability on college campuses is important because “colleges train the next generation of leaders who will ultimately be responsible for putting green ideas into practice,” the 2016 report stated.

“St. Lawrence’s culture of sustainability extends from academics to co-curricular activities to university operations,” Mr. Deuel said.

The college also offers additional student programs that focus on protection and conservation of natural resources.

For more than a decade, St. Lawrence has offered “a unique off-campus learning experience” through its Adirondack Semester, Mr. Deuel said.

The program enables students to study nature and human relationships with nature while living in a yurt village “off the grid” deep in the Adirondack Park, he said.

“Anyone can sign up for the ADK semester, again regardless of major,” he said. “In fact, the ADK semester is considered a domestic off-campus study program and treated much like a study abroad experience.”

In addition, the college’s Department of Environmental Studies offers standalone and combined degrees that focus on sustainability, while the conservation biology major places a major focus on protection of the world’s biodiversity.

SLU students can also gain leadership ex-

F E AT UR E perience and course credit through the college’s Outdoor Program.

St. Lawrence University’s effort to protect the environment also includes brick and mortar projects, such as construction of the first science building in New York state to earn the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The national certification is designated for buildings that use resources more efficiently and offer healthier work spaces.

The Princeton Review notes that Johnson Hall of Science, built in 2007, was the first LEED Gold-certified science building in the state, meeting the building requirements set by the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition, the college’s Kirk Douglas Hall (a residence hall), opened in 2014 and has 24 geothermal wells for heating and cooling.

St. Lawrence University also has made commitments that ensure more than 95 percent of its electricity comes from renewable sources, including long-term agreements with hydro and solar facilities that will supply the campus with clean and renewable energy for decades, Mr. Deuel said.

Clarkson University has initiated several sustainability programs and environmental initiatives in recent years.

Clarkson offers students many opportunities to learn how to integrate sustainability concepts into their lives and professions through a variety of curricular and extra-curricular programs, according to the school’s website.

The university has a number of “conventiondefying” environmental initiatives, including an anaerobic digester to convert food waste to energy and fertilizer, and installation of a 2-megawatt solar photovoltaic system on campus to meet state renewable energy goals.

Sustainability concepts are covered in more than 250 courses offered to Clarkson students through the majority of academic departments, according to the university. Students can also focus on sustainability by participating in the school’s Adirondack Semester, or completing a minor in sustainable energy systems engineering or sustainable solutions for the developing world.

Some past student projects supported through the school’s Sustainability Fund have included the creation of a student-run campus vegetable garden, along with new solid waste receptacles and a plan to better manage waste on campus, according to the school’s website. Another project focused on the development of micro-financed tree nurseries in Uganda for carbon dioxide sequestration.

Please see Green Education, page 39

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TARA FREEMAN/ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY Students learn about artist Andy Goldsworthy and create their own environmental art.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TARA FREEMAN/ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY A student rides his bike through campus.

C OM M E R CE CORNER

Chamber Gears up for 2017 Farmers Market

M

ark your calendar on May 24 as the Greater Watertown Farm & Craft Market prepares for its 40th consecutive year. As we are busy securing vendors for this year’s market, it is important to recognize the history and benefits surrounding this annual event.

Farmer’s markets have been a part of the national landscape since the mid1700s and have since become woven into our culture, increasing in number and popularity. Year after year these markets continue to be a welcomed event, encouraging healthy shopping selections, social opportunities and increased business visibility.

A farmer’s market acts as a source of fresh, nutritious foods from local producers. With farm- fresh options, the farmers are adept at providing an abundance of items at reasonable pricing to local consumers. Partnering with nutrition programs can increase the health and wellness of these area residents by offering the Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Farmers Market Wireless EBT Program and Nutrition Education, resulting in fresh options available to everyone.

There is a growing trend among consumers to support local farmers and local economies. A farmer’s market is a perfect venue for this trend. Bringing these options to the center of our downtown creates a direct connection with the growers of the foods and creates the opportunity for consumers to ask ques-

tions, learn about how their food is produced and get to know the people who are providing the food they feed their families.

This centers conversation on healthy Kylie Peck cooking options and interest in fresh foods.

Each week the Farm & Craft Market draws thousands of local shoppers and community members to downtown Watertown with a broad mix of diverse cultural backgrounds, a variety of ages and all levels of economic scale.

Throughout the season, local organizations use the market as a venue to educate the public about their mission, publicize their services and highlight opportunities to become involved.

Hosting a farmers market also helps build the local economy. Not only does this provide an opportunity for farmers, crafters and food vendors to highlight their offerings and skills, it is also a benefit for local businesses.

Customers spill into the surrounding area, bringing foot traffic and sales to downtown shops and eateries. Business owners are encouraged to create incentives to draw customers in to generate commerce in the local community.

Creating an atmosphere with local entertainment, educational opportuni-

18014 GOODNOUGH ST., ADAMS CENTER, NY

315-583-5680

38 | NNY Business | April 2017

ties and local food and product sources transforms our downtown into a vibrant public space, which nurtures the sense of community among residents and visitors alike. Adding local shops to the mix creates the ideal opportunity for downtown visitors to make the most of their outing and truly get a sense of what the city of Watertown has to offer.

With the opening of the market comes excitement and anticipation that summer is truly on its way and we are able to celebrate the offerings of our local farmers and crafters. Year after year we bring 50 to 60 local producers, crafters and food vendors to the community, creating a unique opportunity in Watertown that is met with much anticipation. If you are a farm or craft vendor, please contact our office to learn more about getting involved in our market. We encourage downtown business owners to get in contact with our team to learn more about getting the most out of our downtown market days.

The Watertown Farm & Craft Market is held every Wednesday between May 24 and October 4 on Washington Street in downtown Watertown. For more information on the market or to learn about the GWNC Chamber of Commerce, please visit our website, watertownny.com or call us at (315) 788-4400. n KYLIE PECK is the president and CEO of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce. She lives in Clayton with her husband and two young boys. Contact her at kpeck@watertownny.com or 315-788-4400.

HOURS: MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 8-5, THURSDAY & FRIDAY 8-6, SATURDAY 9-3

F E AT U R E CONTINUED, from page 37

In 2012, Clarkson University’s new Student Center building received LEED Silver certification, due to its stateof-the-art construction processes, energy efficiency and innovation in design.

SUNY Potsdam established a sustainability and operations coordinator position a few years ago to focus on campus initiatives.

The school’s dining services have been involved in composting waste, buying local food and eliminating plastic items.

They also take all used fry oil and donate it to a local farmer to utilize as biodiesel fuel, according to the school’s website.

In past years, the college installed 150 energy-efficient washers and dryers and replaced all incandescent light bulbs on campus with more efficient fluorescent ones.

In 2013, the college opened its new Performing Arts Center, which houses the school’s Department of Theatre and Dance, and connects to The Crane School of Music. The 97,000-square-foot facility includes a 350-seat proscenium theater, a 200-seat black box theater and a 200-seat dance performance hall.

The Performing Arts Center signaled SUNY Potsdam’s continued commitment to sustainability, according to its website. The building’s construction met the requirements necessary to achieve a LEED Silver certification.

Sustainable features of the performing arts center include a sophisticated building insulation system, along with a mechanical system that maximizes energy efficiency throughout the year, according to the website.

For more information about the Princeton Review’s survey, visit www. princetonreview.com/green-guide.

OUTER WASHINGTON ST. WATERTOWN NY 315-788-6022

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WaiteToyota.com

April 2017 | NNY Business

| 39

315-482-4511 • 1-800-955-4511

PEOPLE, from page 9 tive exhibition this summer.

“Ausra’s mix of marketing, managerial and creative expertise will be a great asset for the museum in her new role,” said the Adirondack Museum’s executive director, David Kahn. “We’re excited to welcome her to the team and anticipate great contributions from her as we continue to raise the museum’s profile in the community and as an important tourism attraction in the region.”

Angermann was most recently senior brand manager, marketing activation for Timex Group USA in Middlebury, Connecticut, where she was responsible for the development, delivery and communication of merchandising concepts and strategies. She joined Timex in August 2012 as global marketing manager for the licensed brand Nautica Watches.

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Located on the shores of the St. Lawrence River across from romantic Boldt Castle and minutes from the Canadian border.

Boardroom, Classroom, Theater and U-Shape set-ups available Breakout Rooms available and Outside Decks in Season Executive Meetings and Networking Receptions Numerous Menu Options available and Purchase Orders Accepted Access to 1000 Island Boat Tours, Golf, Wineries and Distilleries 128 Hotel Rooms • Indoor/Outdoor Pools • Walking Distance to Downtown

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40 | NNY Business | April 2017

“Celebrating 67 Years” Deer River 493-2391

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849 Lawrence Street, Watertown, NY 782-6888 Serving Lunch & Dinner Monday-Thursday 11:00am to 10:00pm Friday & Saturday 11:00am to 11:00pm

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Lunch Served Saturday & Sunday 202 W. Main St • Sackets Harbor • 315-646-3463

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April 2017 | NNY Business

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COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

CLAYTON SATURDAY, APRIL 7 THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 9

Clayton Spring Boat Show, Friday, 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Cerow Recreation Park Arena. Show will feature: Runabouts, fishing boats, pontoons, docks, lifts, personal watercraft, marine insurance and more.

Boaters safety course will be held on Saturday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cost: $5 adults; $4 military; $2 children; children 12 and under free. Info: 1000islands-clayton.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

TIERS Building Campaign Benefit, 4 to 8 p.m., Clipper Inn, 126 State St. Support the Thousand Islands Emergency Responders Service by attending the campaign dinner benefit at the Clipper Inn. Take out is available. Dinner includes: Lasagna, Shrimp, Bay Scallops and Calamari in Lemon Caper sauce over pasta, Thai Chicken Curry over Rice. Cost: $13 adults; $7 children under 12. Info/tickets: Tickets available at TIERS, TIERS Members or at the Clipper Inn, 315-686-3842.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

Business With a Twist, 5 to 7 p.m., Saint Lawrence Spirits, 38289 State Route 12E. Free networking event for Clayton Chamber mem-

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Tabletops, Desktops, Workbenches and Coffee Tables.

Choose from our Granite & Marble Selections. We also offer a Selection of Stone Veneer.

bers and guests. Sponsored by Saint Lawrence Spirits. Register: 315-686-3771.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

The East Coast Premier of “ Changing Currents” presented by Save the River, 5 to 8 p.m., Clayton Opera House, 405 Riverside Drive.

This award winning film, includes the St. Lawrence River and several figures from the River community, focuses on problems affecting rivers in the U.S. and Canada and explores movements to preserve and restore them. There will be an open discussion after the showing. Info: Savetheriver.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 18

Business With a Twist, 5 to 7 p.m., Clayton Island Tours, 39621 Chateau Lane. Free networking event for Clayton Chamber members and guests. Sponsored by Clayton Island Tours. Register: 315-686-3771.

FORT DRUM TUESDAY, MAY 16

2017 Armed Forces Day Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 :30 p.m., The Commons on Fort Drum. The Armed Forces Day Luncheon is held in honor of our military service members, both in service and those retired. Cost: $22 per person; $185 for a corporate table of 8. Info: Contact the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 315788-4400.

LOWVILLE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27

Spring Fling Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Ridgeview Inn, 6912 Bardo Road. The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce will host the Annual Spring Fling Dinner featuring guest speaker State Senator Joseph A. Griffo, representative of the 47th Senate District.

The evening will begin with a social hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., immediately followed by dinner.

A 50/50 drawing and silent auction will be held. The buffet-style dinner will include salad, pasta with marinara sauce, vegetable medley, chicken parmesan, beef tips, and dessert. Cost: $30.

Info/registration: RSVPs are required by Thursday, April 20 by calling the chamber or emailing emily@lewiscountychamber.org.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29

Lewis County Dairy Princess Pageant, 6:30 p.m., Ridgeview Inn, 6912 Bardo Road. The Lewis County Dairy Princess Pageant celebrates the agricultural industry in Lewis County. Sponsored by the Dairy Princess Committee.

6:30 cowtails; 7:30 dinner. Cost: $20 per person. Info: call Holly at 315-523-1668.

MASSENA THURSDAY, APRIL 27

Wine and Food Showcase Presented by Massena Chamber,

Come down and discover the Traditional Quality & Craftsmanship that only T.F. Wright & Sons Granite Foundry can bring to your design application for monuments!

You Name the Countertop Type, We Can Do It Offering Cemetery Restorations & Monument Restorations Corner of Brookside Cemetery & Spring Valley 609 Adelaide Street, Carthage, NY 13619 & Watertown, NY 13601 (315) 785-8500 (315) 493-2963 • (315) 493-2965 Fax email: tfwrightgranite@aol.com or visit www.tfwrightgranite.com

OPEN: MONDAY-FRIDAY 8AM-5PM • SATURDAY 10AM-2PM

42 | NNY Business | April 2017

THURSDAY, MAY 25

2nd Annual Tourism Awards Dinner, 4:30 to 8 p.m., River Road Restaurant at the Massena Country Club, 829 State Route 131.

The evening will begin with a brochure exchange at 4:30, followed

by Happy Hour from 5-6 PM and Dinner and Award Presentations from 6-8 PM. Info: Jo Ann Roberts, Events Coordinator, at 315-3864000 or by email at Jo@SLCchamber.org.

POTSDAM THURSDAY, APRIL 27 THROUGH SATURDAY, APRIL 29

Home, Garden and Business Expo, 1 to 8 p.m., Thursday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday. 9th Annual Home, Garden and Business Expo ‘Go Local, Go Green’ In partnership this year with: Clarkson University, US Green Building Council, New York Upstate, Small Business Development Center. Businesses, Organizations, Home-Based Crafters, Artisans, Food Processors, Wineries - all welcome. In addition to vendor and sponsor exhibits, sustainable construction education and do-ityourself activities. Cost: $3. Info: Jo Ann Roberts 315 386-4000.

THURSDAY, MAY 25

2nd Annual Tourism Awards Dinner, 4:30 to 8 p.m., River Road Restaurant, located at the Masena Country Club. This year’s celebration on St. Lawrence County tourism will begin with a brochure exchange at 4:30 p.m., followed by happy hour from 5 to 6 p.m. and dinner and award presentations from 6 to 8 p.m. Info: Jo Ann Roberts, Events Coordinator, at (315) 386-4000 or by email at Jo@SLCchamber.org.

WATERTOWN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19

Business After Hours Hosted by Tunes 92.5/104.5, 5 to 7 p.m., Washington St. Includes networking, prizes and food. Register by noon Tuesday, Feb. 14. Cost: preregistered members, $10; members, $12; nonmembers, $15. Info: Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 315-7884400 or chamber@watertownny. com.

TUESDAY, MAY 2

How To Use QuickBooks, Comfort Inn & Suites, 110 Commerce Park Drive. Learn the most effective and efficient ways to improve data accuracy and reduce financial frustrations. Learn how to generate accurate financial statements; print, send or email invoices; create purchase orders, statements and simple marketing pieces; and manage your inventory and stay on top of payables and receivables. Cost: $79. Info/registration:

events.pryor.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 6

Race Against Poverty, Downtown Watertown. The Jefferson Leadership Institute’s class of 2017 will host Race Against Poverty, presented by the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CNY Realty.

The race is a spin on the ‘Amazing Race/scavenger hunt’ where teams of two compete to complete a series of events. Proceeds raised will go towards “Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ World” program offered by the Community Action Planning Council, the Watertown Urban Mission and the Volunteer Transportation Center. Following the race will be a community after party with live entertainment, food vendors, beverages and silent auction. Info/tickets: Eventbrite. com/e/race-against-pverty-tickets-322218356.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

Business After Hours Hosted by RBC Wealth Management, 5 to 7 p.m., 19485 State Route 11.

Includes networking, prizes and food. Register by noon Tuesday, Feb. 14. Cost: preregistered members, $10; members, $12; nonmembers, $15. Info: Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, 315-788-4400. com.

COMMUNITY / BUSINESS CALENDAR

6 to 9 p.m. More than 20 local and international wines and food will be available for tasting. Celebrate the reimaging of the annual awards evening. Cost: 35 per person; $60 per couple. Info: mymassena.com.

 GOT A BUSINESS EVENT or calendar item? Email nnybusiness@wdt.net. Deadline is the 10th of each month for the following month’s issue. Visit us on Facebook at Facebook.com/NNYBusiness or nnybizmag.com for events calendar updates.

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April 2017 | NNY Business

| 43

B USI N E SS S CENE Clayton Chamber of Commerce Business With a Twist at Clayton Dental Office

From left, George Kittle, TIPS, Dr. Scott LaClair, Clayton Dental, and Justin

Taylor, Harbor Master at Clayton Town Docks.

From left, Alex Buduson, Clayton Chamber of Commerce, and Alex Hazard,

WWTI ABC 50.

HOLLY BONAME PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

HOLLY BONAME | NNY BUSINESS

From left, Lisa Eppolito, Clayton Dental, Lucas Mitchell, Samaritan Summit Village, and Tammy O’Donnell, Watertown Savings Bank, attended the Clayton Chamber of Commerce Business With a Twist event held on March 30, at Clayton Dental.

From left, Barbara Huntington, River Custom Canvas, David Huntington, River Custom Canvas, and Amber Kendall, Clayton Dental.

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BU SIN E SS S C E NE St. Lawrence County Business in the Spotlight at Cornell Cooperative Extension Farm

From left, Chelle Lindahl, Local Living Venture and Tanya Krise, Northern Insuring Agency, attended the St. Lawrence County Business in the Spotlight event held on March 21, at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Farm in Canton.

Gary C. Valik, Johnson Newspapers, and Gavin MacKellar, St. Lawrence County Maple Producers Association.

JENNIFER MCCLUSKEY PHOTOS | NNY BUSINESS

JENNIFER MCCLUSKEY PHOTOS| NNY BUSINESS

Members of St. Lawrence County Bed and Breakfast Group: Jenny Walker, 1844 House, Heather Gilson, Felician House, Al and Rita Ostrander, Ostrander’s Bed and Breakfast, Carol Opdyke, Country Quiet B&B.

Members of Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County: from left, Casey Caswell, Justin Hicks, Patrick Ames, Julie Johnson, Optimal Impressions

by Julie.

GROW YOUR BUSINESS IDEA THIS SPRING!

The NYS Small Business Development Center and JCC’s Continuing Education present ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING COURSE ON JCC CAMPUS

*BUSINESS PLANNING*FINANCIAL ANALYSIS*MARKETING*SOURCES OF FINANCING* Participants said: “Very informative” “Enjoyed the variety of speakers”

7 Thursday evenings, April 13 – May 25, 2017 6:00-9:00 p.m. $195

Pre-registration is required. 782-9262 Call today to register!

April 2017 | NNY Business

| 45

F E AT UR E

Saving Energy, Money and Resources NYSERDA Home Energy Audits providing tri-county residents with lower energy bills and higher efficiency in their homes.

BY ANGELA UNDERWOOD | NNY BUSINESS

PHOTO COURTESY OF NYSERDA BPI accredited technicians check your home from top to bottom in search of energy waste.

46 | NNY Business | April 2017

Energy efficiency expert Jerry Loch is dimming down energy usage in the north country one structure at a time.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) representative boasts of the public benefit and without hesitation details how the authority has promoted industrial, commercial and residential power efficiency since 1975. Mr. Loch eagerly explains, with an infliction of excitement in his voice, how NYSERDA’s efforts to create less pollution and an affordable energy system for New Yorkers are significant.

The first thing the independent contractor for the Adirondack North Country Association—a green-minded group who works with NYSERDA—will tell you is that a structure is much more than just four walls. “The critical thing about a high performance home is that it looks at a house as a system,” said Mr. Loch, outreach coordinator for NYSERDA’s Green Jobs, Green New York program.

When viewed, any structure must be seen beyond “single issue bias,” according to Mr. Loch. The best set of eyes for that is a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified contractor, among them Scott Knapp, R-Factor Spray Foam Insulation owner. The company conducts energy evaluations on behalf of NYSERDA in residential homes, according to Mr. Loch.

“The main thing we do is to keep out outside air, or air sealing, from coming into the house and mixing with conditioned air. When we do this, it keeps the energy bill down and gains comfort,” said Mr. Knapp, who serves the entire tri-county region out of his Chaumont headquarters.

“Comfort is now the main selling point, simply because fuel costs have gone down.”

Describing in detail NYSERDA’s three income-based programs, Mr. Loch said the first is scarcely accessed. “Not enough people use EmPower,” Mr. Loch said of the free evaluation and upgrade program available to households at or below 60 percent of median household income. Respectively, the Assisted Home

F E AT UR E Performance is for those at or below 80 percent of median household income, with NYSERDA picking up the tab for up to $4,000 in matching funds for upgrades, and lastly, the Home Performance program rated at or below 200 percent of median household income, with the customer offered a free evaluation and report.

The free evaluation includes the contractor conducting a blower door test that draws a vacuum on the PHOTO COURTESY OF house, mimicking NYSERDA gale force winds BPI accredited Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® outside. Mr. Loch contractors offer expertise, said the device calsolutions, and peace of mind for homeowners. culates the number of cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air that flows through the house.

Using the device on the job, Mr. Knapp noted “the newest code requires a blower door test to be done before the certificate of occupancy is given to the owner.”

“This test is something that levels the playing field from builder to builder,” he said.

“The requirement is there for the current owner, but is an assurance to the next owner that the home has been built to that code standard.”

Most people do not think philosophically about energy, according to Loch.

“They think financially.” He said if there is a way to reduce energy usage and cost by 30 percent, “it would be silly not to do those things.” And he is right. But, some people don’t see the savings as significant enough to make the switch.

“The most compelling stories come from seniors who are trying to age in place. They raised a family in a house and they are trying to stay in that home, but the problem is all the systems are older, not doing a good job and costing them a lot of money,” Mr. Knapp said.

Understanding that savings as well as anyone, Tom Cheney, owner of Cheney Tires on State Street in Watertown and the Cornell Cooperative Extension building on North Hamilton Street, said it was Mr. Loch’s persistence to save power that

ultimately gave him “an awareness” of the dynamics of energy efficiency. “Jerry talked to me about it on numerous occasions and then, ironically, a fellow stopped in one day from NYSERDA and he told me about the program,” said Mr. Cheney, who also “went for it” residentially after doing so commercially.

“They changed every light bulb in both of our buildings, here and down the street at the Cornell building,” Mr. Cheney said.

“They billed all the bulbs into our monthly light bill over five years. The money we saved paid for our upgrades. So the charge each month to put lights on, the amount of money we have saved on power, paid for equipment and lights. We have been saving money ever since. I think my lighting bill is down about a third. It is significant, it really is.”

The business owner went as far as upgrading two large compressors commercially and then a unit at his home. Mr. Knapp said the energy efficiency industry has not even come close to hitting its full potential. He said the health care industry is coming on board in “treating the home as well as the patient,” using the technology to detect potential contributors to health problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and allergies before they harm members of the household.

As if savings and comfort were not

enough, Mr. Cheney said he realized how aware he became and how good that felt.

“I found myself turning off lights we didn’t actual need in our showroom and warehouses we don’t go in often,” he said.

“Once you see it, it’s a feeling of accomplishment knowing you are saving energy and money.”

And it doesn’t stop there, Mr. Loch will tell you. He also works with Jay Matteson, Jefferson County agricultural coordinator, who boasts of the program from a farming point-of-view. “NYSERDA is important to our agricultural industry through their energy audits and other programs that our farms and agribusinesses utilize.

“Farms have been able to save thousands of dollars in energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint on the land. Anything that helps a farm reduce their energy needs, improve the living space for their livestock, and maintain or improve the safety and quality of the food produced on a farm, benefits our entire community,” Mr. Matteson said.

As for the future, while Mr. Loch will continue to assist area homeowners on how to conserve and Mr. Knapp will evaluate and upgrade, the future of energy conservation in the north country is shining bright.

April 2017 | NNY Business

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BusIness

www.nnybizmag.com

260 Washington St. Watertown, NY 13601

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FOURTH COAST INC ST LAWRENCE ENGINEERING DPC 745 GRAVES STREET, CLAYTON NEW YORK 13624 315/783.6384 • 315/408.7443