Sun rising on solar deals

The Times-Union

It was a good time for Mark Halsey, owner of Gene’s Fish Fry on Route 4, to put solar power panels on the roof of his landmark, 1970s-era roadside stand. “It was nothing out of pocket; I did not put in one penny,” said Halsey, whose father, Gene, started the seasonal business in 1961.

After photovoltaic (PV) panels went up late last summer, Halsey noticed that his bill for electricity, which he uses to run his extensive coolers, lights and other equipment, dropped by hundreds of dollars. With panels now supplying much of his power, his end-of-season monthly bill, which was running $800 or more, dropped to about $200. And he has gotten some new customers who were drawn to the panels and a sign in front of the business that touted fish “cooked by the sun.”