Madison County Extends Deadline to Join Solarize Madison and Hosts Solar Tour In Support of the World's Largest Grassroots Solar Event

WAMPSVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- There is still time to go solar with the Solarize Madison program.  Solarize Madison is a volume-purchasing Solar PV program that streamlines the process and lessens the cost of installing solar energy.  The program is an initiative of Madison County in partnership with the Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board and the Morrisville State College Renewable Energy Training Center. 

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110613/NY18505LOGO )

On October 2^nd at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held in Morrisville, Solarize Madison announced a two-week extension of the enrollment deadline to Friday, October 12, 2012 to provide home, farm, and business owners, as well as municipalities, more time to sign up for a free site assessment conducted by the two installers selected for the program: Arista Power and ETM Solar Works.  The program is the first of its kind in New York State and has already met with extraordinary results. In just a few months, the program will have more than doubled the amount of solar systems in Madison County. 

Since the program began on June 15^th, 2012, twenty-three homeowners and one municipality in Madison County have signed contracts for a total of 154.6 kw of solar PV systems to be installed.  Three of these systems will be up and running for the public to see firsthand during a solar tour event scheduled for October 6^th, 2012.

With the volume committed to be installed to date, the program has succeeded in reaching the lowest pricing tier which means a system costs as low as $3.83/watt (compare to the average system cost in 2011 at $6.38/watt).  In addition, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority ("NYSERDA") has committed financial incentives totaling $226,210 to the current program participants. Ultimately, participants in this program will cut the costs of installing a solar PV system by up to 75%. There is a leasing option to have a system installed with a zero down-payment.  The program is open to any home, business, farm, and municipality in Madison County, but those interested must enroll for a free site assessment by October 12^th, 2012.  To sign up for a free site assessment or for more details on the program including information on the installers, solar options, and pricing visit www.solarizemadison.com.

"Solarize Madison is the kind of collaborative program that can help Madison County, and all of Central New York, increase its use of sustainable energy. I commend the County, Morrisville State College, and CNYRPDB for joining forces to ensure the success of Solarize Madison, with the ultimate goals of educating the public about sustainable energy practices and lowering the cost of energy for consumers," said NYS Senator David Valesky (D-Oneida).

"The Solarize Madison program represents the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the people of Madison County, and is an excellent example of the role that our local colleges can play in strengthening our communities," said NYS Assemblyman Bill Magee (D-Nelson).

"The Solarize Madison initiative will reduce air pollution, save consumers money, create new jobs and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. "I congratulate Madison County for implementing this important program."

"I commend Madison County's leadership as a member of the NYS Climate Smart Communities program, where the County has pledged to reduce greenhouse gases and improve community sustainability," said NYS DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens, "With Solarize Madison, the County has taken action, making it easier and more affordable for Madison County residents, farmers, business owners, municipalities, and institutions to reap the environmental and economic benefits of installing clean solar energy."

"Congratulations to Madison County on its successful Solarize Madison initiative, which is a great example of how collaboration among the State, local government, and academia can encourage and promote the development and deployment of solar power," said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO, NYSERDA.  "Under Governor Cuomo's NY-Sun initiative, the State is investing in solar power to assist businesses and homeowners in reducing their energy costs while protecting the environment."

Madison County also invites the community to take part in a Solar Tour on Saturday, October 6^th, 2012, which will feature three solar PV systems installed on homes that participated in the Solarize Madison program.  This event is in conjunction with the 17^th Annual National Solar Tour, the world's largest grassroots solar event, organized by the American Solar Energy Society ('ASES').  For details on the participating locations that can be visited on October 6^th, including the three systems featured on the Solarize Madison tour, visit http://ases.org/solar-tour/

While the public is welcome to tour on their own, Madison County is also hosting a complimentary organized bus tour to the three homes featured on the Solar Tour.  The bus will depart the Madison County Office Complex in Wampsville, New York at 10:30 am and return at 2:00 pm. Arista Power (OTCBB: ASPW), an installer for the Solarize Madison program, will be present for the guided tour to explain and answer questions about each system.  Each of the three homeowners will also be present to share their story and experience with Solarize Madison.  For more details visit www.solarizemadison.com.

The tour is free, but space is limited so please RSVP by Friday, October 5^th, 2012 to Jamie Hart at [email protected] or (315) 366-2378.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY:
For more than 50 years the American Solar Energy Society has led the renewable energy revolution. It is the nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies across North America. ASES leads national efforts to promote solar energy education, public outreach, and advocacy. www.ases.org  

SUPPORT FOR SOLARIZE MADISON WAS PROVIDED BY:
Madison County is a participant in the Central New York Climate Change Innovation Program (C2IP) made possible through a grant to the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board from the US EPA Climate Showcase Communities program. Through C2IP the CNY RPDB selected seven local municipal governments from throughout a 5 county region to assess their ghg emissions impact, develop strategies to mitigate those impacts, and implement demonstration projects to showcase their efforts. Madison County used C2IP grant funding to provide $2,000 grants for the first fifteen residential customers that signed up to participate in Solarize Madison.  Madison County also adopted the New York State Climate Smart Communities Pledge, a symbol of the County's commitment to addressing climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

About Arista Power, Inc.
Arista Power, Inc. is a developer, manufacturer, and supplier of custom-designed power management systems, renewable energy storage systems, WindTamer wind turbines, and a supplier and designer of solar energy systems.  Arista Power's patent-pending Power on Demand system utilizes inputs from multiple energy sources including wind, solar, fuel cells, and the grid, in conjunction with a custom-designed battery storage system and a proprietary smart monitoring technology that releases energy at optimal times to reduce peak power demand, thereby lowering electricity costs for large energy users who deal with peak usage pricing.  Arista Power also sells a Mobile Renewable Power Station (MRPS) that utilizes energy generated from wind, solar PV, generators, fuel cells and other energy-generating devices that is stored in an integrated onboard storage device for military and other applications, and a stationary, scalable Renewable Power Station (RPS) that can be drop-shipped to off-grid locations to be used as a micro-grid.  Arista Power's diffuser-augmented WindTamer wind turbine utilizes a patented technology for the production of electrical power.  For more information on Arista Power, visit the Company website at AristaPower.com.  View, Like, and Follow the Company's social media platforms at: 

Facebook: Facebook.com/AristaPower

Twitter:  Twitter.com/AristaPower

LinkedIn:  Linkedin.com/company/arista-power-inc

YouTube:  YouTube.com/channel/AristaPower

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Arista Power, Inc. cautions investors not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect Arista Power's analysis only as of today's date. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, and actual results could differ materially.  Arista Power undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements.  Further information on these factors, and other factors that could affect Arista Power's financial results, is included in Arista Power's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K.

SOURCE Arista Power, Inc.