New Project Spotlight: Wiring It All Together to Help Putnam County Go Solar.

When Putnam County decided to bring renewable energy to its municipal complex, C.T. Male was well-positioned along their path to that vision. With NYSERDA funding, the County sought a partner who could speak the language of renewable energy and deliver both on technical rigor and their desire for sustainability. The project combines a solar carport with seven EV charging ports—six standard and one ADA-accessible—and a rooftop solar installation. C.T. Male provided the foundation, literally and figuratively, conducting essential geotechnical investigations to determine soil conditions and support requirements for the new carport structure. At the same time, structural engineer Chris Shaver assessed the municipal building’s roof to ensure it could bear the load of a new solar array.

Their groundwork shaped every design decision that followed. Brad Garrison and Olya Prevo-White, from C.T. Male’s Electrical Group, headed up the project, with Brad as PM and Olya handling the design coordination.

The project represents a niche segment in the solar market: projects under 5 megawatts that are often overlooked by large developers but demand the expertise of a multi-disciplinary team.  An ideal market gap for our firm to fill. For Olya, the project is deeply rewarding, involving detailed discussions with the client about such things as module tilt, snow load, and efficiency trade-offs. “It is real collaboration,” she says. “The client understands solar, and we could dive straight into creative engineering.”