Millvale groups celebrate activation of new solar energy system on North Avenue

Brian C. Rittmeyer TribLive Wed, Jun 3, 2026 • 11:50 AM

A new rooftop solar system at 216 North Ave. in Millvale was activated May 13. On-hand for the event was (from left) Trevor Southworth, operations manager at Millvale Community Development Corp.; Joanna Tamburino, food justice coordinator for Triboro Ecodistrict; Katie Boyes, volunteer with New Sun Rising AmeriCorps; Melissa Mason, executive director of Millvale Community Library; Ian Smith, director of residential consultations at EIS Solar; Julia Brown, solar energy consultant at EIS Solar; Jeanie Davey, senior communications specialist at Green Mountain Energy; Paul Bossing, vice president of Millvale Community Development Corp.; Scott Wolovich, executive director of New Sun Rising; Hannah Laboon, solar energy consultant with EIS Solar. (Courtesy of New Sun Rising)

A new solar energy system is up and running in Millvale.

On May 13, the Millvale Community Development Corp., New Sun Rising and the Triboro Ecodistrict celebrated the activation of the new rooftop solar energy system at the community hub under development on North Avenue.

A $97,000 grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club supported the system and will support the future installation of a Level 2 electric vehicle charger at 216 North Ave.

The Henry L. Hillman Foundation donated $80,000 to the project.

The 40.94-kilowatt solar system will generate about 46.3 megawatt-hours annually. The Millvale Community Development Corp. estimates the system will save it $120,000 over its lifetime.

The building project in the heart of Millvale’s business district broke ground in October 2023. Serving as an apprenticeship and education hub, it also will contain office space, retailers and event-based and accessible space for youth.

“I’ve been working with MCDC for years and it is exciting to see the vision for that space coming to fruition,” said Melissa Mason, a borough councilwoman and executive director of the Millvale Community Library.

Since its founding in 2002, the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club has donated more than $16 million for 174 projects across Texas and the Northeast. It works with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.

“We’re so excited to see this project come to life,” said Jeanie Davey, senior communications specialist at Green Mountain Energy. “We were here for the groundbreaking in 2023. And understanding your vision of how you see this hub as shared space for community and sustainability, it’s incredible to support the work that’s happening here.”

The Green Mountain Energy Sun Club also had supported the installation of a solar system in 2013 at the Millvale Community Library.

In 2025, the library paid about $575 for electricity, or an average of $48 per month, Mason said.

“Most months, we spent less than $20 on an electric bill and that seems mostly to be supplier and usage fees from being tied into the electric provider’s service grid,” she said. “In the four winter months, our bills were higher, averaging about $240 per month. In June and July, we didn’t pay a bill and were actually credited a total of $101 in credits on the account for generating more than we used.”