Brian Nearing is reporting in the Times Union a solar farm in Rensselaer County is the first community solar array in the Capital Region. The farm provides power to buildings in the Albany City School District, as well as private homes and apartments. The 1,200 panels are located in a five-acre former hay field in Pittstown. Project builder Mark Fobare, CEO of Monolith Solar, said community solar aims at bundling potential customers who may not want or be able to install individual solar units. Customers pay off their ownership share with fixed monthly payments spanning a five- to nine-year period. The Albany City School District owns half of the Pittstown solar farm, with the balance shared among 26 homeowners or apartment dwellers throughout the Capital Region. The farm is expected to reduce the district's annual electric bill by 4 percent, a school spokesman said. The Pittstown solar farm is among about 40 similar facilities statewide owned by Monolith. A similar community solar project is being planned for a capped former municipal landfill in Kingston. That farm is expected to generate enough power to supply 300 average homes. Read the full story in the Times Union.