An owner of a Bronx business called New York Beverage decided that he was going to take his warehouse off the electric grid. At first he was reasoning with wind power but opted for solar instead. He is in a low-rise zoning area where it would be perfect for maximum exposure to sunlight.

After getting a $50,000 discount for businesses going solar, that still leaves $100,000 coming directly out of the business' pocket. Despite being one the largest wholesale and retail drink warehouses in the city, New York Beverage just didn't have the green to go green.

That's when the Bronx Initiative on Energy and the Environment stepped in. The green development fund is part of a support team by Borough President Adolfo Carrión to make the borough a model of sustainable development. The Bronx Initiative on Energy and the Environment provided about $100,000 in grants to make sure the plan went ahead.

The solar panels are planned to be up and running by early 2008 atop the New York Beverage warehouse at 515 Bruckner Boulevard between east 149th Street and Austin Place.