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The New York Power Authority has announced “accelerated plans to help local governments and state agencies build at least 40 distributed solar systems that will generate renewable energy while bringing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to surrounding communities. The 40 projects will help meet a newly announced New York Power Authority 2025 community solar target that sets a goal of 75 megawatts of renewable capacity that includes 15 MW of paired battery storage, enough energy to offset the emissions of 2,572\u00a0 cars. These projects are expected to stimulate more than $135 million in direct, private investments toward their development, construction, and operation, and create more than 1,250 short-term and long-term jobs.”<\/p>\n
NYPA’s new Community Solar and Storage Program will allow electricity customers to buy into a renewable project in their area, get credit on their monthly utility bills, and do their part to help the state increase the supply of clean, renewable energy into the electric grid.<\/p>\n
The initiative is open to municipal communities including counties, towns, cities and villages, as well as state agencies to serve as project hosts for community solar projects.\u00a0Interested participants should contact the NYPA Community Solar and Storage Program by emailing\u00a0solar@nypa.gov<\/a>.\u00a0NYPA, which acts as an energy advisor and already has several community solar projects in the pipeline, is stepping up its commitment by creating this statewide community solar and storage program for state\u00a0agencies\u00a0and local governments that aligns with the state’s\u00a0Climate Leadership\u00a0and Community Protection Act<\/a>\u00a0agenda. The Act calls for installing 6,000 megawatts of\u00a0solar\u00a0by 2025 and 3,000 megawatts of energy\u00a0storage\u00a0by 2030.<\/p>\n Community solar benefits communities by offering households, schools, and businesses the opportunity to benefit from a solar project in their area often without any upfront costs or participation fees. These projects increase access to solar for renters, homeowners, low-income residents, schools, and businesses who may not have the ability or ideal conditions to install solar panels at their buildings. Solar energy is fed into the electric grid and local subscribers get credit on their electric bills.<\/p>\n