New York Announces New Framework to Achieve at Least 10 Gigawatts of Distributed Solar by 2030
December 21, 2021 -- Governor Kathy Hochul this week announced a framework for the State to achieve at least ten gigawatts of distributed solar by 2030, enough to annually power nearly 700,000 homes. The roadmap, submitted by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) to the Public Service Commission for public comment and approval, proposes a comprehensive strategy to expand the state's successful NY-Sun initiative into one of the largest and most inclusive solar programs of its kind in the nation, helping to increase access to solar for more New Yorkers.
In addition to spurring approximately $4.4 billion in private investment and creating 6,000 additional solar jobs across the state - including with the State's first application of prevailing wage for solar projects between one and five megawatts - the program expansion will also deliver at least 35 percent of the benefits with a goal of 40 percent from the investments to statutorily-defined disadvantaged communities and low-to moderate- income New Yorkers. This week's announcement supports the State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act) mandate to generate 70 percent of the state's electricity from renewables by 2030 as part of a resilient and equitable transition to a clean energy economy.
'In New York, we recognize the time to act on climate change is now. We simply cannot wait as we have seen the impacts of this crisis devastate our communities, our businesses, and our economy,' Governor Hochul said. 'Strengthening our commitment to solar energy will help build healthier, more resilient communities while catalyzing quality, good paying new jobs in this thriving sector of our clean energy economy.'
NYSERDA and DPS carefully evaluated multiple strategies to deploy ten gigawatts or more of distributed solar projects that are under five megawatts in size, including rooftop installations and community solar projects by 2030 and determined that extending the State's successful NY-Sun initiative provides the most efficient, familiar, and cost-effective path forward. Achieving the state's expanded solar goal is expected to generate enough clean electricity per year to power nearly 700,000 additional New York homes, including those in disadvantaged communities.
Importantly, the Roadmap proposes:
- Enough new clean, renewable energy to annually power 700,000 additional homes;
- At least 1,600 megawatts, enough to power 280,000 homes, of new solar capacity to benefit disadvantaged communities and low-to-moderate income New Yorkers, with an estimated $600 million in investments serving these communities;
- At least 450 megawatts, enough to power nearly 79,000 homes, be built in the Con Edison electric service area (covering New York City and parts of Westchester), increasing the installed solar capacity in this area to over one gigawatt, enough to power nearly 175,000 homes, by the end of decade;
- At least 560 megawatts, enough to power 98,000 homes, to be advanced through the Long Island Power Authority; and
- A new requirement that workers associated with the construction of NY-Sun supported projects that are greater than one megawatt be paid the applicable prevailing wage, demonstrating the State's commitment to ensuring projects create quality, family-sustaining jobs for New Yorkers and planning for a just transition. Projects that have submitted their initial utility interconnection application prior to the filing of this Roadmap are proposed to be exempt from the new prevailing wage requirement.
Expanding the state's solar goal is expected to have an average bill impact for New York customers of less than one percent, or approximately $0.71 per month for the average residence. The Roadmap is available for public comment on the Department of Public Service's website and subsequent decision-making in 2022.
Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, 'Governor Hochul has made clear that increasing access to solar energy is a central part of New York's all-inclusive strategy for decarbonizing the power grid and reducing harmful emissions to improve air quality and public health. This comprehensive roadmap provides the market with the critical framework it needs to continue to thrive in New York and will help us build on the progress we've achieved under NY-Sun to further pave the way toward the realization of our climate and clean energy goals.'
Rory M. Christian, CEO of DPS, said, 'I would like to thank Governor Hochul for her ardent support, encouraging the development of and access to solar energy in New York State. The roadmap that has been developed provides New York with the tools it needs to accelerate the transition to a clean-energy economy and meet our critically important climate goals.'
Since the NY-Sun initiative was launched, NYSERDA has worked closely with local governments, agricultural communities, other state agencies, and a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that projects are developed and sited in a manner that fully considers land use and are advanced in close collaboration with local stakeholders and agricultural communities. NYSERDA will extend its ongoing technical assistance for all municipalities in the state to assist localities in aligning solar development with local priorities. In addition, projects sited in New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets' designated Agricultural Districts must follow Guidelines for Agricultural Mitigation for Solar Energy Projects and will be subject to an additional review process with the NYSDAM, as well as with local agricultural boards. Those projects that exceed 30 acres of impact to prime agricultural soils will be subject to mitigation fees.
This week's announcement builds on the state's success under NY-Sun whereby installed distributed solar projects, combined with the projects that are under development, bring the State to 95 percent of the current Climate Act goal to install six gigawatts of distributed solar by 2025. In 2020, New York was ranked first in the nation in new community solar installations and second for total distributed solar installations. Since 2011, NY-Sun, New York State's $1.8 billion initiative to advance the scale-up of solar and move the State closer to having a sustainable solar industry, has:
- Fostered 12,000 jobs in the solar industry;
- Supported 114,000 completed projects with nearly 6,000 in active development in the NY-Sun pipeline - together, enough to power more than 2.2 million homes;
- Installed solar on the rooftop or property of 145,000 homes spanning every county in New York;
- Provided over $1 billion in incentives, leveraging $5.6 billion in private investment;
- Driven over 2,100 percent solar growth in the State;
- Delivered enough clean, renewable energy to power over 522,000 New York homes;
- Helped to drive down the cost of solar 69 percent in 10 years; and
- Allocated $135 million for projects benefiting low-to-moderate income households and disadvantaged communities.
Senator Kevin Parker said, 'As the Chair of the Energy and Telecommunications committee I applaud NY Sun for implementing initiatives that have made our state a leader in the development of distributed solar. As we continue to advance toward the goals established through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, we must prepare for the next steps which will help us surpass these goals and create good jobs with a livable wage and benefits in the clean energy industry. I am pleased to see NYSERDA and the Department of Public Service take this important step forward toward reaching 10 gigawatts of distributed solar here in New York State.'
Senator Todd Kaminsky said, The roadmap released today shows how we can meet ambitious goals with clean solar energy, encourage billions in private investment, and ensure disadvantaged communities benefit from this growth. I applaud NYSERDA and DPS for their forward thinking strategy to grow New York's green energy economy.
Assemblymember Steve Englebright said, 'We all have a stake in reducing the negate consequences of climate change. In 2019, I sponsored the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act requiring the PSC to establish a program in the clean energy standard to ensure that 70 percent of the state's electricity is generated from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 percent from emissions-free sources by 2040. The actions taken today are a step in the right direction.'
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.
Source: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
--------------------------------------------
Upcoming conferences organized by SGO:
6th Annual Smart Cities Technology Symposium & Exhibition, January 18-19, 2022 | 100% Virtual
14th Microgrid Global Innovation Forum - North America, February 15-16, 2022 | San Diego
Energy Cyber Security Forum, April 5-6, 2022 | San Diego
15th Microgrid Global Innovation Forum - EMEA, April 12-14, 2022 | London
7th Grid Modernization Forum, May 10-11, 2022 | Chicago
2nd EV Charging Infrastructure Summit - North America, June 7-8, 2022 | Chicago
Customer comments
No comments were found for New York Announces New Framework to Achieve at Least 10 Gigawatts of Distributed Solar by 2030. Be the first to comment!