6 GW of solar energy installed in NY ahead of schedule

As co-op and condo boards struggle to cut their buildings’ carbon emissions enough to comply with the city’s Local Law 97, there’s a ray of good news. New York State has reached its goal of installing 6 gigiwatts of distributed solar — enough to power more than 1 million homes and businesses — a year ahead of the goal set out in the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

“As the top community solar market in the nation, New York State has provided a replicable model for others to deliver clean, low-cost renewable energy to more consumers,” says Doreen Harris, president and chief executive at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). “Our public-private partnerships are the catalysts which have helped us to achieve our 6-GW goal well ahead of target, trailblazing New York’s path to an equitable energy transition.”

One such partnership is Solar One, whose Here Comes Solar program has facilitated 900 solar projects at a variety of New York City buildings, including numerous co-ops and condos, totaling 32 megawatts installed.

The ahead-of-schedule achievement of the 6-GW goal has generated approximately $9.2 billion in private investment across New York State, according to NYSERDA, and it has created more than 14,000 solar jobs, from engineering and design to installation. In addition, New York requires all solar projects more than 1 megawatt (MW) in size to pay prevailing wages, further supporting the opportunity to advance family-sustaining clean energy jobs across New York.

“The installation of six gigawatts of distributed solar energy is a giant step to meeting the state’s renewable energy goals and a major win for clean energy development, the environment and New York’s disadvantaged communities,” says state Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn), chairman of the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications. “I applaud Gov. Hochul and NYSERDA for taking strong action to ensure New York is a national leader in solar energy production and making tremendous progress toward the goals under the (state’s climate law).”

Under that law, the state is required to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030, based on 1990 levels, and 85% by 2050.