NYSEIA Calls on Gov. Hochul to Double Rooftop and Community Solar Deployment Goal; Outlines Solar Roadmap for New York
2024年6月26日 - 10:05PM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
Detailed solar industry report charts an ambitious path
for New York to double its rooftop and community (“distributed”)
solar deployment goal to 20 Gigawatts by 2035
Distributed solar deployment has outpaced utility-scale
renewables, proving to be one of the most reliable solutions for
delivering near-term progress on New York’s clean energy
commitments.
Today, the New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA)
released 20 Gigawatts by 2035: Raising New York’s Distributed Solar
Goal (“The Roadmap”), a detailed policy report that calls on New
York state lawmakers, including Governor Kathy Hochul, to raise the
state’s distributed solar goal to 20 gigawatts by 2035. Under New
York’s current climate and energy transition plan, the state aims
to install 10 gigawatts by 2030.
Distributed Solar is Leading New York’s Renewable
Transition
The Roadmap outlines a plan of action to double down on one of
the bright spots in New York’s renewable energy transition:
distributed solar. Consisting of rooftop installations on homes and
businesses and small-scale ground-mounted projects in local
communities, distributed solar represents more than 90% of the
state’s current solar capacity. New York added more than 800
megawatts of distributed solar capacity last year alone, and is on
track to surpass 6 GW by the end of 2024, one year ahead of
schedule.
“As New York struggles to meet its ambitious renewable energy
mandates, legislative leaders and regulators must take decisive
action,” said Noah Ginsburg, Executive Director of NYSEIA. “Scaling
up distributed solar deployment will deliver cost-effective
progress toward New York’s overall climate goals while delivering
immense benefits to New York’s environment, economy, and working
families.”
CLCPA Setbacks
In 2019, New York enacted the Climate Leadership and Community
Protection Act (CLCPA), widely considered one of the most ambitious
statewide renewable energy mandates, directing New York to be
powered with 70% renewable energy by 2030, 100% renewable energy by
2040, and a carbon neutral economy by 2050.
Since then, a wave of high-profile utility-scale renewable
project cancellations has jeopardized the feasibility of achieving
70% renewable energy by 2030. In 2023, Governor Hochul enacted a
10-point action plan to get utility-scale renewable projects back
on track. These utility-scale projects are important, but they are
not enough to meet New York’s mandates; New York must more than
double its renewable energy generation by 2030 to comply with
CLCPA, and rapid rooftop and community solar deployment can fill
the gap.
Ambitious, Yet Attainable Solar Growth
As The Roadmap outlines, solar deployment in New York has been
growing at a rapid rate over the last decade, averaging 31% annual
growth from 2013-2022. This rapid growth was driven by New York’s
nation-leading community solar program. New York faces new
challenges deploying rooftop and community solar, but in order to
reach 20 gigawatts of distributed solar by 2035, the state will
need to sustain just 7-10% annual growth in deployment. This growth
can be enabled with smart state-level policies and fueled by
federal incentives that are available for the next decade due to
the Inflation Reduction Act.
“Distributed solar has performed so well in New York because it
fits the nature of our state,” said Senator Pete Harckham, Chair of
the Environmental Conservation Committee. “We have a unique mix of
urban, suburban, and rural communities that can support a diverse
portfolio of renewable energy projects, and it’s time we lean into
our character as a state. Distributed solar is essential for a
sustainable future for the millions of consumers and businesses
that want to be a part of the climate solution.”
Meaningful Benefits for New Yorkers
Deploying 20 gigawatts of distributed solar by 2035 will provide
New Yorkers with: $50 billion in gross electric bill savings; $3-4
billion in revenue for rural landowners, municipalities and school
districts; and support an additional 15,000 good jobs in the solar
industry. In low-income communities, where New Yorkers face
disproportionately high energy burdens and levels of pollution,
these benefits are especially powerful. Distributed solar is an
effective way to deliver benefits to New Yorkers who need them
most, and to meet the CLCPA requirement that 40% of clean energy
benefits accrue to disadvantaged communities.
High-Impact Policy Interventions Are Needed
New York will not achieve 20X35 with a “business as usual”
approach. The Roadmap lays out policy reforms needed to realize the
potential of distributed solar, including:
- Interconnection reform and flexible interconnection to lower
clean energy costs and accelerate deployment
- Streamlined permitting for rooftop and community solar
- Virtual Power Plant programs and dynamic rate design to
compensate distributed solar and energy storage for exporting power
when and where it’s needed
- Continued investment in New York’s nation-leading community
solar programs to provide even more direct bill savings to
low-income New Yorkers
For more information on NYSEIA’s plan to double distributed
solar deployment in New York, and the benefits it will provide to
the state, you can view the full roadmap here.
About New York Solar Energy Industries Association
Founded in 1994, New York Solar Energy Industries Association
(NYSEIA) is a trade association representing more than 230 solar
and energy storage firms in New York. NYSEIA is dedicated to
advancing rapid, cost-effective and equitable solar deployment
across the state.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240626784963/en/
Conor Douglass conor@milkandhoneypr.com