Governor Hochul Announces Deployment of More Than 30 Megawatts of Solar Energy Throughout Upstate New York

Introduction

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the deployment of more than 30 megawatts of solar energy throughout upstate New York. The solar energy systems were installed at five New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision facilities, comprising of more than 75,000 solar panels—enough to power 7,000 homes. The projects are expected to save more than $10 million in energy costs throughout the course of their lifetimes and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 4,500 tons—the equivalent of removing 880 cars from the road.

Solar Energy in New York

New York is one of the strongest solar markets in the nation. The state has more than 13,400 people engaged in solar jobs and solar has grown more than 3,000 percent since its inception in 2011. New York has also leveraged nearly $7.3 billion in private investments and decreased the cost of solar by 73 percent.

The Solar Projects

The five solar energy arrays—located at Wende, Mid-State, Greene, Eastern and Green Haven state correctional facilities—are expected to save more than $10 million in energy costs throughout the course of their lifetimes. The photovoltaic energy systems at Wende and Greene correctional facilities will generate 6.9 MW of distributed solar while the remaining sites will generate 4.9 MW. In total, the projects will reduce carbon emissions by nearly 4,500 tons—the equivalent of removing 880 cars from the road.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act

The solar projects are part of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which calls for 70 percent of New York’s electricity to be sourced from renewable energy by 2030, including six gigawatts of solar by 2025 on a path to 10 gigawatts by decade’s end.

Conclusion

New York is one of the leaders in the fight against climate change. The state’s ambitious climate goals are only possible with the continued development of renewable energy sources like solar. The five solar energy projects announced by Governor Hochul are a significant step forward in the state’s efforts to achieve its climate goals.