A new state program seeks to support initiatives such as Solarize Syracuse, locally organized community outreach effort working to help homeowners and businesses install solar panels. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Dec. 5 announced the launch of Community Solar NY, a new effort under the NY-Sun initiative to make implementing solar projects “easier and more affordable” for […]
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A new state program seeks to support initiatives such as Solarize Syracuse, locally organized community outreach effort working to help homeowners and businesses install solar panels.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Dec. 5 announced the launch of Community Solar NY, a new effort under the NY-Sun initiative to make implementing solar projects “easier and more affordable” for communities across the state.
NY-Sun is Cuomo’s $1 billion initiative to advance the scale-up and move the state closer to having a “sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry,” Cuomo’s office said.
Solarize campaigns include community outreach and education, competitive installer selection, and a “limited-time offer” to bring more customers to solar and provide “significant” cost savings.
Community Solar NY will provide marketing materials; technical assistance and funding; and share “best practices” to help community projects succeed, Cuomo’s office said.
The local organization, Solarize Syracuse, is a nonprofit community initiative that has helped more than 70 property owners sign contracts to switch to solar energy in four months of operation, according to the website for NY-Sun.
The figure more than doubles the amount of residential solar projects that installers had previously handled in the initiative’s target area of Syracuse, DeWitt, Manlius and the town of Onondaga.
The nonprofit’s website says the 2014 Solarize Syracuse program has ended, but invites those interested to sign up for information about “future community solar opportunities in Central New York.”
Chris Carrick, energy program manager for the Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board called the Solarize campaigns a “real win-win solution” for the community and the solar industry.
“By providing grassroots support and education for prospective solar customers and marshalling their collective buying power, the Solarize approach makes it easier and more affordable than ever to go solar. In addition, Solarize taps the unrealized demand of homeowners and businesses, giving a boost to solar contractors and helping to create jobs in the solar industry,” Carrick contended.
Another local program that’s no longer in operation would have also qualified, according to the state.
Solarize Madison was a community-focused, renewable-energy program promoting sustainable-energy production to stabilize current and future energy costs.
The Madison County Planning Department and the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board had developed the program with support from the Renewable Energy Training Center at Morrisville State College.
The program operated for two years, according to the news release.
In 2012, installers handled 29 solar-electric systems for a total of 184.9 kilowatts (kW) of new solar power. The following year, property owners signed 16 solar-electric contracts for 172 kW of new solar power and installers handled 29 solar hot-water systems, offsetting more than 67,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity.
The website for Solarize Madison says the program “has officially ended and will not be returning…”
Community Solar NY also includes K-Solar, a joint partnership between the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and NYSERDA, working with the New York State Education Department to help schools lower their energy costs by going solar.
NYPA is offering every New York school district free energy-advisory services and in collaboration with school personnel will determine if solar energy is suitable and cost-effective for their district and to help secure the most attractive solar financing.
As of the end of November, 194 school districts, representing more than 800 schools in 51 counties, have signed up to participate in K-Solar, according to Cuomo’s office.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com