NY-Sun to provide $13.5 million to reduce solar-installation costs

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday announced that $13.5 million is available for projects aimed at reducing the overall cost of installing photovoltaic (PV) solar-electric systems and streamlining the inspection and permitting process for local officials.

The funding is available through the NY-Sun initiative, a public-private partnership aimed at driving growth in the solar industry and making solar technology more affordable for all New Yorkers.

Of the $13.5 million now available, $10 million will support efforts to lower the overall cost of non-module PV systems, and $3.5 million will pay for a two-year statewide effort to educate local officials and first responders, according to the governor’s office.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) are teaming up to provide the $10 million in funding. That money will focus on projects that reduce PV balance-of-system (BOS) costs, which are all the upfront costs of the PV system except the module.

BOS costs can account for more than half of total-system costs, and include equipment and installation, the governor’s office said.

In addition to the BOS project funding, NYSERDA is offering $3.5 million to support education and training on PV for local officials who might have a role in the permitting, inspection, or approval of a PV system and for first responders who may encounter PV systems while fighting fires.