For several years now, New York state has had the goal to install 6 gigawatts of solar panels/systems. That goal, put in place in 2019, has now been achieved, almost a year ahead of schedule, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
The announcement was made at an opening of a new solar array in New Scotland that is designed to power over 1000 homes. NY Governor Kathy Hochul said: “Today we celebrate the early achievement of New York’s 6-GW milepost, which brings us one step closer to a reliable and resilient zero-emission grid.”, Her speech was a clear indicator of the focus that the state has on improving its renewable energy capacity. As this new installation demonstrates, the 6 GW of solar power comes from a combination of solar farms but also solar panels installed on homes/properties owned by New York state residents.
New York State has a further goal of reaching 10 GW of distributed solar by 2030, and has 3.4 GW already in development. All these investments are being made with the ultimate plan to reach a zero-emission electricity grid by 2040. While that’s still a ways off, these continual investments are impressive, and they are getting the state closer to that goal.
According to PV Magazine, New York is one of only 2 states (analyzed by Paces) that are dealing with a drop in solar site availability. That’s why integrating the community’s solar potential will make it easier for the state to reach its 2030 goal.
Another of the state’s solar goals is to have 2 million eco-friendly homes by 2030. The state is investing $10 million in order to speed up production to reach this goal, and so a lot of new construction is focused on greener housing solutions and energy efficiency. In order to qualify for a piece of the $10 million, construction projects need to meet the certification criteria, along with a comprehensive checkup of the ventilation, air, and heating systems. Funds will be distributed until the end of 2025, or until there are no funds left
Other states are also pursuing similar goals. Maine, for example, has installed 100,000 heat pumps, meeting their 2025 goal two years early, and they are already focused on installing 175,000 more by the end of 2027.
One thing is certain: focusing on the installation of more solar systems is a huge win for the state of New York. And according to the governor, they got there under budget as well. Thanks to these distributed solar projects, electricity bills will be lower, and they’re also helping to generate more tax revenue for the local governments. Now, it all comes down to meeting that 2040 goal of having a zero-emission electricity grid in New York, which seems more in reach than ever!
