Business Incentives To Drop Energy Costs
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $107 million is now available through the NY-Sun initiative for a major solar power incentive program that will increase the amount of electricity generated by photovoltaic (PV) systems throughout New York.
The NY-Sun Competitive PV Program, which is being administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), seeks proposals for large (more than 50 kilowatts) PV systems to be installed at businesses, factories, municipal buildings and other larger commercial and industrial customers. A new website, https://nysun. ny.gov, has been launched to provide a one-stop-shop for applicants seeking funding through the NY-Sun program.
“The NY-Sun initiative has helped establish New York State as a leader in solar power, and these investments in photovoltaic systems will allow businesses and municipalities to put in place green, cost-effective electric generating installations,” Cuomo said. “In addition, these investments will further drive job growth in the state’s clean power industry, and create economic development in communities across New York. I encourage all businesses and municipalities eligible for these grants to apply.”
This phase of the program is available through the end of 2013 for PV projects in New York City and upstate New York at eligible customer sites. This is an expansion- both in geographical territory and in funding-of a two-year-old program that previously focused on large PV systems for the commercial, industrial and municipal sectors exclusively in New York City, Westchester County and the lower Hudson Valley. The awards announced by the governor stemmed from this more limited two-year-old program.
Through the newly established NY-Sun Competitive PV Program, $36.4 million will be available in 2012 and $70.5 million in 2013. All projects will require co-funding to best leverage state resources with funding capped at $3 million per project.
Proposals under the first round of the NY-Sun Competitive PV Program are due Nov. 8 with the remaining two due dates for this program in the first and third quarters of 2013.
In addition to the competitive PV program, NYSERDA has also expanded its smaller-scale solar PV program (less than 50 kilowatts) under the NY-Sun Initiative. Monthly funding under this program has increased from $2 million to $3.5 million for the remainder of 2012 and will continue at $3.1 million per month in 2013.
This standard offer, non-competitive open enrollment program provides funding for systems up to seven kilowatts for residential sites and up to 50 kilowatts for non-residential sites.
Cuomo launched the NY-Sun initiative to double the amount of customer sited solar power installed annually in New York, and quadruple that amount by 2013 benchmarked against the amount installed during 2011. This initiative brings together and expands existing programs administered by NYSERDA, NYPA and Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), to ensure a coordinated and well-funded solar energy expansion plan.
For more information on the NYSun Initiative, visit their website, www.ny-sun.ny.gov.
