New York Outlines Roadmap for 10 Gigawatts of Distributed Solar by 2030

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the New York State Department of Public Service on Dec. 17 proposed a plan to achieve the deployment of at least 10 gigawatts of distributed solar by 2030, enough to power nearly 700,000 homes per year. The agencies determined that extending the NY-Sun initiative provides the most efficient and cost-effective path forward to achieve the goal. The expansion is expected to spur about $4.4 billion in private investment and create 6,000 new solar jobs across the state. The measure supports the goal of sourcing 70 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030 as required by the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

Distributed solar refers to projects under 5 megawatts, including rooftop installations and community solar projects. The NY-Sun initiative, launched in 2012, aims to create a sustainable and subsidy-free solar industry at the state level. To date, the $1.8 billion initiative has supported the completion of 114,000 projects with nearly 6,000 projects in the pipeline.

Under the proposal, at least 1,600 megawatts of solar capacity would be installed in low-income and disadvantaged communities, with an estimated $600 million directed towards these communities. By the end of the decade, Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc. would have installed over 450 megawatts of solar energy in its service area, covering New York City and parts of Westchester, making this area home to over 1 gigawatt of solar energy. The plan also aims to advance at least 560 megawatts through the Long Island Power Authority. Expanding the solar infrastructure is expected to have a modest impact on the customer bills, about $0.71 per month for the average household.

Solar energy is an integral part of New York’s all-inclusive effort to decarbonize the power grid and reduce harmful emissions. Providing the industry with this comprehensive roadmap will enable it to build on the progress made under NY-Sun, contributing more to the realization of climate and clean energy goals.