New York’s Distributed Solar Capacity Exceeds 2 Gigawatts Thanks to NY Sun Program: NYSERDA Report

New York installed 934 megawatts of distributed capacity through Sept. 30, with an additional 1,053 megawatts in the pipeline under the NY Sun program, a $1 billion initiative to expand solar capacity through the strategic use of public funds to build a self-sustaining market, according to a Nov. 14 report from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The state has achieved over one-third of its distributed solar goal of 6 gigawatts by 2025, with the current installed capacity totaling 2,014 megawatts, of which, more than 563 megawatts was added without direct funding from the agency.

• The NY-Sun-funded installations reduce annual carbon emissions by 552,986 metric tons, and provide for an estimated $143 million annually in customer bill savings.
• NY-Sun leveraged outside investment of more than $2,558 million in non-NYSERDA funding to date.
• Overall, NY Sun-supported projects through the first three quarters of this year reached 192 megawatts, 7 percent lower than the same period in 2018.
• When all of the agency’s funding support for distributed solar is considered, the state’s installations amount to 1,451 megawatts through Sept. 30, with an additional 1,182 megawatts in the pipeline.
• The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, enacted in July, expanded the state’s distributed solar goal to 6 gigawatts by 2025, from 3 gigawatts by 2023.