Callicoon, NY According to governor Andrew Cuomo, one of the state’s largest solar projects has been completed. The community solar project will result in reduced energy bills for more than 350 households and small businesses. The 2.7-megawatt solar array, located in Sullivan County, is critical to supporting governor Cuomo’s mandate for half of all electricity consumed to come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
“An investment in renewable energy is an investment in the future and sustainability of New York’s environment, and the overall health of this state,” governor Cuomo said. “This Sullivan County project will deliver energy savings to residents throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley region, while supporting the establishment of a cleaner, greener New York for all.”
The solar array is located in Callicoon, Sullivan County and includes 9,800 solar panels. The project will reduce greenhouse gases by 1,670 metric tons annually, the equivalent to taking 360 cars off the road.
The Sullivan County project is owned by Delaware River Solar. It received nearly $1.3 million in funding through governor Cuomo’s $1 billion NY-Sun initiative, which is building a self-sustaining solar industry in New York State. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority administers the NY-Sun initiative.
Rich Winter, CEO, Delaware River Solar said, “We are excited that our first community solar array is in our home town of Callicoon. And we are very gratified by all the local support as evidenced by the fact 82% of the power is subscribed by people in Sullivan County and 52% in the town itself. Hyper local green energy in New York State!”
These community-based projects increase access to solar in areas where residents may or may not own property or have room to install solar panels at their location by enabling them to subscribe to a local community solar project. Once households and businesses subscribe, energy is still delivered through their regular electric provider while the power produced from the solar array is fed directly back to the electric grid. As a result, the grid is supplied with clean, renewable energy while subscribers get credit on their electric bills.
In February, governor Cuomo revealed that solar power in New York increased more than 1,000% from December 2011 to December 2017, leveraging more than $2.8 billion in private investments. There are more than 12,000 people engaged in solar jobs across New York.
Reforming the Energy Vision is governor Cuomo’s strategy to lead on climate change and grow New York’s economy. REV is building a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers by stimulating investment in clean technologies like solar, wind, and energy efficiency and requiring 50% of the state’s electricity needs from renewable energy by 2030. Already, REV has driven growth of more than 1,000 percent in the statewide solar market, improved energy affordability for 1.65 million low-income customers, and created thousands of jobs in manufacturing, engineering, and other clean tech sectors. REV is ensuring New York reduces statewide greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 and achieves the internationally recognized target of reducing emissions 80% by 2050.
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