NYS Energy Research and Development Authority and Nexamp complete 2.6 megawatt community solar project in Seneca

Seneca, NY The NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Nexamp, Inc., have completed a 2.6 megawatt community solar project, of which one megawatt will be used to provide no-cost solar subscriptions in NYS Electric and Gas Corp.’s (NYSEG) utility territory. Nexamp Seneca was one of nine projects awarded contracts last December under the first round of the state’s Solar for All program. The project supports governor Andrew Cuomo’s Green New Deal and proposed new mandate for 70% of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030 and complements “Finger Lakes Forward,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust economic growth and community development.

Alicia Barton, president and CEO, NYSERDA said, “As New York builds on its aggressive efforts to combat climate change under gov. Cuomo’s leadership, NYSERDA is proud to be advancing the Solar for All program to make sure our most underserved homeowners and renters have greater access to renewable energy sources like solar. Nexamp and other Solar for All developers continue to make solar a reality for more New Yorkers.”

Administered by NYSERDA as part of Governor Cuomo’s $1 billion NY-Sun program, the Solar for All program is designed to provide no-cost community solar to 10,000 low-income homeowners and renters in support of the state’s ongoing efforts to make renewable energy more accessible to all New Yorkers. Solar For All offers eligible low-income households the opportunity to subscribe to a community solar project in their area without any upfront costs or participation fees. Through the Solar for All program, the Nexamp Seneca project will reserve approximately 20 percent of project capacity, up to 1 megawatt, for eligible homeowners and renters to subscribe. Today’s announcement was made at a ribbon cutting for the project which will serve customers in NYSEG’s Central New York region as well as the rest of NYSEG’s utility territory.

“Making the benefits of solar accessible to everyone is core to our mission as a company,” notes Zaid Ashai, CEO of Nexamp, “so being selected as a NYSERDA Solar for All partner is a meaningful achievement for us. New York is leading the way in its commitment to carbon-free electricity, and community solar promises to be a central part of the solution. Deploying local, renewable resources that enable that all residents, regardless of income, to participate and reduce their energy costs is a goal that Nexamp and NYSERDA share.”

Eligibility for Solar for All is based on a resident’s location, household income, and annual electric usage. For more information on Solar for All eligibility and to sign up, homeowners and renters are encouraged to visit: www.nyserda.ny.gov/solarforall. Residents who need help answering questions about Solar for All can email [email protected] or call 1-877-NYSMART. NYSERDA will launch a second round of the program later this year, which will expand the number of households and areas served.

Customers not eligible for the Solar for All program can subscribe through Nexamp directly at www.solarforny.com and save 10 percent on utility costs for the life of the project.

Nexamp, which was also awarded a contract in the first round of awards for their 5.6 megawatt community solar project in the Town of Rochester in Ulster County, expects to have more than 20 community solar farms operating or under construction throughout New York by the end of 2019. The company, which owns and operates solar projects across the country, addresses the entire community solar project lifecycle, from design and construction through ongoing maintenance, operations, and customer management.