{"id":106438,"date":"2024-06-26T11:47:24","date_gmt":"2024-06-26T15:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/\/?p=106438"},"modified":"2024-06-26T11:47:24","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T15:47:24","slug":"nyseia-asks-gov-hochul-to-double-distributed-solar-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/\/2024\/06\/nyseia-asks-gov-hochul-to-double-distributed-solar-goal\/","title":{"rendered":"NYSEIA asks Gov. Hochul to double distributed solar goal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A community solar project by OYA Renewables in New York.<\/p><\/div>\n

The New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) released “20 Gigawatts by 2035: Raising New York\u2019s Distributed Solar Goal (The Roadmap)<\/a>,” a detailed policy report that calls on New York state lawmakers, including Gov. Kathy Hochul, to raise the state\u2019s distributed solar goal to 20 GW by 2035. Under New York\u2019s current climate and energy transition plan, the state aims to install 10 gigawatts by 2030.<\/p>\n

The Roadmap outlines a plan of action to double down on one of the bright spots in New York\u2019s renewable energy transition: distributed solar. Consisting of rooftop installations on homes and businesses and small-scale ground-mounted projects in local communities, distributed solar represents more than 90% of the state\u2019s current solar capacity. New York added more than 800 MW of distributed solar capacity last year alone, and is on track to surpass 6 GW by the end of 2024, one year ahead of schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs New York struggles to meet its ambitious renewable energy mandates, legislative leaders and regulators must take decisive action,\u201d said Noah Ginsburg, executive director of NYSEIA. \u201cScaling up distributed solar deployment will deliver cost-effective progress toward New York\u2019s overall climate goals while delivering immense benefits to New York\u2019s environment, economy and working families.\u201d<\/p>\n

CLCPA setbacks<\/h4>\n

In 2019, New York enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), widely considered one of the most ambitious statewide renewable energy mandates, directing New York to be powered with 70% renewable energy by 2030, 100% renewable energy by 2040, and a carbon neutral economy by 2050.<\/p>\n

Since then, a wave of high-profile utility-scale renewable project cancellations has jeopardized the feasibility of achieving 70% renewable energy by 2030. In 2023, Governor Hochul enacted a 10-point action plan to get utility-scale renewable projects back on track. These utility-scale projects are important, but they are not enough to meet New York\u2019s mandates; New York must more than double its renewable energy generation by 2030 to comply with CLCPA, and rapid rooftop and community solar deployment can fill the gap.<\/p>\n

Ambitious yet attainable solar growth<\/h4>\n

As The Roadmap outlines, solar deployment in New York has been growing at a rapid rate over the last decade, averaging 31% annual growth from 2013-2022. This rapid growth was driven by New York\u2019s nation-leading community solar program. New York faces new challenges deploying rooftop and community solar, but in order to reach 20 GW of distributed solar by 2035, the state will need to sustain just 7 to 10% annual growth in deployment. This growth can be enabled with smart state-level policies and fueled by federal incentives that are available for the next decade due to the Inflation Reduction Act.<\/p>\n

\u201cDistributed solar has performed so well in New York because it fits the nature of our state,\u201d said Senator Pete Harckham, Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee. \u201cWe have a unique mix of urban, suburban and rural communities that can support a diverse portfolio of renewable energy projects, and it\u2019s time we lean into our character as a state. Distributed solar is essential for a sustainable future for the millions of consumers and businesses that want to be a part of the climate solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meaningful benefits for New Yorkers<\/h4>\n

Deploying 20 gigawatts of distributed solar by 2035 will provide New Yorkers with: $50 billion in gross electric bill savings; $3 to 4 billion in revenue for rural landowners, municipalities and school districts; and support an additional 15,000 good jobs in the solar industry. In low-income communities, where New Yorkers face disproportionately high energy burdens and levels of pollution, these benefits are especially powerful. Distributed solar is an effective way to deliver benefits to New Yorkers who need them most, and to meet the CLCPA requirement that 40% of clean energy benefits accrue to disadvantaged communities.<\/p>\n

High-impact policy interventions are needed<\/h4>\n

New York will not achieve 20X35 with a \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d approach. The Roadmap lays out policy reforms needed to realize the potential of distributed solar, including:<\/p>\n