NYSEIA asks Governor Hochul to double distributed solar target

The New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) has released a detailed policy report, “20 Gigawatts by 2035: Raising New York’s Distributed Solar Goal (Roadmap),” which calls on New York State lawmakers, including Governor Kathy Hochul, to boost solar power, the state’s distributed solar target is 20 GW by 2035. Under New York’s current climate and energy transition plan, the state aims to install 10 gigawatts by 2030.

The roadmap lays out a roadmap to increase the use of one of the bright spots in New York’s renewable energy transition: distributed solar power. Distributed solar energy, which includes rooftop installations on homes and businesses and small ground-mounted projects in local communities, accounts for more than 90% of the state’s current solar capacity. Last year alone, New York added more than 800 MW of distributed solar capacity and is on track to exceed 6 GW by the end of 2024, a year ahead of schedule.

“As New York struggles to meet its ambitious renewable energy goals, legislative leaders and regulators must take decisive action,” said Noah Ginsburg, executive director of NYSEIA. “Increased use of distributed solar energy will ensure cost-effective progress toward New York’s overall climate goals while providing enormous benefits to New York’s environment, economy and working families.”

CLCPA failures

In 2019, New York passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), widely considered one of the most ambitious renewable energy mandates in the entire state, mandating that New York be powered by 70% renewable energy by 2030. and 100% renewable energy by 2040 and a carbon neutral economy by 2050.

Since then, a wave of high-profile cancellations of utility-scale renewable energy projects have jeopardized the feasibility of achieving 70% renewable energy by 2030. In 2023, Governor Hochul enacted a 10-point action plan to get renewable energy projects back on track scale of public utility. These utility-scale projects are important, but they are not enough to meet New York’s mandates; To meet CLCPA requirements, New York must more than double its renewable energy production by 2030, and the rapid deployment of solar installations on rooftops and in local communities could fill this gap.

Ambitious but achievable growth in solar energy

As described in The Roadmap, solar energy deployment in New York City has expanded rapidly over the past decade, averaging 31% annual growth from 2013 to 2022. This rapid growth was fueled by New York’s nation-leading community solar program. New York faces new challenges in deploying rooftop and community solar, but to reach 20 GW of distributed solar by 2035, the state will need to sustain just 7-10% annual growth in deployment. This growth can be enabled by smart policy at the state level and fueled by federal incentives that are available over the next decade through the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Distributed solar has worked so well in New York because it fits the character of our state,” said Senator Pete Harckham, chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee. “We have a unique mix of urban, suburban and rural communities that can support a diverse portfolio of renewable energy projects, so it’s time for us to build on our character as a state. “Distributed solar energy is essential to a sustainable future for the millions of consumers and businesses that want to be part of the climate solution.”

Significant benefits for New Yorkers

Deploying 20 gigawatts of distributed solar energy by 2035 will provide New Yorkers with: $50 billion in gross electricity bill savings; $3-4 billion in revenue for rural landowners, municipalities and school districts; and support the creation of an additional 15,000 good jobs in the solar industry. In low-income communities, where New Yorkers face disproportionately high energy burdens and pollution levels, these benefits are especially pronounced. Distributed solar energy is an effective way to benefit New York City’s most vulnerable residents and meet the CLCPA’s requirement that 40% of clean energy benefits go to disadvantaged communities.

Effective policy interventions are necessary

New York City won’t reach 20 x 35 with a “business as usual” approach. The roadmap identifies policy reforms needed to realize the potential of distributed solar energy, including:

• Interconnection reform and flexible interconnections to lower clean energy costs and accelerate deployment
• Improved permitting for photovoltaic installations on roofs and in public buildings
• Virtual power plant programs and dynamic rate design to compensate for distributed solar and energy storage to export energy where it’s needed
• Continued investment in New York’s nation-leading community solar programs to deliver even greater direct bill savings for low-income New Yorkers

For more information on NYSEIA’s plan to double the deployment of distributed solar energy in New York and how it will benefit the state, view the full roadmap here.

A message from the New York Solar Energy Industry Association