“The extended solar jobs program will provide longer program certainty to solar developers than current programs, funded through 2015, and is expected to attract significant private investment in solar photovoltaic systems, enable the sustainable development of a robust solar power industry in New York, create well-paying skilled jobs, improve the reliability of the electric grid, and reduce air pollution.”
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
on the NY-Sun Initiative, State of the State Address, January 2013
The NY-Sun initiative brings together and expands existing programs administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), to ensure a coordinated, well-funded solar energy expansion plan. The current solar program is investing $800 million through 2015. However, Governor Cuomo proposed in his 2013 State of the State address to extend the annual funding for the successful NY-Sun program through 2023.
Stimulates the Marketplace
Increases financial incentives for large, commercial-sized photovoltaic (PV) projects and expands incentive programs for small-to-medium residential and commercial systems; provides additional funding for its competitively bid solar program for larger-scale and aggregated systems that currently focuses on businesses, colleges and universities, and other large buildings located in New York City, Westchester, and the lower Hudson Valley.
Reduces Costs
Initiates a balance-of-system (BOS) program, where NYSERDA and NYPA will work with private and public partners across New York State, to standardize and streamline procedures for permitting and interconnection, and development and training. It will build on the BOS advancements made by the City University of New York (CUNY) and the efforts underway in the PV Manufacturing Consortium.