New York achieves solar power milestone a year early

New York has reached its target of 6 gigawatts of solar power one year ahead of its 2025 goal, state officials announced recently. This achievement, part of a 2019 clean energy and climate law, highlights New York’s growing leadership in “distributed” solar—solar power generated by a combination of rooftop panels on homes and businesses, as well as larger solar farms across the state.

The announcement was made by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) during the launch of a new solar array in New Scotland, operated by New Leaf Energy, which will supply power to 1,000 local homes.

“Today we celebrate the early achievement of New York’s 6-GW milestone, bringing us closer to a reliable, zero-emission grid,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “Distributed solar is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making renewable energy more accessible, and delivering significant benefits for our health, environment, and economy.”

Since the law was enacted, New York’s solar sector has generated more than 14,000 jobs in various roles, according to NYSERDA. In 2023 alone, 885 megawatts of solar capacity were installed statewide, bringing private investments in New York’s solar market to a cumulative $9.2 billion.

In light of these advancements, Governor Hochul expanded the state’s target to 10 gigawatts by 2030, with 3.4 gigawatts of new solar installations already in development.

New York’s achievement follows a similar milestone in Maine, where Governor Janet Mills recently announced the installation of 100,000 heat pumps two years ahead of schedule. Maine has since set a new goal of installing an additional 175,000 heat pumps by 2027.

[Information sourced from Good News Network]