New York Governor Calls for Significant Ramp-up of Solar Energy Development in “State of the State” Address
Jan 4, 2012 – Albany, NY – The New York Solar Jobs Coalition along with leaders from the business community, environmental advocates and organized labor today praised Governor Cuomo for his continuing commitment to solar energy. The coalition recently called for an expansion of solar power that would create sustainable, clean energy and create new, sustainable jobs and released a statement of principles.
“We’re hopeful that with the continuing support of Governor Cuomo and key legislators in the Senate and Assembly, New York can create good jobs in the solar industry,” said Ed Malloy, President of the New York City and New York State Building and Construction Trades Councils. “These are jobs that can’t leave New York and will be critical for helping our economy recover. We support solar power because New Yorkers want to work and this is a simple way to help them do that.”
“We appreciate Governor Cuomo’s recognition that investing in solar power is an investment in New York’s energy and economic future,” said Carrie Cullen Hitt, Vice President of the Solar Energy Industry Association, a national solar industry trade association. “New York would see 14 new jobs per million dollars of investment that cannot be outsourced anywhere while also bringing its economy into the 21st century—this is a win-win for the state and for consumers.”
“As a renewable energy project developer and operations & maintenance company, we understand an investment today in solar energy is an investment in the future of the local economy and community,” said Virinder Singh, Director of Regulatory/Legislative Affairs at enXco. “Today we are installing solar projects in Suffolk County, Long Island, providing jobs and clean energy now. We are committed to New York’s bright energy future- employing more people, improving the reliability of the grid, and diversifying the energy portfolio. We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and the Legislature on making this happen.”
“We applaud Governor Cuomo for continuing his support of solar power. More solar power means cleaner air and more efficient power for all New Yorkers,” said Pierre Bull, Policy Analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “Taking concrete steps to make our air cleaner is something that will benefit millions of New Yorkers in neighborhoods all over the state.”
“Solar energy meshes perfectly with Governor Cuomo’s goals of creating a cleaner energy portfolio and promoting sustainable economic development, and we look forward to making that vision a reality,” said Carol E. Murphy, Executive Director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Inc. “With an accelerated program in place to support the growth of our solar industry, New York will attract the investment it needs to create new jobs and build a thriving in-state market.”
“New York stands at an energy crossroads: the state can continue its business as usual approach or build a safer, healthier local energy economy by harnessing homegrown solar power. There’s no question that New Yorkers support the latter new direction, and we’re pleased to see Governor Cuomo leading that charge,” said Peter Olmsted, New York State policy lead for the Vote Solar Initiative.
“Solar installations nationwide grew by 140% in 2011, making solar the fastest growing industry in the country”, said Ron Kamen, President of the NY Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA). “Governor Cuomo’s support for stronger residential and commercial solar markets will enable New York to take advantage of the plummeting price of solar panels and position the state to again be a national leader as solar rapidly becomes the least-cost delivered energy source.”
“We applaud Governor Cuomo for recognizing the importance of solar energy,” said Ross Gould, Air & Energy Program Director, Environmental Advocates of New York. “Nearly half of New Yorkers live with unacceptable levels of air pollution thanks to our ongoing dependence on dirty fossil fuels–fuels that may cost our state $10 billion a year by 2050. Solar energy does not pollute our air or contribute to our changing climate. And once the infrastructure is in place, New York can soak up this fuel for free.”
“Governor Cuomo can make 2012 a transformative year for solar power throughout New York. His leadership can turn the dream of a solar future into today’s reality,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “We know solar technology works, now we need policies that work for solar.”
“Imagine a New York where our energy dollars create jobs for our neighbors, instead of going to distant states or other countries. Imagine a state that invests in its future and gets a healthier environment and a stronger economy in return. This vision could become a reality in 2012, if New York adopts a smart strategy to expand solar energy generation,” said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “We applaud Governor Cuomo, and look forward to working with him and state lawmakers to making New York a leader in the new innovation economy.”
About the Solar Jobs Coalition
The New York Solar Jobs Coalition is an historic collaboration of organized labor, the solar industry and environmental organizations working to promote and develop good jobs in the clean energy economy. The coalition believes that investments in New York’s solar industry go hand in hand with economic development, job creation and sound environmental policy.
All members of the Coalition agree that applying labor protection laws, specifically the prevailing wage law, to the installation of photovoltaic devices above a certain size threshold is the best way to ensure that New York is expanding solar technology while at the same time creating good, local, family-supporting green jobs.
Solar Jobs Coalition: General Statement of Principles
New York State is facing two connected fiscal, policy and political imperatives: we must create sustainable, clean energy and we must create new, sustainable jobs. To make both sustainable we need more than a single project or even several projects—we need a well thought out program and the fiscal, policy and political will to carry the program forward. The New York Solar Jobs Coalition is an historic collaboration of organized labor, the solar industry and environmental organizations working to promote and develop good jobs in the clean energy economy. We believe that investments in New York’s solar industry go hand in hand with economic development, job creation and sound environmental policy.
We believe that the State must set an ambitious solar goal by a date certain – equivalent to 5,000 megawatts of solar on the grid by 2025. We also believe that the State must develop policies that stimulate the demand for and incentivize the local manufacture of products in the solar supply chain.
The Coalition understands the environmental imperative of reducing carbon emissions and recognizes the role of small businesses in delivering residential solar installation at the neighborhood level. The Coalition believes that providing businesses throughout the state with a stable and predictably-priced energy option will enhance their competitiveness and allow them to continue to invest in local operations and jobs. We also believe that no State incentive program will be successful unless it is designed to scale and developed to create demand in the commercial marketplace. All members of the Coalition agree that applying labor protection laws, specifically the prevailing wage law, to the installation of photovoltaic devices above a certain size threshold is the best way to ensure that New York is expanding solar technology while at the same time creating good, local, family-supporting green jobs.
The New York Solar Jobs Coalition supports Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders who are committed to the expansion of New York’s solar industry. We applaud the inclusion of a solar jobs impact study in the Power NY Act of 2011 and we look forward to the study’s results. A reliable supply of affordable energy over the long-term is key to New York’s economic future. Investments in renewable energy have the added value of contributing to a cleaner, healthier and safer future.
This initiative is about energy security, the creation of good jobs, and investment in New York. With a good faith effort on all sides, we look forward as a united coalition to working with New York’s elected officials to develop a solar jobs program that will position our state as a national leader in the development of solar energy and good, green jobs.
The statement of principles has broad political and general support from across many fields in New York.
Signers include:
- National Electrical Contractors Association
- United Association
- Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter
- The Solar Alliance
- NYS Apollo Alliance
- New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA)
- New York State AFL-CIO
- NYS Building & Construction Trades Council
- Environmental Advocates of New York
- Pace Energy & Climate Center
- Alliance for Clean Energy New York
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Workforce Development Institute
- The Vote Solar Initiative
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