Following on yesterday’s announcement from Governor Cuomo for a 10-year, $1.5 billion expansion of the NY-Sun program, we wanted to offer some additional color on what exactly this means for NY’s rapidly growing solar market.

As we reported on Wednesday, we’ve spent the past several years calling upon the Governor and New York’s policy makers to establish a long-term solar program supported by prudent incentives and solar friendly regulations. The conception and rollout of the NY-Sun program in 2012 was without question a tremendous step in the right direction and responsible for deploying solar throughout NY today. We are therefore extremely pleased that the Governor is stepping forward with leadership and embracing the vision for a world-class solar market and success in the clean-tech race.

On your mark… » Read the rest of this entry «

We know solar energy creates more jobs per megawatt than any other energy source. But what does that mean for a state like New York that’s considering a big new solar program? We sat down to crunch the numbers – and the short answer is: if Albany gets that solar legislation across the finish line before the session ends this month, they will help create thousands of local jobs all over the state. » Read the rest of this entry «

LISEIA's Sail Van Nostrand & CCE's Adrienne Esposito

At a solar jobs fair today at Malloy College’s Suffolk campus on Long Island, we joined up with leaders from the business community, environmental advocates and the local labor movement to call on elected officials in Albany to pass the Solar Jobs Act – and soon!

“Long Island needs good jobs,” said Jim Castellane, President of the Nassau and Suffolk Building Trades Council. “This bill (A. 9149a – Englebright) would help create thousands of jobs installing solar panels – jobs that can’t leave the area – and make sure they pay good wages.  Thousands of out-of-work New Yorkers are counting on our elected officials to pass this legislation.”

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The tri-state region is, for the first time, well positioned to become a national and global player in solar energy – so says a new report from the Regional Plan Association, the nation’s oldest independent regional planning organization focused on improving the quality of life in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan area. Download the report here.

“Solar is a vital component of a larger clean energy portfolio,” said Jessie Feller, director of Regional Plan Association’s energy program. “Together with other sustainable options, including wind and hydro power, increased energy efficiency and the repowering of old, inefficient power plants, solar can play a key role in improving environmental health and fostering economic development in the region.” » Read the rest of this entry «

There is some serious solar momentum in New York State. More than 100 state legislators have signed on to co-sponsor strong new solar policy. Governor Cuomo called for more solar in his ‘State of the State’ address. And thousands of New Yorkers have already spoken up in support of the New York Solar Jobs Act. But naysayers are doing all they can to derail that progress. We need your help keeping it on track!

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Both are ready to see more solar in the Empire State.

When Bill O’Reilly recently declared that he’d go solar except that “there’s nowhere, no one” to install solar on his Long Island residence, we called upon our friends in the solar industry to let him know they were there to help.

With hundreds of solar companies operating in New York, we easily garnered the support of 16 companies and 2 trade associations representing dozens more to let Mr. O’Reilly know they are ready for his solar business. Lo and behold, with a little help from the New York solar industry, Mr. O’Reilly found a “legitimate guy” who’s ready and able to get to work installing that new solar energy system. We know a few more . . .

Just this week, our New York Solar Jobs Act (“like” it) coalition welcomed the support of labor and trade organizations representing tens of thousands of workers eager to build New York’s solar infrastructure.

Along with the hundreds of solar companies in New York, skilled labor and trades will be a vital component of a vibrant and long-term solar market.  With unemployment numbers remaining high, the Solar Jobs Act would create and sustain thousands of well paying jobs in these hard-hit sectors.

Creating more jobs per dollar of investment than conventional energy industries, investing in solar power is an investment in both New York’s future and New York’s historic workforce.  In fact, 14 new jobs would be created for every million dollars invested in clean, renewable solar energy (see here, page 29), three times more created than the oil and natural gas industries for the same level of investment.

And while we’re eager to hear back from Mr. O’Reilly about his decision to go solar, we are even more enthusiastic about the entire state of New York embracing the promise of reliable solar energy for years to come.  This is what the New York Solar Jobs Act means.

11/25 – Update!!!! The NY solar industry’s open letter got through to Mr. O’Reilly – he’s now working with a “legitimate guy” to go solar on his Long Island home. How’s that for proof that Americans, regardless of political orientation, love them some local solar power?

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No surprise that Fox News isn’t exactly presenting spin-free rhetoric when it comes to talking about our nation’s growing solar industry. Take the case of just last week when Bill O’Reilly of the eponymous Fox Business show made a claim that he’d go solar if only he could find somewhere it was available . . . » Read the rest of this entry «

Late last week New York lawmakers went home for the summer without passing the NY Solar Jobs Act that we all worked so hard to advance. Friends, we are disappointed that we don’t have a brand new big solar program to celebrate, but there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about a bright future for solar in the Empire State . . .

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In this final run up to the end of the NY legislative session on June 20, the New York Solar Jobs Act has been getting some serious attention in the press. And rightly so considering that if it DOES pass, it’ll be one of the most significant new solar policies to move anywhere in the country this year.

Some top hits from the New York solar bill’s time in the media spotlight:

The New York Times.Celebrating a City’s Solar Muscle.

The Huffington Post. Solar Energy: Time for New York to Get in the Game by NY sports greats Mike Richter & Sage Rosenfels. » Read the rest of this entry «

With just 16 more days before the end of New York’s legislative session, we’re in a race against time to get the New York Solar Job Act across the finish line before state lawmakers go home for the year.

The good news is this campaign to make the Empire State a real solar powerhouse has been moving at a furious pace. As we count down those final days, here is a quick list of our Top 5 Solar Jobs Act highlights: » Read the rest of this entry «