January 9th, 2013
Some BIG solar news from New York! Today, in his 2013 State of the State, Governor Andrew Cuomo made some significant solar proposals. Proposals that will work to fundamentally transform the state’s solar market while broadening access to solar, enabling the industry to scale and reducing the cost.
The Governor called for a major expansion of his NY-Sun Initiative. The original NY-Sun, announced by the Governor at last year’s State of the State, called for doubling solar installations in 2012 and quadrupling in 2013. However, that program was too small and too intermittent–while helpful, it fell short of accomplishing the job of market transformation.
This year, the Governor announced a long-term commitment to NY-Sun, expanding the program into a 10 year, $150 million/year program. If we’re doing our math right…that’s a billion and a half dollars to develop a world-class solar industry and unleash the many benefits that solar energy delivers.
Here’s the money quote from the Governor’s speech (full text found here).
» Read the rest of this entry «
November 14th, 2012
Guest blog post from our friend & former colleague Shaun Chapman, SolarCity.
Even two weeks later, the air quality in the hardest hit areas of New York City is still extremely poor. There is an enormous amount of dust, human waste, and previously buried pollution in the air.
The stench of gasoline is also pervasive. Since the storm hit, you can smell gas all over parts of Rockaway and Staten Island, as people line up in cars or on foot waiting for to get what little gas is being rationed each day. It’s ironic that gas is so scarce yet, due to all the emergency gas generators and stoves, our lungs are filled with the stuff.
In the hardest hit places like Rockaway and Gerritsen Beach, people have two choices each day: (1) go get some food for the day, maybe find someone to fill a prescription, or inquire about FEMA assistance; or (2) do none of those things, and wait in a four-hour gas line so they can have some heat that night.
It is in this bleak context that the Solar Sandy Project was conceived. » Read the rest of this entry «
October 31st, 2012
Amid the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy, we’re glad to share some good news from New York . . .
The Empire State is at it again, making moves towards ensuring that solar energy is a significant part of its energy landscape. Having increased the state’s commitment to solar development with the NY-Sun Initiative in early 2012, Governor Cuomo and his team are back to work expanding the legacy of this program. » Read the rest of this entry «
August 3rd, 2012
Two weeks ago we caught wind that Central Hudson Gas & Electric (CHG&E) in upstate New York had surpassed its net metering program cap of 12 MW and chose to suspend any new applications. To the dismay of many, particularly local solar installers operating in the Hudson Valley, this program suspension came as a bit of a surprise.
Local solar installer, Hudson Valley Clean Energy, quickly filed a petition with the NY Public Service Commission requesting both an increase to the utility’s net metering program cap and for the Commission to urge CHG&E to continue accepting applications. » Read the rest of this entry «
June 26th, 2012
The New York legislature shut its doors for 2012 without passing the Solar Jobs Act or any long-term solar program. Although the Empire State missed a tremendous opportunity for solar power, we gained a tremendous amount of people power.
We diversified and strengthened our solar coalition, highlighted real solar jobs in communities up and down the state, showed a supermajority of voter support, and partnered with actor Mark Ruffalo to add his star power to the cause. Altogether, tens of thousands of New Yorkers spoke up for solar. The Hulk aside, that’s a lot of muscle.
» Read the rest of this entry «
November 21st, 2011
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 «
June 14th, 2011
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 «
February 8th, 2011
Send Albany a Sunny Valentine
There are plenty of reasons why solar is New York’s perfect match. Solar creates green jobs in communities from Long Island to Buffalo. It produces electricity when our strained grid needs it most and improves energy cost reliability by tapping a free local resource. It reduces air pollution and offers hope in the fight against climate change. It’s good-looking and exciting while still being stable, clean and financially secure. It’s really got everything we’d want in a long-term relationship. » Read the rest of this entry «
June 11th, 2010
We just need to show the legislators a sign. A really big sign. Literally.
We’d like to buy space on an electronic billboard on the 787 Interstate–practically the driveway of the Capitol. We have some chuckle worthy messages that send a clear directive: Pass the Solar Jobs Act today.
There are two ways you can help make this happen:
First, can you donate to help cover the costs? At a minimum, we suggest 39 cents, which is the average monthly cost New Yorkers would be paying to jumpstart their new solar economy. But feel free to give more if you’d like.
Second, if you have your own clever suggestions for billboard tag lines, please share them in the comments. We’ll be updating our messages as the week unfolds.
To get your juices flowing, here’s our initial list of ideas (as suggested by our funnier friends):
When there is a huge solar energy spill, it’s just called “a nice day.”
We like The Egg…Sunny Side Up
Enough already with the fracking natural gas. Give solar a shot.
Solar Energy. The perfect combination of Woodstock and Wall Street
The Red Sox installed solar on their ball park. Just saying.
It’s the new energy economy, stupid.
The irony of the coal-powered billboard is not lost on us.
Solar: It’s actually a $30 billion global industry. Please do not tell the hippies.
NY Solar, what are you waiting for? A sign?
We could have a new energy economy for just 39 cents a month. Solar: It just makes cents.
Cost-effective solar energy is just around the corner… Really. This corner.
The sun’ll come out! Tomorrow! You can bet $20 billion dollars in increased wages. That…tomorrow! There’ll be sun!
Solar is 99.9% reliable in New York. You’re thinking of the moon-power panels. Those are useless.
Shovel Ready? You’re looking the wrong direction.
The Solar Industry does $1 billion a year of business in New Jersey.
I know. New freakin Jersey.
Don’t let 22,000 jobs be eclipsed by partisan politics.
Get it? Eclipse!
What about the huge, free nuclear power plant in the sky? What if we just used that?
Q: How many New Yorkers does it take to jumpstart a solar economy?
A: 22,198
Update: the deed is done!
Thanks for your monetary and comedic contributions to help make this happen.
October 14th, 2009
Good news, the Governor of New York continues to support solar. $10 million in stimulus money for solar will certainly get us through 2009, and will help lots of New Yorkers go solar this year.
But we still think New York can do better. We think the Governor should think about more zeros. As in $10 billion. NO! Not $10 billion in costs, $10 billion in economic benefits to the state if we invested in a solar program of 2 GW.
Now, doesn’t that sound a little bit more “New York”? Your voice can still be heard: Click Here to read about our forecasting and to tell the State Energy Planning Board that you want solar.
