The city of Saratoga Springs will soon
\nmove forward with a project creating a
\n2-megawatt solar array to provide power
\nat the city landfill.<\/p>\n
City Commissioner of Finance Michele
\nMadigan said the city’s contractor, SunEdison,
\nwas successful in obtaining support
\nfrom the New York State Energy Research
\nand Development Authority (NYSERDA)
\nthrough the Governor’s NY-Sun Competitive
\nPV Program.<\/p>\n
NY-Sun is a $1 billion initiative of Gov.
\nAndrew M. Cuomo to advance the scaleup
\nof solar and move the state closer to
\nhaving a sustainable, self-sufficient solar
\nindustry. According to the governor’s office,
\nSunEdison and the city of Saratoga
\nSprings were selected among a competitive
\nfield of applicants.<\/p>\n
The grant will facilitate the construction
\nof solar panels sufficient to match
\na substantial portion of the city’s energy
\nrequirements, said Madigan. With a remote
\nnet metering project, the electricity
\nproduced by the city’s solar panels will be
\ndirected to National Grid, which in turn
\nwill credit the city for amounts generated,
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
The solar initiative, entitled “Spa Solar
\nPark Development,” was presented to the
\nCity Council by Sustainable Saratoga.<\/p>\n
Madigan sponsored the project, citing
\nboth environmental and financial
\nbenefits.
\n“I would like to thank Sustainable
\nSaratoga for its vision and support. Its
\nguidance has been invaluable in making
\nthis project a success and we look forward
\nto a continued partnership with this important
\norganization,” she said.<\/p>\n
SunEdison is responsible for construction,
\noperation and maintenance, and
\nownership of the solar panels. The landfill
\nis city owned property with otherwise
\nlimited use.<\/p>\n
“This is a win-win all around. It is an
\nenvironmentally sound project. Energy
\ncost stability is guaranteed and energy
\ncost savings are highly likely,” said Madigan.
\nNext steps include the negotiation
\nof a Power Purchase Agreement with
\nSunEdison, feasibility work, and ground
\nbreaking.<\/p>\n
“We are making another long-term
\ninvestment in our clean energy economy
\nwith nearly $100 million in funding that
\nwill dramatically increase our capacity to
\ngenerate and utilize solar energy across
\nthe state,” Cuomo said in announcing the
\ngrants. “New York is quickly becoming a
\nnational leader in renewable energy by
\nbuilding a competitive solar industry, and
\ntoday’s award recipients are an example
\nof how that progress continues to grow.”<\/p>\n
The new capacity, which is planned for
\n142 project sites, was obtained through
\nthe NYSERDA Competitive PV program,
\nwhich has been working to stimulate the
\nmarket for systems larger than 200 kilowatts
\nfor four years. A total of $94 million
\nin renewable funding for these projects leverages
\nprivate investment of $375 million
\nin new PV power infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n
According to Cuomo, a total of 50 project
\nsites are located at businesses; 41 at
\nschools and school districts; 36 at municipal
\nand other government facilities; and
\n15 at nonprofits, health care institutions
\nand colleges.<\/p>\n
“NY-Sun is mobilizing private investment
\nin this clean renewable resource as
\nNew York state continues to build clean
\nenergy systems that are resilient, reliable
\nand affordable,” said John B. Rhodes,
\nNYSERDA president and CEO.<\/p>\n
He said the responses to this solicitation
\ndemonstrate that New York state has
\nbecome an increasingly attractive solar
\nmarket. A total of 49 developers submitted
\nproposals, a marked increase over
\nthe previous two solicitations. The latest
\nbids included large solar developers that
\nhave previously focused on other states,
\nregions and countries, and that submitted
\nbids to New York state for the first time.<\/p>\n
“The NY-Sun awards announced by Gov.
\nCuomo underscore the tremendous strides
\nthat are being made to greatly increase
\nthe amount of clean solar electricity
\ncapacity in New York State,” said Gil C.
\nQuiniones, president and CEO of New
\nYork Power Authority. “The competitive
\nphotovoltaic program leading to these
\nawards also reflects a strategic approach
\nfor lowering solar power costs and spurring
\nthe private sector’s investments in
\nthis clean renewable power source.”<\/p>\n
The New York Power Authority continues
\nto work closely with NYSERDA to
\nbring about further integration of solar
\npower through initiatives to reduce solar
\ncosts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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