New York State is supplying free access to community solar to 7,000 low-income households across the state, and plans to extend the program to a total of 10,000 homes by the end of this year.
The initial contracts under the state’s Solar For All initiative are part of a 10-year, US$1-billion public-private partnership, NY-Sun, introduced by Governor Andrew Cuomo “to create a cleaner, more resilient, and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.” CleanTechnica has the details of the local projects in the towns of Crawford, Grand Island, Johnstown, Mooers, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Seneca, and Thompson.
“For those without the option of installing onsite solar, whether it’s because they don’t own their roof or they can’t afford a full array, or other factors keep them from going solar, there are only a few options for choosing renewable energy. Some utilities offer the choice of a renewable electricity plan, usually at a premium cost, and there are renewable energy certificate (REC) programs through companies such as Arcadia Power that will offset your electricity usage with renewables,” the publication notes.
“Although these are not ‘direct’ solar, meaning no actual solar-generated electrons are being fed into the wires in your house, RECs and community solar programs are a viable option for those looking to decrease their carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner energy system, both locally and beyond.”
