Regional solar companies are applauding the state”™s NY-SUN initiative, which parted the clouds recently with $46 million targeting projects greater than 50 kilowatts.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the projects, awarded to 28 recipients to finance 76 projects in 33 counties, will add 52 megawatts to the state”™s solar capacity. Installations will be located at businesses, factories, municipal buildings and other larger commercial and industrial companies, and are expected to be on line by the end of this year.
The $46 million from New York state, awarded through a competitive program, leverages $100 million in private investment, resulting in $146 million in infrastructure projects, including in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. Funding comes from several state power authorities and is administered by the state Energy Research and Development Authority. The NY-SUN initiative was launched last April.
“The NY-SUN initiative is driving the growth of solar energy systems that will help businesses and municipalities benefit from cost-effective, on-site electricity generation,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a statement.
Recipients included Lighthouse Solar, based in New Paltz and Mount Kisco. Jason Iahn, part owner and vice president of Lighthouse, said the initiative has spurred solar installations throughout the state.
“Instead of kilowatts, we”™re doing megawatts,” Iahn said. “This has allowed us to install huge systems and work with larger companies. This allows the system to work.”
Iahn said it is important to have the governor behind his project, as it has helped solar energy gain a foothold in the state.
“It”™s everything to us,” Iahn said. “In states where the governor is not behind it, they don”™t have solar. The competition is getting intense here, which helps bring the prices down, which makes it more enticing for a lot of commercial businesses.”
As converting to solar power was becoming a trend, the economic recession hit, forcing many companies to rethink their plans. With the economy improving, Iahn and other solar energy companies have seen companies begin to embrace a conversion.
“The movement is here and it”™s here to stay,” Iahn said. “It”™s become a big financial industry.”
Hudson Solar in Rhinebeck was another recipient of the NY-SUN initiative. The company mainly does solar projects in the northern Hudson Valley and in Albany.
“We”™re very excited to be part of the NY-SUN initiative,” John Wright, vice president of Hudson Solar, which dates to 2002. “It”™s a really good feeling to know the governor is committed. It allows us to properly plan the growth of our business over the next five to 10 years. We didn”™t always have confidence that this program would have longevity.”
Previously, solar financing was typically capped at 50 kilowatts or smaller and many companies didn”™t have confidence that solar was a reliable technology. Wright said that businesses are starting to see the benefits of solar. They can lock in their electric rate for the next 25 years and it”™s better for the environment.
“That”™s the feel-good component,” Wright said. “It helps curb emissions. Our demand for electricity is only going to grow as the population grows. Our consumption is growing. We really need to bring in renewable technologies as soon as possible. Our traditional energy is not going to keep up with the demand.”
Wright, like Iahn, said he has seen more solar companies popping up in the area. One such company is Verango Solar. The company, headquartered in California with offices in New Jersey, recently opened up in White Plains as a result of the NY-SUN initiative.
The company offers zero-down home solar installations, and said the NY-SUN initiative provides a great opportunity.
“Having the governor behind it and initiating this great program is really beneficial to our company,” Timothy Gilmartin, general manager of Verango Solar”™s East Coast division said. “We try to keep people”™s rates from increasing while having a great footprint on the environment.”
Gilmartin said people have turned to solar after seeing their utility rates continue to rise. At Verango, customers are locked into an energy rate for the life of the contract.
“We”™ve gotten a very positive response,” Gilmartin said. “It”™s far exceeded what our initial thought was. People are open and receptive to the program. We”™re ready to go, and we enjoy being in New York.”
Mercury Solar, a Port Chester-based solar company with 100 employees, said it has found the state easy to work with and that customers appreciate the rebates that are offered to incentivize solar installations.
“It”™s a positive for us and our clients,” said Bob Stickney, vice president of sales. “We have seen a lot of interest, it is looking very promising.”
Stickney said Mercury Solar has a lot of potential projects in the pipeline and called the NY-SUN initiative fantastic.
“There are financial incentives and it counteracts the negative publicity that solar received during the presidential election,” Stickney said. “A lot of that has been dispelled. It has helped turn the perception around.”
Stickney also sees solar energy as a job creator. With businesses saving on energy costs by converting to solar, it frees up more money.
“They no longer have to control an expense that they didn”™t have a handle on,” Stickney said. “They didn”™t know what increases or changes they would see on their utility bill. Now a company can confidently reinvest in the business.”
