Courtesy Clean Energy Collective
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), state Department of Public Service (DPS), EnterSolar and Clean Energy Collective (CEC) began a collaborative project in April involving construction of the first Shared Renewables community solar project in New York state.
The project is taking place in Halfmoon. It affects some communities in Washington County.
State officials said the project advances the goals of the state’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system by helping to make clean energy a possible choice for more residents.
The success of REV depends on communities taking charge of their own energy as New York increases the growth of electricity generation at customer sites to supplement power generated at central power plants, NYSERDA officials said.
The announcement was made at the groundbreaking for the project April 27 in Halfmoon.
The Halfmoon Community Solar Project will feed solar energy to the grid operated by New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG) and will allow more than 100 residential customers in NYSEG’s Capital Region territory (parts of Columbia, Essex, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington counties), including low-income residents, to participate in local clean power generation and save money on their electricity bills.
In Washington County, eligible communities for this solar energy include Easton, Fort Ann, Granville, Greenwich, Hebron, Jackson, Salem and Granville.
 Under the state’s Shared Renewables Program, residents can purchase individual solar panels in the Halfmoon array and receive credit for the power production directly on their monthly electric bills, as if the panels were located on their own roof.
State officials said the project, which is expected to be completed by late summer, will feature a solar array of more than 1,700 panels on Cary Road in Halfmoon. EnterSolar is the project developer and CEC is providing the community solar solution, called RooflessSolar, allowing residents to purchase panels in the array and receive credit for the power produced directly on their electric bills.
The solar installation will generate an estimated 741,230 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, the equivalent of powering 103 average-sized homes in New York, officials said. The solar panels will offset 210 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents annually, which is comparable to taking 44 cars off the road.
CEC is extending the value of the project to the local community by partnering with Affordable housing Partnership and earmarking 10 kilowatts of capacity to be assigned to five low-income families in NYSEG’s Capital Region each year for 20 years.
Proposed in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2015 State of Opportunity Agenda, the Shared Renewables Program provides opportunities for renters, homeowners, low-income residents, schools and businesses to join together to set up shared renewable energy projects resulting in healthier and stronger communities. The Halfmoon project is specifically for renters, homeowners and low-income residents.
John B. Rhodes, president and CEO, NYSERDA, said, “This first-in-the-state Shared Renewables solar project advances Gov. Cuomo’s energy goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure New Yorkers have access to clean, affordable, locally-produced power. We congratulate these partners, who are providing this opportunity to residents who otherwise might not have solar as an option.”
Paul Spencer, CEC founder and CEO, said the community solar project “brings many positive impacts, more than just clean power and lower electric bills but an enhanced quality of life and regional and statewide economic growth. We look forward to many more projects to come.”
Paul Ahern, president of EnterSolar, said, “This partnership is a model not only for solar in New York, but nationwide.”
The project received funding through a $1 billion NY-Sun initiative, designed to build a self-sustaining solar industry in New York and help achieve strategic energy goals under REV and the Clean Energy Standard, which requires that 50 percent of electricity generated in New York come from renewable sources by 2030. The New York Public Service Commission announced the state’s Shared Renewables program last July, with the goal of giving all New Yorkers the ability to directly participate in and benefit from local clean energy projects.
State Sen. Kathy Marchione said solar energy “delivers on the promise of clean, renewable energy that positions our economy for a clean jobs future and strengthens our present quality of life. The Town of Halfmoon is a great place for families and a terrific location for New York’s first shared renewables solar project.”
NYSEG customers interested in this program can visit www.Halfmoon.RooflessSolar.com or call (844) 232-7253.