The city of Glens Falls and EDC of Warren
\nCounty has received a large solar electric NY
\nSun grant that will result in the development
\nof a solar farm on city-owned property on
\nUpper Sherman Avenue in Queensbury.<\/p>\n
It is part of NY-Sun awards for large solar
\nelectric projects that will increase the solar
\ncapacity in New York state by more than 214
\nmegawatts, a 68 percent increase over the
\namount of solar installed and in the pipeline
\nat the end of 2013, according to the New York
\nState Energy Research and Development
\nAuthority (NYSERDA). The competitive
\nawards further advance the scale-up of solar
\nand move the state closer to a sustainable,
\nself-sufficient solar industry.<\/p>\n
Glens Falls Mayor Jack Diamond said the
\nsolar project will decrease the city’s energy
\ncost, saving up to $4.3 million over 20 years,
\nabout a 25 percent overall savings.
\nEDC President Ed Bartholomew said the
\nGlens Falls project is just one of 50 projects
\nthat received funding from the state
\nand that EDC was pleased to work, assist
\nand partner with the city, NYSERDA, Gov.
\nAndrew Cuomo’s office and project installer
\nSolarCity of Albany in advancing this project.<\/p>\n
Bartholomew said the solar project would
\npermit the city to receive credits for the
\nenergy that it produces, which could be
\nused to reduce National Grid utility bills at
\ncity-owned facilities such as the wastewater
\ntreatment plant, water treatment facility
\nand City Hall.<\/p>\n
Bartholomew praised Cuomo’s initiative
\nwhich increases the state’s solar capacity
\nby 218 megawatts, with the Glens Falls proposal
\nbeing for 2.495 KW, thereby “providing
\nGlens Falls and New York residents with a
\ncleaner energy economy and lower energy
\ncosts. ” It would lock in electrical rates for
\nthe next 20 years.<\/p>\n
SolarCity undertook the competitive application
\nprocess on behalf of the city.<\/p>\n
Officials said there would be no cost to
\nthe city to construct or operate the project,
\nother than mowing the grass. At the end of
\n20 years, the city could renew the agreement,
\npurchase the solar panels or instruct Solar-
\nCity to remove them at no cost to the city.<\/p>\n
The solar farm (placement of solar panels)
\nwill be built on city property formerly
\nused as a leaf site. It would occupy approximately
\n10-15 acres of the 49-acre parcel.
\nInstallation of the panels could take place
\nlater this year, said Bartholomew.<\/p>\n
“We are making another long-term investment
\nin our clean energy economy with
\nnearly $100 million in funding that will dramatically
\nincrease our capacity to generate
\nand utilize solar energy across the state,”
\nCuomo said. “New York is quickly becoming
\na national leader in renewable energy by
\nbuilding a competitive solar industry, and
\ntoday’s award recipients are an example of
\nhow that progress continues to grow.”<\/p>\n
The new capacity, which is planned for
\n142 project sites, was obtained through the
\nNYSERDA Competitive PV program, which
\nhas been working to stimulate the market
\nfor systems larger than 200 kilowatts for four
\nyears. A total of $94 million in renewable
\nfunding for these projects leverages private
\ninvestment of $375 million in new PV power
\ninfrastructure projects.<\/p>\n
According to Cuomo, a total of 50 project
\nsites are located at businesses; 41 at schools
\nand school districts; 36 at municipal and
\nother government facilities; and 15 at nonprofits,
\nhealth care institutions and colleges.<\/p>\n
“NY-Sun is mobilizing private investment
\nin this clean renewable resource as New
\nYork state continues to build clean energy
\nsystems that are resilient, reliable and affordable,”
\nsaid John B. Rhodes, NYSERDA
\npresident and CEO.<\/p>\n
He said the responses to this solicitation demonstrates that New York state has
\nbecome an increasingly attractive solar
\nmarket. A total of 49 developers submitted
\nproposals, a marked increase over the
\nprevious two solicitations. The latest bids
\nincluded large solar developers that have
\npreviously focused on other states, regions
\nand countries, and that submitted bids to
\nNew York state for the first time.<\/p>\n
“The NY-Sun awards announced by Gov.
\nCuomo underscore the tremendous strides that are being made to greatly
\nincrease the amount of clean solar electricity capacity in
\nNew York State,” said Gil C. Quiniones, president
\nand CEO of New York Power Authority.<\/p>\n
“The competitive photovoltaic program leading
\nto these awards also reflects a strategic
\napproach for lowering solar power costs and
\nspurring the private sector’s investments in
\nthis clean renewable power source.”<\/p>\n
The New York Power Authority continues
\nto work closely with NYSERDA to bring about
\nfurther integration of solar power through
\ninitiatives to reduce solar costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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