The New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Westchester County under the Community Distributed Generation (CDG) Partnership Program are seeking developers to install solar PV and energy storage systems for more than three dozen municipalities and school districts within the county.
Initial analysis shows that the program has the potential to develop more than 35 MW of solar at more than 100 sites, increasing the supply of clean, renewable energy into the electric grid and providing electric utility bill savings to participating local community members.
In collaboration with Westchester County and Sustainable Westchester, which will provide subscription management services, NPYA will help numerous public entities meet their own renewable energy and emissions reductions goals, while also helping achieve the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) implementation targets of 3,000 MW of energy storage and 6,000 MW of distributed solar PV, working towards 70% renewable energy by 2030.
Twenty-five municipalities and eight school districts have submitted more than 100 sites for consideration to date, and the program remains open for new applications. Eligible sites include landfills, remediated brownfields or any other unused land parcel for ground-mounted systems, parking lots or garages for canopy mounts, and roof tops. NYPA’s Clean Energy Solutions team will provide strategic, technical, and other assistance to program participants to support implementation of CDG projects at their sites.
NYPA issued a request for proposals this week seeking developers of photovoltaic systems who would design, install, finance, own, operate and maintain solar photovoltaic and/or energy storage systems at project sites across Westchester County. Selected developers will negotiate agreements with program participants and work to develop viable CDG projects that involve no upfront costs to NYPA, the County, or program participants, and provide utility bill credits to eligible subscribers at competitive rates that create net cost savings for them. Proposals are due the first week of May 2021.
“This partnership provides a streamlined way for governments, schools and non-profits to directly support renewable energy development for their constituencies, while benefiting financially and supporting local and state environmental goals,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO.
“Working with Westchester County, we are advancing New York State’s commitment to fighting climate change by helping communities overcome hurdles and bringing the benefits of solar to many who may not have the resources or expertise to install their own panels.”
