New York Governor Paterson Announces $4.4 Million For Solar Energy Projects

U.S. Department of Energy Awards Hudson Valley Community College and New York City

October 9, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the award of $4.4 million for solar energy projects in New York State. Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) received $3.5 million to develop a new solar photovoltaic training facility that will provide critical support for Governor Paterson’s efforts to develop the clean energy workforce.

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Additionally, New York City received $932,508 to support development of solar electric generation. The awards were made by the U.S. Department of Energy with funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“These awards recognize the important work being done in New York State to develop a more sustainable energy infrastructure that will create jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen New York’s energy security,” Governor Paterson said. “The funding announced today builds on the commitment President Obama made during his recent visit to Hudson Valley to support community colleges. As we expand the use of clean energy technologies to establish our State as the global leader in the clean energy economy, we will create thousands of jobs for New Yorkers.”

HVCC will establish a network of instructors that will earn Institute of Sustainable Power (ISP) certification, and develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) training facility that will support future instructor training in the region. This program, to be located at Hudson Valley’s TEC-SMART building at the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park® (STEP®) in Malta, addresses the need for local, high-quality solar installers by offering expert instruction at a first-class training facility. The program builds upon New York’s successful efforts to establish a sustainable clean energy jobs market, which is a key component of Governor Paterson’s New Economy Jobs Plan.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is also funding several HVCC clean energy training projects, including a contract for $150,000 that in 2005 began HVCC’s PV training program, eventually leading to HVCC’s ISP accreditation for their PV program and ISP certification for some of its instructors. More recently, HVCC was awarded $1.25 million through a competitive solicitation to lead a team of seven colleges in establishing PV and geothermal training programs at their schools.

The Smart Solar City Project will address solar technology adaptation barriers in urban areas and support innovative approaches to implement solar projects that can be widely replicated. The New York City Solar American City Initiative (NYCSAC) is a partnership of the City University of New York, the Mayor’s Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation. NYSERDA will support the project through a $175,000 cost-share agreement. These funds will support the widespread development of solar electric generation in New York City and advance clean energy investments across the State.

On Wednesday, Governor Paterson announced that $10 million in ARRA funding is now available through the NYSERDA State Energy Program (SEP) to fund the installation of PV systems across the State. The Governor also announced that the New York Power Authority (NYPA) is expected to make a formal request for proposals later this year for a 100-megawatt solar initiative, which would increase the State's current installed solar capacity five-fold.

Today’s awards, combined with these broader solar initiatives, will contribute to Governor’s ’45 by 15’ initiative, a goal of meeting 45 percent of the State’s electricity needs through improved energy efficiency and renewable energy by 2015. It is estimated that the expanded use of clean energy technologies will create some 50,000 new jobs in New York. Additionally, the push to increase New York’s renewable energy production is a critical step to help the State achieve the Governor's goal of reducing current greenhouse gas emissions from all sources within the State by 80 percent below levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2050.

Source: New York Governor