New York City now generates more than 100 MW of solar

New York City residents and businesses recently surpassed the 100 megawatt (MW) solar generation milestone, according to utility Con Edison.

The company said it customers in the city have completed 9,700 projects, producing 101.2 MW – enough to power over 15,000 homes.

Matthew Ketschke, Vice President of Distributed Resource Integration at Con Edison, said: One of the most striking trends within the transformation of the energy industry is the move of customers to renewables.”

Con Edison said the utility, Sustainable City University of New York (CUNY), government agencies along with other parties have encouraged residents and businesses to consider solar as a way to reduce their energy bills and protect the environment.

Con Edison has installed 200 solar panels – producing 40 kilowatts (kW) – at its headquarters in Manhattan.

Con Edison has also proposed a pilot programme to build solar arrays on its company-owned building rooftops and properties to make solar energy available to low-income customers.

According to the company, there would be no cost to low-income participants – who could save up to $60 per year.

Ketschke said: “We want clean energy, including solar, to be available for customers of all income levels and regardless of whether they live in a house or an apartment. We also advocate policies that ensure funding for the kind of robust grid that makes solar energy possible.”

In September 2016, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio expanded solar targets for the city to 1,000 MW by 2030.

Mayor de Blasio also increased the city’s renewable energy storage target to 100 megawatt-hours (MWh) by 2020.

Furthermore, last month state Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that state-supported solar power projects in New York increased by nearly 800 per cent from December 2011 to December 2016.

The news follows the announcement that 25 cities in the U.S. have now committed to 100 per cent renewable energy targets.

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