Solar energy has proven to play a significant role in job creation throughout New York State with the success of the NY-Sun program facilitated by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The program offers incentives for solar projects in both a commercial and residential setting, encouraging the growth of renewable energy in the State to achieve New York’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goal of 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 and headed on a path to a zero-emission grid by 2040.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the expansion of the NY-Sun program to include a goal of at least 10 gigawatts of distributed solar installed by 2030. This expansion is expected to create an additional 6,000 solar jobs on top of the 12,000 that now exist across the State.  

Additionally, 35% of the investments from the program expansion will benefit disadvantaged communities and low-to moderate-income New Yorkers.

Kevin Schulte, GreenSpark CEO & Co-founder, shared his thoughts around the announcement:

“We applaud Governor Hochul’s expanded goal of 10 GW of solar in New York. It is a crucial message necessary to match the challenge of climate change and one that will require a deliberate focus on ensuring consumers receive value for the social cost of carbon. This goal will require regulatory and utility infrastructure that recognizes the opportunity in electrification, as opposed to policies that lay out a gauntlet of challenges and roadblocks. We look forward to installing more solar and making Western New York a meaningful participant in achieving this goal.”

GreenSpark has installed more than 125 MWs of renewable energy, creating hundreds of jobs throughout the region.