New York surpasses 8 GW of distributed solar

New York has passed 8 gigawatts of small-scale solar installed across the state, putting it ahead of pace for a goal of 10 gigawatts by 2030. This is "distributed solar" - rooftop and local solar projects rather than large utility power plants - and it now generates enough electricity to power more than 1.3 million homes and businesses. More than 276,000 projects are already running, with another 2.7 gigawatts in the pipeline.

If you don't want panels on your own roof, community solar is worth knowing about. It lets you enroll in a shared solar project and get credit on your electric bill without any equipment on your property. New York has more community solar than any other state, and the Solar for All program automatically lowers bills for low-income households, including those in disadvantaged communities enrolled in the state's Energy Affordability Program.

The state also credits solar with cutting everyone's costs, not just participants'. Last summer, solar generation saved New Yorkers an estimated $90 million by easing demand on the grid during peak hours, and on June 3 solar supplied about 29% of the state's electricity at midday. The NY-Sun program offers incentives to make home and business solar more affordable, and the state has set aside $200 million for it in the 2027 budget. If you're weighing solar for your own house, NY-Sun incentives and community solar options are the two programs to look into.