June 2019

NY Governor Cuomo announces third solicitation for large scale renewable energy projects

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced the third annual solicitation for large-scale renewable energy projects under the state's Clean Energy Standard.

The solicitation is expected to support approximately 1.5 million megawatt-hours of renewable electricity per year, enough to power over 200,000 homes, and will accelerate New York's transition to a clean energy economy, says Cuomo. The solicitation is also expected to spur over one billion dollars in private investment, creating over 1,000 jobs.

This announcement advances progress toward New York's proposed commitment to secure 70 percent of the state's electricity from renewable resources by 2030 under Cuomo's Green New Deal.

"For the third year in a row, New York is continuing to lead by example when it comes to advancing large-scale renewable energy projects that will bring significant economic growth and good-paying jobs to the state," Cuomo said. "This action builds on our strong commitment to renewable energy and will be a critical part of the state's bold plan to meet the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change."

The state is issuing this solicitation as the third in a series of annual procurements under the Clean Energy Standard and it's expected to result in the development of dozens of large-scale renewable projects. In the last two years, New York has awarded $2.9 billion in contracts to 46 land-based wind and solar projects, creating $7 billion in direct investment in the clean energy sector. These projects will generate over 7.1 million megawatt-hours each year, enough renewable energy to power nearly one million homes, with recently awarded bid prices 23 percent lower than those awarded just two years ago.

Community engagement and on-the-ground support is crucial for the successful development of renewable energy projects, and this most recent solicitation includes important standards and requirements for effective community outreach and planning.

The announcement maintains a predictable pace of annual solicitations for renewable energy developers and will support continued development and investment in clean energy projects across the state, an important step toward meeting Cuomo's Green New Deal proposal to more than double new large-scale land-based wind and solar resources through the Clean Energy Standard. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) expects to announce the awards in November 2019.

"The large-scale renewable projects already awarded under the Clean Energy Standard will generate enough renewable energy to power the four largest upstate cities while bringing good paying jobs and economic benefits to local host communities," said Alicia Barton, President and CEO, of NYSERDA. "Building upon our momentum, future projects will continue to help lower consumer costs, deliver meaningful environmental benefits, and move us ever-closer to achieving Governor Cuomo's aggressive renewable energy goals under the Green New Deal. NYSERDA is committed to working with local governments and community stakeholders to ensure they are fully engaged in renewable project development and have the tools and resources to responsibly site projects in their communities."

Cuomo's Green New Deal will put New York State on a path to economy-wide carbon neutrality. This initiative will provide for a just transition to clean energy, spurring the growth of the green economy and mandating New York's power be 100 percent clean and carbon-free by 2040, one of the most aggressive goals in the U.S.

http://www.governor.ny.gov