Five offshore wind projects in active development, a $1-billion solar initiative and a $2-billion, 250-mile transmission system actively being procured to link renewable power to users are among ways the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is making a clean energy impact for contractors and the public. NYSERDA also is ramping up local energy efficiency and renewable power incentives for business owners, developers, local governments and other stakeholders, serving as the key link in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s ambitious agenda to have 70% of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
The unprecedented ramp-up includes a $4-billion investment in 91 large-scale renewable projects in the state and an 1,800% growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. NYSERDA unveiled in February a three-year “strategic outlook” on efforts that combine its environmental approach for the future with what it hopes is a bold economic stimulus. “The convergence of crises in 2020 means the call to act on climate change and accelerate the energy transition has reached new levels of urgency, “ says Doreen Harris, acting president and CEO of NYSERDA since last summer.