OUR CAMPAIGN
Our Campaign: All Things Solar
All Things Solar
This year, SolarizeCNY is sponsoring a unique solarize campaign that will provide everyone interested in going solar with an option. Residential Solar is more popular than ever, and with the advent of Community Solar in New York State, there has never been a better time to Go Solar!
Solar Fairs: Sign Up for Updates on Community Solar and Rooftop Solar!
SolarizeCNY will be sponsoring a dozen Solar Fairs around the five county region. At the Fairs, customers can sign up to receive updates on the Community Solar projects that SolarizeCNY will be developing in Spring, 2017. For customers interested in Residential Solar, there will be several Solar Installers featured in this year's campaign. Customers can sign up with whatever companies they choose to receive free solar assessments of their home or business!
Lunch 'n Learns: Bring the Solar Education to You!
In addition to the Solar Fairs, SolarizeCNY will be doing Lunch 'n Learn presentations! There are already several groups and businesses signed up! Katelyn, the Project Coordinator for SolarizeCNY, is available to come to your business, community group, or event to speak on All Things Solar. If you're interested in learning more about the tax benefits, how it works, or what is coming in the near future with Community Solar, let Katelyn know! Email Katelyn at kkriesel@cnyrpdb.org for scheduling.
For individuals that are interested in signing up for a free, solar assessment, or to sign up to receive updates on our community solar projects, go here!
Community Solar: Sign Up
Community Solar in Central New York
Community Solar, which is new to New York State in 2016, is changing the way that customers can get solar energy. Traditionally, customers would purchase a solar array, and install it on their house or on their property. Thousands of customers around New York have been able to go solar using this model, but many more have been left in the dark.
Community Solar opens up solar energy to everyone. There are a lot of factors that might prevent someone from going solar in the traditional way. Not anymore. If you have wanted to go solar before, but were unable to because of your roof, the cost, or you rent, now you can go solar too!
SolarizeCNY is currently developing dozens of large scale solar projects around the five county region, totalling 40 MW of solar energy. That is enough energy to power 4,000 homes!
How We're Doing It
The SolarizeCNY campaign is administered out of the Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNYRPDB), which is a public agency created by Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego and Madison Counties. The Planning Board provides these counties, and the cities, towns and villages within them, with a wide range of planning services. Among these is Energy Management.
Chris Carrick, the Energy Program Manager, has been working diligently with dozens of municipalities to help them take advantage of solar energy. The primary obstacle for municipalities to go solar is the cost, as they are unable to take advantage of the state and federal tax credits that help to make solar affordable. But there is another way!
SolarizeCNY and the CNYRPDB have released the Request for Proposal (RFP) for dozens of sites owned by the municipalities. Many of these sites are brownfields that cannot be developed for any other purpose, such as landfills or old manufacturing properties. The municipality will sign a lease agreement with a solar developer, who will build and own a large scale solar array on the property. The municipality will then sign an agreement to purchase the energy that is generated by the solar array. The developer, a private entity, is able to take advantage of the tax benefits, and passes those savings onto the municipality.
For this plan to work, the energy generated by the solar array has to be cheaper than what the municipality is currently paying for electricity. This happens in two ways. The first, is the lease agreement. By using their own land, the municipality is able to lease that property to the developer for a very low cost. The developer will pass this savings on to the municipality, to keep the price of energy low. The second way to reduce the cost of energy for all of the participating municipalities is for all of them to come together and release one RFP for all of their projects. This creates economies of scale, and is like a municipal bulk purchase of solar energy!
Because of Community Solar, the municipalities can share the energy that is produced by the solar array! So, the municipality will sign an agreement to purchase a portion of the electricity generated by the solar array. Then, individual customers will be able to sign an agreement to purchase their electricity in the exact same way!
This model of leveraging municipal land and bulk purchase is revolutionary in New York State, and the country. By following this model, customers will be able to purchase electricity from a solar array, without having to own the array! Renters, college students, individuals or businesses that had a property that was unfit for solar; they can all sign up for the SolarizeCNY Community Solar campaign!
If you are interested in receiving more information on the RFP, please reach out to Chris Carrick at ccarrick@cnyrpdb.org.
Sign Up!
If you're interested in hearing more about the Community Solar projects, sign up here to receive more information! You'll receive all project updates as they continue to develop.
Residential Solar
Partner Installers
Taitem (Technology As If The Earth Mattered) is an engineering company based in Ithaca, New York. Founded in 1989 with a focus on energy efficiency and green building design, our award-winning Solar division has installed hundreds of solar photovoltaic arrays. As a certified B-Corporation Taitem is committed to the triple bottom line, respecting people, planet, and profits in all aspects of its business.
Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED) is an employee owned and operated B Corp with nearly 15 years of renewable energy development experience. SED shifted its focus to residential solar energy in 2014 and became the lead residential solar installer for both the Solarize the Flower City and Solarize Williamson campaigns in 2015. At SED we believe that everyone has the right to a healthy environment and brighter future - an renewable energy is where is atrts. Energy from the sun can power our lives and build vibrant communities. Our mission is to tear down barriers to clean energy and use our business as a force for good.
CNY Solar, Inc. specializes in Renewable Energy. Solar power is a great investment that pays you back day after day. Guaranteed! We have installed Solar Power Systems ranging from 1kw to 50kw for homes, farms and businesses. We offer leasing/financing programs for commercial customers who install Solar Electric Systems and a 12 Month No Payment/Interest program for Residential Customers.
Here at CNY Solar, we keep our prices low to help more people get started with Solar Power and provide a faster payback on their investment.
An inefficient house needs more solar panels than a properly sealed, insulated and designed home. Halco specializes in helping owners of both older and newer homes design the right solar system by providing a full spectrum of energy products and services that can help them achieve 'net-zero' status. Having been recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Energy as the top Home Performance with Energy Star contractor in the country, Halco stands alone in our skills, talents, and experience.
Since 2003, Renovus Solar has been designed and installed thousands of renewable energy projects throughout New York. We build exceptional solar systems for homes, businesses, and communities that save customers money and provide reliable performance for decades. Our reputation is built on providing the highest quality with the lowest price guaranteed, alongside excellent customer service and solar industry innovation. We’re dedicated to sharing the benefits and cost savings of solar power with everyone in our community and have developed the first Community Solar projects in the state.
Apex Solar Power's goal is to help home and business owners find the best solar solution for their energy needs. With experience installing nearly every type of solar equipment available and an Authorized Tesla Powerwall Reseller, they can design the ideal solar system for any property, whether on the roof, in the ground, or as a specialized off-grid solar project. Apex has installed over two thousand solar systems in New York, and is the only company to hold Company-Wide NABCEP Accreditation in New York State.
Our prime directive is to bring environmentally friendly solar power to as many people on planet Earth as possible. We have been in business since 1988, and are a woman-owned business.
ETM specializes in solar energy systems. We install solar electric systems and solar hot water heaters on residences and commercial buildings, and we are building a shared-solar project. Our website is on a solar powered server and we have a solar electric system on our building.
Our goal is to give the best customer service, install the highest quality systems and to be here for decades to come. Our first customer’s solar energy system is still operational and they can still call us at the same phone number!