#ksolar

NYPA’s latest K-Solar project was a collaboration with Hudson Junior and Senior High School, and will enable the school toreceive a portion of its electricity through a solar array constructed behind the school. Part of New York State’s K-Solar initiative, this program helps schools save money & lower their energy usage.

NYPA has made it easy for several school districts to “go solar,” start reducing their energy costs and combat climate change. The new Hudson array of ground-mounted solar panels will provide 1200 kW of power through 3816 panels to offset part of the school’s energy needs. It is also NYPA’s largest solar project to date. The Hudson school district is a great example for the Hudson Valley region, as well as the rest of the state, when it comes to the use of solar.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s K-Solar initiative is a first-of-its kind program launched in 2014 to combat climate change by promoting renewable energy use. Schools are matched with a solar developer and receive tools and technical expertise as well as access to financing.

The K-Solar program, administered by NYPA in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), has also completed arrays for the Somers and Tarrytown school districts. The New York Institute for Special Education in the Bronx is expected to be completed this summer.

It was with great pride that NYPA staff and public officials visited Somers Middle School this week to view the unveiling of the school's new rooftop solar panel system. Somers Middle School is the first school in New York State to satisfy a portion of its power needs through the K-Solar clean energy initiative, a statewide program that helps school districts save money, lower their carbon output and teach students about solar power technology.

K-Solar is part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's larger Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a modern, clean energy system. It is also a major part of Governor Cuomo's NY-Sun initiative to grow the sustainable solar industry throughout New York State. More than 350 school districts throughout New York have signed up for K-Solar so far.

The Somers Middle School solar panel system includes 390 panels and will generate approximately 136,000 k/w hours of solar electricity per year. It is expected that the new system will save the school about $27,000.00 in yearly electricity costs and remove about 170,000 pounds of C02 from the atmosphere every year - roughly equivalent to taking 280 cars off the road.

“Participation in the K-Solar program is a first step in helping communities-at-large think differently about clean energy,” said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “K-Solar helps communities realize they can play a leadership role in going green and clean by embracing solar technology and reducing their fossil fuel footprint.”

“The Somers district is leading the way in showing its community the importance of using renewable energy by going solar,” said Jill Anderson, NYPA executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “The K-Solar program provides the expertise to integrate a new power source into a district’s infrastructure while also incorporating lessons on sustainability and clean energy technology into a school’s curriculum.”