Set a solar goal for New York

Posted 8/21/12

With the start of the new season, sunny skies are ahead of us. Spring is all about renewal and regrowth. We should start spring by renewing our commitment to solar energy and growing the industry …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Set a solar goal for New York

Posted

With the start of the new season, sunny skies are ahead of us. Spring is all about renewal and regrowth. We should start spring by renewing our commitment to solar energy and growing the industry here in New York. Our solar industry employed 7,284 New Yorkers in 2014, according to the Solar Foundation’s new solar jobs census. Nationwide, solar jobs grew by over 20% for the second year in a row, now totaling over 170,000 jobs. The annual solar jobs census demonstrates that not only is solar good for New York’s environment—for reducing air pollution and tackling global warming—it’s also a major economic driver.

Smart, forward-thinking policies have done much to pave the way for the solar industry’s expansion—and we have vastly more room for growth. In fact, New York has the technical potential to generate 11 times the amount of electricity consumed in an average year from solar power alone. With a large and well-trained workforce prepared to advance solar energy in New York, all we need is for our policymakers to lead in order to take solar to the next level. To reap the full economic, public health and environmental benefits of solar, we urge Gov. Andrew Cuomo to set a goal of generating 20% of New York’s electricity from solar by 2025.

Heather Leibowitz

Director, Environment New York

New York, NY

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here