ALBANY, NY, Dec. 13 – New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) today praised New York State for creating the state’s first solar thermal incentive program, a five-year $25 million program to encourage the installation of systems to heat water using solar energy.

Under the newly released Program Opportunity Notice (PON) 2149, the state will provide incentives of up to $4,000 for residential systems and as much as $25,000 for non-residential applications to encourage replacing electrically heated hot water systems with solar thermal systems.

The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) allocated the funding to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) through the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program. NYSEIA has advocated for the inclusion of solar thermal in the RPS for the past two years.   

“PON 2149 includes incentives needed to jump start the solar thermal market,” said Gail Markels, Executive Director of NYSEIA. “These incentives are an excellent first step in creating a robust solar thermal market and will help to continue to bring clean energy jobs and economic development to the state.”

PON 2149 also addresses NYSEIA’s push for a streamlined application process to encourage usage and bring certainly to the industry. The program will use the same streamlined processing that has been recognized as effective and workable for the recently revised Photovoltaic (PV) incentive program. 

NYSEIA, working with members of industry, academia and government through the Solar Thermal Consortium, created a roadmap for the growth of the solar thermal industry in New York State in 2009.  The “Solar Thermal Roadmap” identified market challenges and opportunities, and developed recommendations for jump starting solar thermal as a market.

 “This announcement from NYSERDA demonstrates that New York State is committed to establishing solar thermal as a viable source of renewable energy,” said NYSEIA President Ron Kamen, senior vice president of EarthKind Solar. “This solar hot water program is the first step toward a more comprehensive all-fuels program that will move the state toward our goal of 2,000 MWs of solar thermal by 2020. The PSC and NYSERDA are to be congratulated for looking forward and supporting renewable energy options.”

About NYSEIA
The New York Solar Energy Industries Association, founded in 1994, is the only statewide non-profit membership and trade association dedicated solely to advancing solar energy use in New York State. For information, visit www.nyseia.org

Media Contacts: 

Ron Kamen                         (917) 453-5740            This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it         

Sandy Frinton                     (845) 454-3895            This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gail Markels                        (917) 364-4760           This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

###