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New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas announced that work has begun on the installation of solar energy systems at three DOT properties in Chautauqua and Erie counties. The solar panels are expected to generate 340,500 kilowatt-hours of energy per year, replacing about 90 percent of the power these facilities normally use with clean, green energy.
The solar pilot project includes the installation of ground-mounted solar panel systems at three different facilities, including the Sherman Maintenance Sub-Residency, Interstate 86 rest area in Bemus Point and Interstate 290/990 pump station in Erie County.
"Governor Cuomo is leading the way on renewable energy and this project is one more way New York State is furthering its commitment to clean energy innovation, reliability and affordability," said Paul A. Karas, state Department of Transportation acting commissioner. "The installation of solar panels at transportation facilities in Western New York will provide a clean source of energy to meet the department's power needs."
The project is being administered through a partnership between state DOT and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, which will be providing incentives toward the solar panel installation costs through the NY-Sun program.
NYSERDA president and CEO Alicia Barton said, "New York is leading by example in providing clean energy at state facilities as we pursue the Governor's aggressive goal of having 50 percent of our electricity come from renewable sources by 2030."
NYSDOT is funding the project through a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement with the solar provider. Under the agreement, the provider will continue to own and operate the panels and NYSDOT will buy the power they produce at a set rate. The total production output of the systems is approximately 340,500 kilowatt-hours of energy per year.
Cuomo has been a national leader on the issue of Global Climate Change and this effort is consistent with his initiatives to reduce statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030. At the governor's direction, New York State agencies are working to modernize their energy systems through the Reforming the Energy Vision plan, which has spurred clean energy innovation and laid the groundwork for the State and the private sector to aggressively add renewable energy sources to the power grid.