PV Grants for Municipal Buildings

Summary

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will provide a total of $1.3 million in grants to support the installation, demonstration and operation of photovoltaic (PV) systems on municipal buildings. Of this amount, $500,000 is reserved for projects in counties that border Connecticut (Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties). Municipal buildings include structures and associated land owned or leased by counties, cities, towns or villages, or by departments, agencies, educational institutions, school districts, libraries or corporations of those municipalities. In general, the maximum funding available per project is the lesser of $6 per installed watt direct current (DC) at standard test conditions or 80% of the proposal cost, up to $240,000 per building. However, projects located within the geographical service territories served by Consolidated Edison or the Long Island Power Authority, projects in counties that border Connecticut, and projects that include a backup storage system (such as batteries or flywheels) are eligible for grants of $6.50 per installed watt DC at standard test conditions, or 80% of the proposal cost, up to $260,000 per building. The application deadline is August 15, 2006. PV systems must be installed on municipal buildings where the municipality is not required by law to install renewable-energy systems or purchase renewable-energy credits (RECs), is not obligated or required to comply with New York Executive Order 111 “Green and Clean” State Buildings and Vehicles, and is not otherwise required by law to install a PV system. Systems must be installed by an eligible PV installer. Municipalities retain ownership of any green-power attributes or RECs associated with the installation of the PV system and the generation of electricity by the system. The funding for this solicitation comes from Ohio Edison, pursuant to a legal action where the State of New York alleged that Ohio Edison violated the federal Clean Air Act by constructing major modifications of its W.H. Sammis power plant, resulting in increased emissions of oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide that harm New York State. Under the resultant consent decree, Ohio Edison is obligated to provide funding to NYSERDA to support the installation of PV systems on municipal buildings in New York in order to displace the need for more polluting sources of electricity generation.