Solar Energy Application in NY Schools

Solar energy is the best answer to the world for reducing the energy costs and making the world a better place to live in. It is abundant, free of cost and environment friendly. With solar energy reaching grid parity in a number of countries, we see solar energy getting more and more popular across the globe. Residential solar has also gained traction since the last couple of years. USA is set to instal 6.5 GW of solar energy till 2014 and is taking various measures and initiatives to achieve this goal. One amongst them is the K-Solar program which aims at solaraizing the public districts schools in New York.

K- Solar was a program launched last week in New York to aid public school districts go solar, to lower their energy costs. It is a joint partnership between the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), working with the New York State Education Department. Under this program, the schools will be provided the equipments, technical help and support in getting financial assistance to help them gain access to solar energy for reducing their costs.

A total of 40 school districts that is around 200 schools have already registered to participate in this program. NYPA will provide free of cost energy advisory services and expertise to the school personnel to work out the feasibility of implementing this program on them. The New York Power Authority have also promised to get the most attractive solar financing means for the schools. Thus it will be a win-win situation for all – the schools will be able to reduce their energy costs, the State will be able to modernize the grid and solar is a cleaner and greener solution to the environment. Also in addition to this free service, there is no limit to the number of schools for registering under this program. The more the better!

“New York is becoming a national leader in the solar industry, and today we’re taking another major step forward by giving schools across the state the resources they need to tap into this innovative technology,” Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said. “Increasing the use of renewable energy at our schools will both protect the environment and modernize our electrical grid.”

Source: PV-Magazine