Program of NYPA, Massena utility to subsidize solar projects

MASSENA — Residents and businesses looking to install solar panels could get the New York Power Authority to pay for up to 50 percent of the installation costs through a new solar incentive program announced this week.

NYPA is looking to partner with the Massena Electric Department and the state's 50 other municipal electric systems to implement the program, which should provide partial funding for approximately 50 to 80 photovoltaic projects throughout the state.

MED officials say they're working with the Power Authority to get more information about the specifics of the program, but they're optimistic they will be able to offer the incentives to local customers.

"We've begun canvassing local businesses and we will be doing outreach with the appropriate commercial customers to try to take advantage of this program," MED Superintendent Andrew J. McMahon said.

Mr. McMahon and MED board members Richard M. Blais and James M. Shaw, board chairman, attended the Municipal Electric Utilities Association meeting Monday in Corning, where NYPA Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Kessel rolled out the solar incentive program.

"In these difficult economic times, it is critical to do everything possible to alleviate the burden on New Yorkers coping with high electricity costs," Mr. Kessel told the gathered municipal utility representatives. "Together with our partners in the municipal electric systems, we will be encouraging the growth of renewable energy systems so residents and businesses can lower their energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint."

By helping residents and business owners defray the capital cost of installing solar systems up to 10 kilowatts in size through the incentives it hopes to offer, NYPA is aiming to encourage investment in alternative energies.

To help orchestrate the solar incentive program, NYPA will partner with municipal electric systems, municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives.

How the program will work and how Massena can benefit from it remains to be seen. MED officials say they will need more information before moving forward, information they hope to obtain at a conference this week.

"There's been limited information," Mr. Shaw said. "We're trying to get more information about how it will work and how it can and cannot be handled with private entities, that sort of thing."

"The devil will be in the details," Mr. McMahon said. "We're working optimistically with the Power Authority to try to build the renewable base in Northern New York.