NYPA gets strong response to solar RFPs

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - New York Power Authority NYPA President Richard M. Kessel announced that NYPA received 43 proposals on Earth Day, April 22, for development of up to 100 megawatts MW of solar photovoltaic PV capacity.

It represents a fivefold increase of the current amount of installed PV generation in New York State.

The bids were in response to a Request for Proposals RFP that NYPA issued in January for distributed solar generation systems whose output will be the equivalent of the electricity that would be required for meeting the needs of approximately 15,000 average homes.

“The overwhelming response that we received from the solar power industry puts this project on a solid footing, with the initial solar installations expected to begin later this year,” Kessel said. “The project — the largest solar initiative in New York State history — will make a significant contribution toward Governor Paterson’s goal for 45 percent of the state’s electricity needs to be met by improved energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy by the year 2015.

“The planned solar power purchases by the Power Authority should also spur development of clean energy industries, contributing muchneeded jobs to the state’s economy. The additional alternative energy supplies will also help to combat globalwarming greenhouse gas emissions by displacing fossilfuel generation, while enhancing energy security. In short, this is a winwin for New York,” Kessel said.

“We’re excited by the terrific response to our solar RFP and eager to move forward with the project, in partnership with thirdparty developers, as well as schools and local and state governments whose facilities will be the locations for the solar panels,” NYPA Chairman Michael J. Townsend said. “This is going to help build a foundation for additional amounts of renewable energy supplies in New York State and provide new job opportunities for the manufacture, installation and maintenance of the equipment.”

The Power Authority has begun the process of evaluating the proposals on the basis of the requirements of the RFP, whose bid submittal deadline has already passed. It expects to make preliminary selections by this summer, with the decisions based on price and various other factors. This includes biddersÂ’ demonstrated record of developing, owning and operating solar power generating systems, and their plans for identifying and arranging for the use of host sites in the location categories specified by NYPA for the solar installations.

The Power Authority is also interested in the plans for using local materials and labor for the installation, operation and maintenance of the equipment, as well as additional economic development benefits. To advance this effort, NYPA has initiated a business registry, which provides an opportunity for New York State manufacturers and service providers to connect with solar power developers and take part in this growth industry and initiative. To date, over 200 companies have joined the solar registry.

Recommendations to the NYPA Trustees of the bidder awards are expected to be made at the boardÂ’s September meeting. Further details on the solar power initiative are available on the NYPA Web site at www.nypa.gov/solar/100mw.

“The farsighted publicprivate venture on which the Power Authority is embarking will put New York State squarely among the leaders in embracing new clean energy technologies, solidifying its reputation for bold steps in fostering the commercialization of these technologies and using it as a platform to create jobs,” said D. Patrick Curley, a NYPA trustee from Orchard Park. “NYPA has developed the 100mw solar project to be a statewide initiative, with the photovoltaic generating systems distributed in Western New York and other regions so that the energy, economic and environmental benefits are widely shared.”

This is definitely one of the largest solar initiatives in New York State, continuing our leadership in energy conservation,” said Senator Antoine Thompson. “As Chair of the New York Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, I applaud the Power Authority and fully support its endeavors. Not only will this help achieve the goal of establishing clean renewable energy, but will prove to be a boost to the states economy by creating and promoting green jobs in New York State.

Clean, renewable energy sources like solar power are the key to protecting the environment and reducing our dependence on foreign oil, said New York State Assemblyman Mark J.F. Schroeder. This cutting edge technology is also vital in reshaping New York States economy for the 21st century.

The roof and groundmounted PV arrays will be installed at public or private kindergarten throughGrade 12 schools, public universities and colleges, state and local government facilities, and municipal and rural electric cooperative systems — communityowned electric systems in Western New York and other parts of the state that benefit from lowcost NYPA hydropower. In addition to the BuffaloNiagara region and 11 other counties in Western New York, the identified regions for hosting the solar generating systems are Northern New York, Central New York, Southeastern New York and New York City.

The PV systems will be owned and operated by the developers, with the Power Authority purchasing the generating output under 20year power purchase agreements. NYPA will also enter into contracts with the project hosts, such as schools where the PV arrays are located, for the sale of the electricity from the systems. In instances involving the municipal and rural electric systems, the solar power is expected to provide support for the local electric distribution grid operated by those systems, rather than the power being contained to a single host site.

The generating capacity of the site installations is expected to vary from 100 kilowatts kw to five megawatts 1 mw equals 1,000 kw, with the installations occurring through 2014.

The 100 MW of solar power are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45,000 tons per year, adding to the significant role that the Power Authority has played in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere from energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives that it has undertaken throughout the state. These investments are reducing carbon emissions by more than 766,000 tons per year, furthering NYPAÂ’s credentials as one of the cleanest utilities in the country from its significant hydropower generating capacity. This includes the Niagara and St. LawrenceFranklin D. Roosevelt projects in Lewiston and Massena, which met approximately 15 percent of the stateÂ’s electricity needs last year.

NYPA has spearheaded the installation of 36 PV systems at public facilities in various parts of the state, from the Buffalo Museum of Science to the Executive Mansion in Albany to the Power AuthorityÂ’s administrative office building in White Plains. It is currently partnering with the University at Buffalo to install 5,000 PV panels to generate power for a total of 735 student apartments housing nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It also is teaming with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority on a solar installation at the transit agencyÂ’s Frontier Garage in Buffalo. Both installations are being undertaken by a Buffaloarea firm, Solar Liberty of Williamsville.

The Power AuthorityÂ’s efforts to spur development of solar power have also been reflected by recent allocations of lowcost Niagara hydropower to Sunworks Solar to encourage the construction and operation of a $200 million solar panel manufacturing plant in Western New York to create 175 permanent clean energy jobs to Globe Specialty Metals for the companyÂ’s reopening and expansion of a $60 million facility in Niagara Falls that will manufacture silicon for solar power systems and create 500 jobs and to Precision Electro Minerals, a Niagara Falls manufacturers of fused silica, for solarpanel grade silicon and other industrial products, for creating 13 additional jobs.