New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the state has achieved its goal of installing 6GW of distributed solar capacity, reaching the milestone a year ahead of schedule. This is part of the NY-Sun initiative, which was launched in 2012 to expand New York's distributed solar sector. The program's next goal is to reach 10GW of capacity by the end of the decade, and with 3.4GW currently under development, the state is on track to meet this target.
Governor Hochul emphasized the significance of the achievement, stating, “Today we celebrate the early achievement of New York's 6GW milepost, which brings us one step closer to a reliable and resilient zero-emission grid.”
In 2023 alone, New York added 885MW of new solar capacity, making it one of the leaders in the U.S. distributed solar sector. The state also holds the largest operating capacity of community solar projects in the country. According to the U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), distributed solar makes up the majority of the state's 6.1GW of solar capacity, ranking it eighth among U.S. states.
New York's distributed solar growth has been supported by various policies, including the “Solar for All” program, which partners with National Grid to reduce consumer bills, and a $250 million investment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in April 2024. The state's efforts have sparked broader interest in distributed solar, with Wood Mackenzie and the Coalition for Community Solar Access forecasting that the U.S. will reach 10GW of distributed solar capacity by 2026, with New York playing a significant role.
Recent investments from companies like Aggreko, Generate, and KeyState highlight the growing momentum in New York's distributed solar space.
