The Solar Northeast Strategy

Regional Vision

Solar New York was the beginning of a larger regional effort that is extending throughout the entire Northeast as Solar Northeast (SNE). As the recent lawsuit filed by Northeastern attorney generals against the EPA over neglected air pollution standards illustrates, the environment is an issue of regional concern. Recognizing SNE’s potential as a popular and replicable model, Solar New York has provided the groundwork for similar efforts throughout the northeast. SNE is well positioned to institute this expansion. SNE has excellent contacts in the northeast and has already had significant meetings in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts with government representatives and interested organizations. The SNE campaign is building the coalition and reaching out to important players from northeastern states creating a regional “audience” for progress. We are confident that a wider effort can be effectively undertaken in the northeast. The coalition, tools and strategies developed during the Solar New York campaign will be invaluable assets to parallel efforts in neighboring states. As the northeast states struggle with establishing renewable energy economies and climate change policy in a time of shrinking budgets, Solar Northeast will compile a financial toolbox of options to provide for energy efficiency measures coupled with an increase in PV installations utilizing revenue financing solutions.

Using Savings to Pay for Solar

SNE's strategy is based on the premise that energy efficiency technology is a powerful tool for making solar energy cost-effective. Technologies like energy efficient lighting, heating, and air ventilation, rapidly pay themselves back and generate savings. Solar technology, though popular, has up-front costs that are often prohibitively high. When energy efficiency and solar energy technologies are installed ("bundled") on the same building, the savings from the energy efficiency offset the high cost of solar technology.

Financing

In the Solar Northeast strategy, public PV installations are made attractive to lending institutions through performance contracts with guaranteed paybacks backed by the State. Loans from these institutions then provide the initial capital necessary for PV projects.

A Network of Advocates

To ensure that the strategy is implemented successfully, Solar Northeast will rely on a broad alliance of community groups, environmental groups, labor organizations, renewable energy industry representatives, state and local government, individual activists and the financial community. After the expanded financing model has been adopted by the State government, Solar Northeast will work to identify local projects for development and oversee their progress. This will ensure a steady supply of high-quality projects from all parts of the State.