Currently New York has pending legislation that would create thousands of jobs and provide economic stimulus for the state.
The Solar Industry Development and Jobs Act would not only create 22,198 jobs, it would also develop more than 5,000 MW of solar power by 2025, which is enough energy to power about one million homes.
“Striving for 5000 megawatts of solar capacity by 2025 will help fight the climate crisis, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and create thousands of good new jobs in New York,” said Jeff Jones, director of the New York State Apollo Alliance, a coalition of labor, business and environmental groups working for green jobs. “This is a major economic opportunity. Let’s not only install more solar, let’s rebuild our manufacturing sector to make the components of the clean energy economy here as well.”
The act would also create a solar renewable energy credit program to stimulate the installation of solar projects in New York. The energy credit program would create a scalable, diverse and competitive solar energy market that sponsors believe would enable a rapid and sustainable development of a robust solar power industry in the state.
According to Vote Solar, a solar advocacy group, the plan would also bring in $20 billion dollars into the economy.
“This legislation represents a strong investment in New York’s energy future, one that would deliver economic returns immediately and for generations to come,” said State Sen. Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island.
He added that it would also provide investment stability through long term contracts and competitive bidding in open auctions and enable New York state to fulfill the goal set by the Governor's Renewable Energy Task Force of the installation 100 MW of solar by 2011.
In 2007, New York Lieutenant Governor Paterson created a Renewable Energy Task Force with a goal of reducing the state’s electricity use by 15 percent and investing in renewable energy sources, like solar.
“Solar power can boost New York’s economy, create jobs, improve air quality, and repower America all at the same time,” said NRDC Policy Analyst Pierre Bull. “The legislature should make the Empire State a solar power leader and kick start a world-class, competitive solar industry right here in New York.”