Boom in Community Solar Development Continues; EDPR NA DG Structures Thirteenth Project in NY State
HOUSTON, TX, August 5, 2021. EDPR NA Distributed Generation LLC (EDPR NA DG), the distributed generation business unit of EDP Renewables, is proud to announce the structuring of its thirteenth community solar project in New York State in 2021, with a total capacity nearing 54 megawatts (MWdc). EDP Renewables is the largest operator of renewable energy in the State, with more than 700 MW in utility-scale assets. New York State has become a leader in community solar development, with a potential 2,000 MW of new community solar capacity possible between 2023 and 2025, according to the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA).
EDPR NA DG’s community solar projects provide homeowners, renters, and corporate entities and their employees equal access to cost-effective energy regardless of the physical attributes or ownership of their home or business. Community solar expands access to solar for all, including, in particular, low-to-moderate income customers most impacted by a lack of access, all while building a stronger, distributed, and more resilient electric grid. EDPR NA DG has been working with a diverse set of community solar customers ranging from the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector through to the healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and local government sectors. EDPR NA DG has had success to date in the distributed generation sector in New York State given long-standing relationships, a tailored focus on project delivery, and dedication to empowering local communities from Long Island to the Finger Lakes region.
“Expanding grid market opportunities and reducing hurdles for customers to access cost-effective solar has been part of our mission since day one,” stated Candice Michalowicz, Chief Operating Officer, EDPR NA DG. “From our ongoing work with C&I customers such as the Performance Food Group (PFG) to small businesses including Climbing Bines Hop Farm & Brewery, we are committed to creating local community solar and storage opportunities, as well as supporting the numerous jobs and economic boost that comes with development.” “We have greatly valued working with EDPR NA DG on our recent community solar project. During the project’s development and construction, the site looked tight, neat, and very professionally planned. It was always clean and well maintained, and safety remained front and center during the entire process,” said Chris Bines, Co-Owner, Climbing Bines Hop Farm & Brewery.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), there are 40 states with at least one community solar project online, with 3.1 gigawatts installed cumulatively through Q1 2021. The next five years will see the U.S. community solar market add more than 4 gigawatts (GW) of total capacity.
A May 2021 economic and jobs analysis performed by CCSA reported that New York is poised for economic growth and customer savings with a potential to add more than 21,000 jobs and earn $3.45 billion in local economic benefits by 2025 in the right regulatory environment.
“Our community solar projects are dedicated to providing tangible benefits to local communities, including workforce development and providing vocational and internship training to the future clean energy workforce of New York State,” added Adam Woda, Community Solar Senior Associate, EDPR NA DG. “It’s not enough to construct a project; we need to be dedicated to the long-term health and operation of the project. This means helping to develop a supply chain of service providers which will enable projects to remain operational for decades and provide New York State with a pipeline of good-paying jobs moving forward.”
SEIA President & CEO Abigail Ross Hopper stated, “Projects such as these demonstrate that solar can bring clean energy on a local level to countless Americans. As a result of community solar development, we’ve seen significant cost savings, job creation, emission reductions, and expanded solar access to diverse communities in states with strong clean energy policies.” EDPR DG NA currently owns 72 MWdc of community solar assets either operating, under construction, or in the development phase across the Northeast and Midwest. There is an additional near-term pipeline of 42 MWdc expected to be operational within the next 12 months.
To celebrate this milestone in New York State’s history, an event will be held with community business leaders and industry partners on October 1, 2021, at Climbing Bines Hop Farm & Brewery in Penn Yan, NY.
About EDPR NA Distributed Generation
At EDPR NA Distributed Generation (EDPR NA DG), accelerating the adoption and success of distributed generation is at the core of our mission. EDPR NA DG provides cutting-edge innovative renewable energy services to the entire North American region. Built on long-standing relationships with developers, power generators, corporate purchasers, municipalities, and local communities, EDPR NA DG delivers a full suite of offerings ranging from financing and development to construction and operation of energy and storage assets poised to scale. To date, EDPR NA DG has an operating capacity of 86 MW, with a near-term pipeline of more than 200 MW, across 200 sites in 20 states. For more information, visit www.edprnadg.com. EDPR NA DG is part of EDP Renewables (Euronext: EDPR), a global leader in the renewable energy sector and the world's fourth-largest renewable energy producer. With a sound development pipeline, first-class assets, and market-leading operating capacity, EDPR has undergone exceptional development in recent years and is currently present in 17 international markets (Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain,theUnited Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam). For more information, please visit www.edpr.com.
For additional media inquiries, contact: Tom Weirich T: +1 (202) 509-6435 E: thomas.weirich@edpr.com