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Governor Cuomo of NY recently unveiled the details of the awards for 21 large-scale solar, wind and energy storage projects across upstate New York, totally 1,278 megawatts (MW) of new renewable capacity. These projects, which New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and other state and local agencies will ensure are sited and developed responsibly, will spur over $2.5 billion in direct, private investments toward their development, construction and operation and create over 2,000 short-term and long-term jobs. The awards accelerate NY's progress toward Gov. Cuomo's Green New Deal goal to obtain 70% of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030, as codified by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, and supports the state mandate for a 100% carbon-free electricity sector by 2040.
Expected to generate over 2.5 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy annually, the projects will provide enough to power over 350,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.3 million metric tons annually, equivalent to taking nearly 300,000 cars off the road every year. The awards, totaling $1 billion in state investment, include projects that offered bids -23% lower than the bids received three years ago, representing considerable value for New Yorkers and highlighting the continuing significant cost declines of renewable energy.
The awards announced today are the third in a series of annual NYSERDA land-based renewable procurements that are expected to result in the development of dozens of large-scale renewable energy projects over the coming decade. NYSERDA has awarded over 67 projects since 2018. These three rounds of land-based renewable awards, combined with New York's commitment to offshore wind announced earlier this year, will be capable of generating over 12% of the state's expected electricity demand in 2030.
Several of the projects awarded are expected to break ground as soon as late 2020 and all projects are expected to be operational by 2024. The selected projects include 17 large-scale solar projects; four utility-scale wind projects, comprised of three redevelopment upgrades to existing wind projects and one new large-scale project; and two solar projects, which include energy storage.
To learn more about New York’s renewable energy programs and these 21 projects, read the original release.