The New York Institute for Special Education in the Bronx has been chosen as the site of the state's first solar schools project, state officials announced.
A power purchase agreement with SolarCity will enable the school to have solar arrays installed on its campus. The public-private partnership is the first such agreement under the New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s K-Solar program, an effort to increase the use of renewable energy at public school districts and nonprofit schools.
The project will receive free technical assistance from the New York Power Authority and is eligible for about $65,000 in incentives from the Governor's $1 billion NY-Sun initiative. The
"Through the K-Solar program, the state is enabling schools to create greener communities and reduce energy bills by taking advantage of cost-effective solar power,” says Cuomo. “As schools begin to realize the utility savings to be had through this program, they can begin to put those dollars back in the classroom where they belong."
Since the K-Solar program launched in 2015, school districts in 59 of the state's 62 counties have registered to take part. Schools pay no upfront costs for the installation of solar electric systems in return for signing an 18-year contract with a solar developer to buy the power that the solar panels generate.
K-Solar guarantees that districts will pay below prevailing market rates over the term of the contract.
MORE: Video on the K-Solar Program from the New York Power Authority:
