Governor Cuomo announces landmark Shared Renewables program

Media Contacts
Heather Leibowitz

Environment New York

NEW YORK, N.Y.—Today Governor Cuomo announced the landmark Shared Renewables program, also known as community net metering. The program will expand community access to renewable energy in New York State by allowing energy customers to subscribe to a local renewable energy project and receive a utility bill credit for their portion of the energy produced.

Heather Leibowitz, Director of Environment New York released the following statement:

“We applaud Governor Cuomo for following through on his commitment to expand access to renewable energy in New York. The Shared Renewables program will establish an innovative initiative that will empower low-income families, renters, and millions of other New Yorkers to choose solar as a clean energy option to power their lives.

“This program will provide customers direct savings on their energy bill and bolster New York’s clean energy economy, as well as allow individuals to realize significant social and environmental benefits from solar energy.

“As the effects of climate change are more and more evident across the country and the world every day—from Hurricane Sandy to the record drought in California—the need to move to clean energy becomes more and more pressing. The Shared Renewables program will help to lower New York’s carbon emissions and speed our transition to a healthier, more resilient, and more equitable energy system.

“By allowing everyone to opt-in to the benefits of solar, we are also moving New York toward a future powered 100 percent by renewable energy, which should be our ultimate goal.”