New York State Senator Pete Harckham hosted a press conference today in the State Capitol with advocates and members of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) in support of the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act, which aims to advance the successes of New York’s solar energy sector.
The ASAP Act (S.6570 / A.8758), sponsored by both Sen. Harckham and Assemblymember Didi Barrett, would raise New York’s distributed solar target from 10 gigawatts (GW) to 20 GW by 2035 and implement common-sense reforms to lower costs and streamline deployment. It also advances critical interconnection reforms that will reduce costs, shorten project timelines, and allow for proactive grid investments to accommodate more solar capacity efficiently.
“The ASAP Act will save consumers over $1 billion annually, enhance grid reliability and create economic multiples of well-paying jobs and new industries in New York,” said Harckham. “Additionally, by ramping up the implementation of solar energy systems statewide we will provide cleaner, healthier air to breathe in communities statewide. Simply, codifying our commitment to solar energy is needed more today than ever before.”
“A clean energy future is an affordable future and it’s time to lean into our successes with distributed solar — the only climate goal we’ve hit so far,” said Barrett. “Facing an unprecedented affordability crisis and federal blows to renewable energy projects, I am proud to sponsor the ASAP Act to expand our distributed solar goals and streamline the complicated interconnection process to get more of these projects built — lowering utility costs while creating good-paying jobs. Let’s pass the ASAP Act as soon as possible (ASAP)!”
A new report from Synapse Energy Economics found that meeting New York’s energy storage goal and achieving the expanded solar goals outlined in the ASAP Act will lower electricity bills for New Yorkers by $1 billion per year, delivering savings across the state and all year-round.
To see a video of the rally, click here.
New York’s solar industry employs over 15,000 workers statewide. Right now, the state is ahead of schedule toward its 10 GW by 2030 rooftop and community solar goal. Building an additional 10 GW of distributed solar over the next decade will boost New York’s “affordability agenda” with ratepayer savings and revenue for municipalities and school districts while doubling the number of solar industry jobs. Solar’s success can help fill the gap at a time when New York State is otherwise falling short of its energy goals.”
The ASAP Act requires reforms to the utility interconnection process in order to streamline processes and lower costs for ratepayers. The legislation requires electric utilities to report and publish their actual distribution upgrade costs, enabling greater accountability and fairer cost estimation for solar developers. It also creates guardrails to protect against cost overruns, providing market clarity and reducing price volatility and surprise charges.
In terms of streamlining solar projects, the legislation directs utilities to establish a self-performance option, allowing qualified solar developers to complete certain interconnection upgrades themselves, lowering costs and avoiding utility bottlenecks.
Prevailing wage requirements in the bill will ensure solar expansion creates high-quality local jobs. Additionally, it is meant to support local solar supply chains, electricians, and construction workers—stimulating green job growth and attracting private-sector investment in New York’s clean energy economy.
The ASAP Act also directs New York’s utilities to expand upon their successful flexible interconnection pilot programs, an innovative approach that leverages smart grid technology to integrate more solar and energy storage capacity while avoiding cost-prohibitive traditional distribution system upgrades.
Lastly, the ASAP Act promotes equitable access by requiring at least 35% of solar program investments to benefit disadvantaged and low-to-moderate-income communities.