Rochester launched a new campaign on Sunday, March 20, that aims to expand solar power installations in the area. Solarize the Flower City 2016 is being supported by the New York State Research and Development Authority, making Rochester one out of 31 cities participating in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s NY-Sun initiative.
State subsidies are lowering the cost of solar installation for New Yorkers, and this source of electricity is becoming increasingly popular with local homeowners, businesses, and government bodies. Most solar systems installed through the Solarize initiative cost between $5,000 to $8,000 after state grants, tax credits, and the Solarize discount is accounted for, according to the Democrat and Chronicle. After 10 years, the installation will have paid for itself by making use of the panel-generated electricity, which will cut down on energy costs.
In addition to the Solarize discounts and state grants, another state program called Affordable Solar will offer further discounts to households earning less than 80% of the area’s median income.
In addition to offering affordable prices and providing skilled workers to install the solar panels, Solarize is also visiting the home of every interested individual to conduct a free roof inspection. Asphalt roofing, the most common material used in the U.S., can require repair or replacement every 12 to 20 years, with the average age of a roof being only 17 years old.
“The way that the process works,” said Dr. Susan Spencer of ROCSPOT, “is you sign up for a free assessment with a small amount of information, we just need your name, contact information and address. We then pair you with installers that we vetted here in ROCSPOT to make sure that they’re doing great work and putting up great panels and they they’re local folks that live in our cities and our towns. They will come out to your house and they will take a look at your roof. They will look at the shade and make sure you’re a great candidate for solar power.”
The goal of Cuomo’s community solar program is to ultimately transform New York’s solar energy into a self-sustaining industry.
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