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NYPA Receives 43 Solar Proposals

By Aaron Besecker

April 30, 2010

 The New York Power Authority has received 43 proposals for solar projects as part of a statewide initiative unveiled in January, it was announced Thursday.

Several Buffalo and Western New York companies submitted proposals, which were due April 22, said Power Authority President Richard M. Kessel, who made the announcement at the authority’s Buffalo office.

The initiative calls for 100 megawatts of new solar capacity, or enough to power about 15,000 homes. New York currently has about 21 megawatts of solar capacity.

Officials only expected six to 10 proposals to come in after their request, so the response was surprising and welcome, Kessel said.

“We were overwhelmed by the response,” he said.

The authority could not identify any of the parties who submitted proposals because it would violate the terms of the competitive process.

The authority will commence a 120-day evaluation of the proposals, with the hopes of selecting the projects that will proceed in the fall. Shovels could be in the ground later this year or early next year, Kessel said.

Kessel could not say how many of the proposals called for solar projects in Western New York, but the authority hopes 20 to 25 megawatts of capacity will be installed in the region.

The initiative announced in January is separate from a project announced last year to install 5,000 solar panels at the University at Buffalo’s Amherst campus.

abesecker@buffnews.com