14 DAY TRIAL // Should things go as planned, the state of New York in the US will soon become a great deal greener than it currently is, and Governor Andrew Cuomo will be the one to thank for it.
While delivering his State of the State address this past Wednesday, Governor Cuomo announced that the state was to get another 3,000 MW of solar power capacity.
In order to make sure that this green energy target will be met, the Governor has agreed to offer funding of $1 billion (€0.73 billion) to projects intended to harvest solar power.
Specialists estimate that the amount of solar power capacity that Andrew Cuomo plans to install across the state of New York will be enough to meet the energy demands of roughly 465,000 households.
The investments are expected to also translate into the creation of 13,000 job opportunities, and help reduce yearly greenhouse gas emissions by an impressive 2.3 million tons.
According to Think Progress, this predicted drop in the state's annual emissions is the equivalent of taking some 435,000 cars off the road.
Since 2012, when Governor Cuomo launched his NY-Sun Initiative, until present day, nearly 300 MW of solar capacity have been added to the state of New York's energy sector. Some of these projects are still under development, but will soon be completed.
Mark Izeman, director of the New York Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, commented on Governor Andrew Cuomo's announcing a new round of investments in harvesting solar power as follows:
“In the face of climate change, developing clean energy sources and making our communities more resilient to extreme weather are critical for the health of New Yorkers and the future of our state.”
Furthermore, “With Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York State is doubling down to achieve these goals. New investments in clean energy will make New York a national leader on solar power.”
Apart from supporting solar energy projects across the state, the Governor plans to have solar panels installed on the roofs of 5,000 schools in New York.
“A program to put solar panels on our schools will not only mean healthier air for kids to breathe, but reduced costs so we can put more money toward education instead of energy,” Mark Izeman explained the benefits of this initiative.