ALBANY – Governor David Paterson announced a new clean energy project that will more than quintuple the amount of solar energy currently produced in New York State, and will foster the development of solar technologies, support public sustainability efforts and stimulate the economy with new clean energy jobs throughout the State.

The New York Power Authority issued a request for proposals seeking a public-private partnership for the installation of up to 100 megawatts of photovoltaic systems across the state, including roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar arrays.

Facilities will be installed primarily at schools, public universities and colleges, state and local government facilities, municipal electric utilities and rural electric cooperatives.

This initiative will boost the state's growing solar industry, create clean energy jobs and support efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of State and local public facilities by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 45,000 tons per year.

When fully installed, this project will be the largest solar initiative in State history and will generate the equivalent of powering approximately 15,000 homes.

The Power Authority is soliciting proposals from developers to install, own and operate PV arrays, and to sell all the energy and environmental attributes to NYPA subject to a 20-year power purchase agreement. NYPA will then enter into contracts with the project hosts, such as the school where the PV array is located, for the distribution of green power. Installation of the solar photovoltaic projects is expected to begin in 2010 and be completed by the end of 2014.