ALBANY - The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the state Public Service Commission (PSC) have awarded $30 million to help fund large-scale solar power projects that will assist facilities in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley generate electricity for their own use.

The $30 million represents the first year of five years of planned funding under the $150 million, RPS Customer-Sited Tier Regional Program.  

The money was awarded to solar installers, solar developers and real estate owners, including Alteris Renewables, Inc., altPOWER, Bright Power, ConEdison Solutions, Inc., Earthkind Energy, Inc., Martifer Solar USA, OnForce Solar, Inc., Ross Solar Group, LLC, SolarCIty, Solar Energy Systems, LLC, Solartech Renewables, SunEdison, and SUNation Solar, Inc., SunRay Power and MS Harrison LLC.

Potential projects include a wide variety of businesses, all of which are major consumers of electricity -- department stores, discount stores, apartment complexes, Postal Service distribution centers and other sites in New York City and the Hudson Valley. 

“The enthusiastic response to our solicitation confirms the important contribution that solar technology can play in addressing the energy, environmental, and reliability needs of the metropolitan New York City area,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA.  “The success of this program is another example of New York’s leadership in supporting investment in a wide range of renewable energy technologies.”

The projects were selected through a competitive process. The NYSERDA incentive pays up to 50 percent of the cost of a project, up to $3 million.