ANCA | City of Ogdensburg and Adirondack Coast Communities to Participate in Second Round Solarize Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2016
Contact: Caitlin Wargo (518) 891-6200, <a href="mailto:cwargo@adirondack.org">cwargo@adirondack.org</a>
Communities Join the Village of Canton and Tri-Lakes in taking advantage of cost-saving incentives
Saranac Lake, NY – The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) is spearheading “Solarize” campaigns targeting several North Country communities as part of New York State’s solar initiative. The City of Ogdensburg and communities along the “Adirondack Coast” are joining the Village of Canton and the Tri-Lakes in taking advantage of simplified purchasing and price discounts available through the program.
In a press release announcing the second round of funding for the program, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo applauded the progress New York communities have made in adding solar capacity. In 2015, 26 communities utilized the technical and marketing support made available through the initiative to undertake 900 solar projects across New York.
“New York is blazing the trail when it comes to transitioning to sustainable energy practices and building a clean energy economy,” said Governor Cuomo. “By helping communities across the state install solar technologies, we are opening the door to new opportunities that will lower household energy costs while protecting the environment years into the future.” 
"ANCA was so impressed with the turnout from North Country businesses and residents in the Tri-Lakes, Canton and Akwesasne for the first round of Solarize, said ANCA Executive Director Kate Fish. “Communities participating in the first round completed nearly 100 installations and added 550KW of clean electricity to the grid. We look forward to building on this momentum through our partnerships with these new communities in 2016 to bring even more solar to the St Lawrence and Champlain Valleys." 
According to the Governor’s release, New York’s Solarize initiative was launched in December 2014 as a collaboration between the State and local communities. Communities engaged in Solarize campaigns are able to simplify purchasing and obtain discounts for participants on solar projects. The "Solarize" initiative partners with interested residential and business communities to conduct joint purchasing agreements that help lower solar acquisition and consumer costs.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority provided a total of $365,000 in technical and marketing support for the 2015 Solarize campaigns. These campaigns saved participants a total of approximately $1.4 million on upfront purchase costs for solar, for an average of approximately 
$1,590 per residential or business project. Campaigns are managed by community partnerships that include local municipalities, planning organizations, sustainability groups, state legislators and business groups. 
“The City of Ogdensburg and the Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce are very excited to build on the City's commitment to solar by participating in the Solarize Ogdensburg project with ANCA to bring solar energy to our residents and businesses,” says Laura Pearson, Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.
“This Solarize program supports and encourages renewable energy use in the Town of Plattsburgh and beyond—something called for in our comprehensive land use plan,” said Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael Cashman. “I am excited to work in collaboration with the communities located in the Adirondack Coast to enable households to connect with the power of solar.”
“I am a believer in alternative energy, said Town of Saranac Councilman Jerry Delaney. “My own experience with photovoltaic energy far exceeded my expectations. People who are interested in Solar should join in the Solarize the Adirondack Coast Program.”
This second round of the Solarize program is supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) under Governor Cuomo's NY-Sun initiative. NY-Sun will invest up to $1 billion in solar power through 2023 to significantly expand solar installations across the State, ultimately transforming New York’s solar industry to become self-sustaining.
ANCA is an independent nonprofit organization working to build dynamic local economies that sustain thriving communities in Northern New York. Since 1955, ANCA has leveraged the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars into the region in sectors that drive sustainable local economic development.
To learn more about Solarize, contact Jennifer Perry at 518.891.6200 (<a href="mailto:jperry@adirondack.org">jperry@adirondack.org</a>) or the following Solarize organizers:
Adirondack Coast: Trevor Cole, <a href="mailto:solarize@townofplattsburgh.org">solarize@townofplattsburgh.org</a> 
Canton: Louise Gava, <a href="mailto:louise.gava@gmail.com">louise.gava@gmail.com</a> 
Tri Lakes: Nancy Bernstein, <a href="mailto:nbernstein12@gmail.com">nbernstein12@gmail.com</a> 
Ogdensburg: Laura Pearson, <a href="mailto:chamber@gisco.net">chamber@gisco.net</a>