Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to create a new Office of Renewable Energy Permitting, which would be responsible for reviewing large wind and solar projects. But municipal leaders across the state are worried that the new process could limit local influence on the often massive developments.
solar power
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Webster preps solar laws
New York has experienced tremendous growth in solar power over the last several years. Between 2011 and the end of 2015, the number of solar installations — from small residential systems to larger projects — grew from 249 to 1,284 in the Finger Lakes region, according to data from the New York State Energy Research […]
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Is Funke green enough?
For the first time, Republican State Senator Rich Funke has won the endorsement of the New York League of Conservation Voters. The statewide environmental group says that Funke is a valuable ally in Albany, despite the fact that the senator is silent on climate change. The endorsement is a big get, even though Funke may […]
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New York’s carbon emissions dropping
New York’s energy sector has the lowest per capita carbon emissions, 8.1 metric tons, in the US.
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Feedback 9/16
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Solar city
The largest solar power system in the City of Rochester is tucked unobtrusively behind the Bausch + Lomb building on North Goodman Street. The 3,600 glass-and-metal panels at the corner of Northland Avenue and Lyceum Street sit at the end of a quiet neighborhood and are partially shielded from view. The Bausch + Lomb system […]
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Monroe County’s solar power play
Monroe County is preparing to put some big-time support behind a multi-site solar power project, of which it’ll be the sole customer. County Executive Maggie Brooks has asked the County Legislature to support a set of agreements with Buffalo-based Solar Liberty, which will enable the company to build solar arrays at sites in Penfield and […]
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Finger Lakes solar installations increase
Solar-power capacity increased significantly in the Finger Lakes region between 2011 and 2014, according to newly released data from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority The data shows the growth of solar power across the state. At the end of 2011, the Finger Lakes had 2.1 megawatts of installed solar capacity spread across 249 […]
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Brighton eyes solar law
More solar power systems in Brighton would mean that residents and businesses could get clean, low-cost power while lessening the town’s environmental footprint, officials say. That’s why town leaders have developed a draft solar ordinance. Solar panels are allowed in Brighton, says town planner Ramsey Boehner, but that’s not specifically stated in the town code. […]
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Solar power push
A decade from now, solar power systems could be spread across the City of Rochester, providing low-cost renewable electricity for city homes, churches, public buildings, and businesses. That’s the vision of the people behind a new nonprofit, ROCspot. The organization’s founder, Susan Spencer, says that the best way to work toward that vision is to […]
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Group ranks state legislators’ environmental records
Environmental Advocates of New York has released its annual scorecard for state legislators, and Democrats in the Rochester delegation outscored their Republican counterparts. Environmental Advocates bases the scores around legislation it has identified as priorities. Legislators get points for the “correct” vote, whether it’s in favor of legislation the organization supports or against legislation it […]
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US solar capacity continues to grow
In the second quarter of 2014, more than 1.1 gigawatts of solar power capacity was installed across the United States, according to a solar industry group’s report. (According to the New York Times, a gigawatt “is the equivalent output of one large nuclear power plant.”) The Solar Energy Industries Association says that the US now […]
