NYSEIA President Ron Kamen joined with U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Ulster County Executive Michael Hein and clean energy and environmental groups at an event in Kingston on Aug. 6 at EarthKind Solar Energy to push for the increase to the net metering cap that is needed to continue to provide major incentives for new solar installations.
For New York to remain competitive with New Jersey, California and other leading solar producing states, increasing the net metering cap and establishing a longer-term policy is absolutely critical for the future growth and viability of the states solar energy industry, said Kamen, also chairman of EarthKind in Kingston. We commend Senator Schumer and County Executive Hein for taking action to urge the PSC for net metering reform and for their support of New Yorks solar energy economy.
NYSEIA supports Schumer on his recent request to the PSC to raise New Yorks limit to above 1 percent. New Jersey has a 2.5 percent limit and California a 5 percent limit.
Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. Net metering allows utility customers to generate their own electricity cleanly and efficiently. Since most solar customers produce more electricity than they consume during the day net metering allows them to export that power to the grid and reduce their future electric bills.
Each of the regulated utilities under the jurisdiction of the PSC has a cap on net-metered systems set by statute that the Commission can raise. In July, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. surpassed its 12-megawatt limit on net-metered systems and issued a brief moratorium on its net metering program, which was lifted on Aug. 3 while awaiting formal rulemaking by the Commission.
The Solar Energy Consortium and Alliance for Clean Energy New York also joined in the call for support of increasing the net metering limit.
