Dive Brief:

• SunEdison will build a 10-MW solar facility on a Staten Island landfill site, which will increase New York City's renewable capacity by 50%. It would be New York City's largest solar plant.
• Planned solar and wind facilities at the Freshkills Park will reduce the need for peaking generation and help New York City meet its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.

Dive Insight:

Solar generation is becoming increasingly common in the New Jersey and the Northeast where power prices are relatively high. Also, it's another example of how policy goals like lowering carbon emissions – even at the city level – can affect decisions on what types of power plants get built.

“Developing solar energy on Freshkills Park shows that large-scale renewable energy projects are possible in New York City, but this is only a first step,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Cas Holloway. “If we are serious about meeting New York City’s tremendous energy needs from renewable sources we need the State and federal governments, as well as our utility partners and others in the private sector, to work with us to make solar and other renewable energies easier to develop, install, and access the energy grid.”