Solar Thermal Consortium Unveils Road Map for New York

The Solar Thermal Consortium has introduced a road map designed to establish New York as a national leader in solar heat and cooling technologies. Developed over the past six months by more than 130 industrial, academic and governmental representatives, the Solar Thermal Roadmap creates a path to move New York state toward 2,000 MW of solar thermal capacity - equal to 1 million solar hot water collectors, or 500,000 residential systems. According to the consortium, the plan would result in $2.6 billion in economic activity and 25,000 new jobs over the next decade. "Sixty percent of the energy consumed in New York state’s buildings is to provide heat and hot water," notes New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) President Ron Kamen, senior vice president of EarthKind Solar. NYSEIA formally presented the map at the recent NY Solar Industries 2010 - Business of the Sun Conference in Albany. The road map recommends the following: creating a statewide educational campaign and electronic resource to inform consumers about the benefits of using the sun to heat homes, commercial buildings and hot water; initiating a solar thermal financial incentive program to encourage installations by shortening the payback time of solar thermal systems; promoting New York state as a location for solar thermal manufacturers; investing in research and development to create a scientific base that systematically develops next-generation Solar Thermal technologies, particularly solar storage and cooling; and clarifying permitting procedures and union jurisdiction to simplify solar thermal installations. SOURCE: New York Solar Energy Industries Association