Albany, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham applauded today Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement that she is deploying $200 million through the state’s Sustainable Futures Program and NY-Sun incentives as a means of widely expanding access to affordable solar energy in communities across New York. Harckham was the chief proponent of the $200 million NY-Sun investment and led the Senate negotiations to ensure that it was included in the budget. Additionally, several of his legislative proposals spurred the new initiatives included in the roll out. 

The funding, which will be administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), was enacted as part of the FY2026-2027 State Budget and allocated to the NY-Sun Program to support rooftop and community solar. 

According to Gov. Hochul, the new measure will support more than 565 megawatts (MW) of new solar installations statewide, enough clean energy to power 90,000 homes while delivering substantial savings to low- and moderate-income homeowners.

“As New Yorkers continue to face high energy costs and rising fossil fuel prices, expanding access to affordable, renewable solar power is more important than ever,” said Harckham. “The NY-Sun program has been instrumental in advancing New York’s clean energy goals, and this $200 million investment is exactly the kind of smart, forward-looking funding we need. I’m proud to have fought to secure this funding in the state budget, and I thank my legislative colleagues for their support and Governor Kathy Hochul and NYSERDA for their continued support for clean, affordable energy.”

The $200 million refresh of NY-Sun includes initiatives first introduced by Harckham in legislation as chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. The framework includes support for solar projects that minimize land use impacts (such as rooftop solar, carports, landfill installations, and dual-use agrivoltaics systems).  Additional resources are directed toward households facing the most urgent need for lower utility bills with some $20 million assigned to fund onsite solar for low- and moderate-income homeowners to support enough slower power for 6,500 homes.

In total, the NY-Sun roll out will save New Yorkers millions of dollars and ease the strain on the electric grid as well.

Noah Ginsburg, executive director of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association, said, “Rooftop and community solar are powerful tools to lower utility bills for all New Yorkers. This investment in NYSERDA's NY-Sun program will leverage private capital to build beneficial solar projects from Long Island to Buffalo, supporting thousands of good local jobs and delivering utility bill relief to families and businesses. New York Solar Energy Industries Association applauds Senator Harckham for championing this investment as part of the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act, and we thank the legislature, NYSERDA and the Governor's Office for prioritizing affordable, local power."

New York League of Conservation Voters President Julie Tighe said, “As long as we depend on fossil fuels, New Yorkers are stuck on a rollercoaster of unpredictable energy bills. This summer, solar helped save our grid during the hottest days—and this $200 million for NY-Sun will deliver more steady, affordable solar power to the households that need relief most, built on rooftops, parking lots and other sites that protect prime farmland while creating union jobs. We thank Governor Hochul, NYSERDA, Senator Harckham, and Assemblymember Barrett for championing this investment and advancing clean energy.”