ALBANY, New York (WWNY) – New York has installed eight gigawatts of distributed solar energy statewide, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced, putting the state ahead of schedule to reach its 10-gigawatt goal by 2030.
The state said the growth has generated approximately $12.2 billion in private investment and more than 16,000 jobs across New York.
According to the state, the eight gigawatts of installed solar — supported by community solar programs and the NY-Sun Program — is enough to power more than 1.3 million homes and businesses, including those in disadvantaged communities. More than 276,000 projects are currently operating statewide, with another 2.7 gigawatts in development.
Hochul said community solar projects expand access to clean energy by allowing households and businesses to benefit from solar power without installing panels on their own property.
The state said solar generation helped save New Yorkers an estimated $90 million last summer by lowering demand on the electric grid during peak electricity use periods.
On June 3, 2026, New York set a new solar generation record when solar supplied approximately 29 percent of statewide electricity demand during the noon hour, according to the state.
Hochul said New York first hit its original six-gigawatt distributed solar target a year ahead of schedule in 2024. The state then installed a record 1.28 gigawatts of solar in a single year in 2025.
The state said its Statewide Solar For All Program allows renters, low-income residents and others who cannot install their own panels to participate in solar energy programs. New York’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget includes $200 million to further expand solar capacity and energy affordability statewide, Hochul said.
“New York continues to set the bar high as we mark another milestone for solar within our communities across the state,” Hochul said. “This is low-cost, reliable clean energy that is delivering cost savings for families and businesses while expanding the availability of renewable energy, which benefits our environment, our economy and contributes to New York’s diverse energy resource mix.”
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