Rochester Business Journal

A request for proposals was issued Wednesday for developers of solar technologies to install up to 100 megawatts of photovoltaic systems that would convert solar energy into electricity, state officials said.

The systems would include roof-mounted and ground-mounted arrays, including on top of schools and government offices, municipal electric utilities and rural electric cooperatives, officials said.

The initiative would create five times the amount of solar energy currently produced in New York and reduced the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by 45,000 tons per year, officials said.

“This initiative will advance the development of the solar industry and clean energy jobs throughout the state, and will help diversify our energy sources and incorporate green power educational opportunities for schools,” power authority President and CEO Richard Kessel said in a statement.

When fully installed, the project would generate the equivalent of enough power for 15,000 homes, officials said.

Developers would install, own and operate the photovoltaic systems, and sell the energy and environmental attributes to the power authority subject to a 20-year power purchase agreement, officials said.

Installations are expected to begin this year and be completed by the end of 2014.

Proposals must be submitted by April 9, with awards expected to be made at the September meeting of the authority’s board of trustees.

“The future economy of this state and nation will prosper or decline based upon our level of commitment to advancing the development of green technologies and supporting energy independence,” said Michael Townsend, the Rochester-based chairman of the board.

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