Clean Energy Collective (CEC) has announced it is taking the lead in offering New York ratepayers the ability to participate in solar generation through community shared solar projects. Development is already underway on more than a dozen project sites from the five boroughs of New York City to Upstate, serving residential and commercial customers in the Con Edison, NGRID Niagara Mohawk, Central Hudson, and Orange and Rockland territories.

Prompted by New York's newly enacted Shared Renewables program, CEC is bringing its popular Roofless Solar solution to the state, empowering residential and business consumers to tap the financial and environmental benefits of local shared renewable energy generation-regardless of income level, home or business location, or property ownership.

Roofless Solar enables anyone with an electric bill to enjoy all the benefits and savings of solar without the installation of panels on their roof or property. Participants share in the energy production of a commercial grade solar array that is optimally positioned for maximum sun exposure in or near their community. Participants then receive guaranteed bill credits applied directly to their monthly electric bill, saving thousands of dollars over the life of the program.

"New York is leading the nation in updating its electric grid for the 21st century, and this community solar program is an important step in that direction," said Clean Energy Collective's founder and CEO Paul Spencer. "We are excited to serve such a large and diverse market with roofless community solar, knowing that schools, businesses, local governments, and families across New York are looking for more accessible and affordable energy solutions."

Part of Governor Cuomo's Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative aimed at modernizing the state's electricity infrastructure, the Shared Renewables program allows any energy customer to participate in a centrally-located renewable energy project and receive a credit for their portion of the clean energy produced on their utility bill.

The new policy empowers ratepayers like renters, families and businesses in multi-unit buildings, and homeowners with shaded roofs with access to the financial and environmental advantages of clean local energy production through community solar.

Substantial and rapid growth is expected from the state's massive potential customer base, boasting some 8 million electricity ratepayers statewide. A significant number of these are in New York City, where less than 5% of customers can actually put solar on their roof yet 100% have the opportunity to sign up for community solar.

As the world's leading developer of roofless solar solutions, CEC has demonstrated that they understand this market and its many complicated issues. CEC introduced the country's first community-owned solar project in 2010, and now has built or has under development more than 100 community solar projects with 25 utility partners across 11 states, representing more than 130 MW of community solar capacity.

"We have seen firsthand the positive impacts community solar brings to local communities," Spencer added. "It's more than just clean power and lower electric bills, it provides an enhanced quality of life for everyone and aids in sustainable economic growth."