Community Solar Campaign II

In November 2021, the Taghkanic Climate Smart Communities task force partnered with Ampion Solar to mount a community solar campaign. We succeeded in signing up 44 residents and, as a result, received a $5,000 grant from NYSERDA. Because of the popularity of community solar across the state and red tape that has delayed new solar farms connecting to the electrical grid, many residents who signed up are still waiting to be assigned to an active solar farm. This led us to seek a different provider who could help us get residents connected sooner.

This year we are partnering with Solstice to help our community members lower their electricity bills. Solstice helps individuals sign up for the New York Community Solar Program, which allows households and businesses to reduce their electricity costs and support green energy without installing solar panels on their home. The program is voluntary and free to join. Even if you are currently waitlisted with Ampion, you can still sign up with Solstice. Whichever provider has an opening first will assign you to a farm.

Doug Craig, Chair of the Taghkanic Climate Smart Committee, is encouraging everyone to sign up for this new program: "If Taghkanic helps 50 households to sign up for community solar, we will qualify for a $10,000 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant to fund sustainability projects. You’ll notice no difference in electrical service, just a savings of up to 10%. It’s a win for the climate, Taghkanic, and you.”

Thanks to Taghkanic’s partnership with Solstice, everyone who signs up will receive a $50 VISA gift card, and the town will also receive $50 per sign up, fueling more green projects for our community.

Those who sign up for community solar with Solstice will be assigned a portion of a shared solar farm in NY. As your portion of the solar farm produces clean energy for the utility grid, you will receive reductions on your electricity bills.

Key details:

• Low commitment: Free to sign up and no cost to cancel 

• Monthly electricity bill reductions up to 10% 

• No installation: you don’t need to install solar panels on your roof

• Who’s eligible: Renters and homeowners in Central Hudson, NYSEG, and National Grid

• Who’s not eligible: households that have rooftop solar

• No change to your utility provider

To learn more and sign up, please visit solstice.us/tagh!

Due to anticipated high demand for the community solar program, interested community members are encouraged to take prompt action. Any questions should be directed to Solstice - you can call them at (866) 826-1997 and reference our referral code: TAGH.

Help us hit our goal of 50 sign-ups for Taghkanic to receive the $10,000 grant!