Kingston announces community solar program for city residents

Jasmine Graham was quoted in the Times Union.

​The Kingston Community Solar program will connect residents to the Moores Hill Community Solar Project, a 3,750-kilowatt solar farm in New Windsor currently being constructed by Lodestar Energy. Community solar credits will be applied directly to participants’ Central Hudson utility bills each month to offset their usage charges. Savings will begin in 2024, once the solar project is operational, and will continue for 20 years, according to the release.

The city projects up to 15 percent savings on monthly electricity bills.

The program is the first phase of Kingston Community Energy, the city’s community choice aggregation initiative. To implement this program, Kingston has partnered with Mid-Hudson Energy Transition, a Kingston-based nonprofit organization, to serve as the community choice aggregation administrator, as well as PowerMarket, a community solar provider. The two companies will oversee community outreach, manage the enrollment process and handle program administration.

“Mid-Hudson Energy Transition is proud to launch the first phase of Kingston Community Energy in collaboration with the city of Kingston. This marks a pivotal step in our mission to provide affordable, renewable energy to everyone, especially underserved communities,” Executive Director Jasmine Graham said in a statement.

Read more here.