Western NY Solar Symposium

Between the Inflation Reduction Act and New York's nation-leading clean energy programs, Western New York's solar industry is poised for growth, offering significant economic, workforce development, and environmental benefits to the region. Join leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors for an afternoon of networking, panel discussions, and presentations about the challenges and opportunities for scaling up solar power in the region.

AGENDA

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Tour of the Niagara Power Vista Facility with NYPA (optional) 

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Light Lunch and Networking 

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Welcome and New York Solar Industry Briefing

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM - Community Solar Challenges and Opportunities

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM - Networking Break

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM - Rooftop Solar for Western NY Homes and Businesses

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM - Closing Remarks

5:00 PM - Happy Hour (location TBD)

Community Solar Challenges and Opportunities

New York has the largest community solar market in the United States, and Western New York is the heart of the industry, with a growing number of ground-mount community solar projects in the region. Scaling up community solar in the region promises to provide local businesses and residents with utility bill savings while delivering economic development benefits to host communities and the local workforce. However, Western New York’s community solar industry faces significant challenges, including rising interconnection costs, municipal opposition due to concerns about land use changes, and a shortage of skilled workers. Join us for an in-depth discussion about these challenges and how we can overcome them with experts from the solar industry, labor, utility companies, and municipal leaders.

Rooftop Solar for Western NY Homes, Businesses and Institutions

As New York homeowners, businesses and institutions face rising energy costs, rooftop solar can be a great way to lower electricity bills while protecting the environment. While community solar has taken off in Western New York, rooftop solar has lagged behind. Join this conversation with business leaders, New York agency personnel, and the solar industry to learn about the barriers to rooftop solar in the region, how local businesses are overcoming these barriers, and what policies and programs are needed to accelerate rooftop solar adoption.