The Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power Act is Estimated to Save New Yorkers $1 Billion a Year on Utility Bills and Reduce our Reliance on Expensive, Volatile Fossil Fuels

NEW YORK - As Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature continue to negotiate the FY2027 State Budget, a coalition of over 50 environmental, labor, and civic organizations, led by the New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA), is calling on state leaders to pass the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act in the State Budget. The coalition has met with lawmakers in Albany multiple times over the past few weeks, including recently hand delivering a letter to Governor Hochul outlining their request.

The Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act (S.6570-A/A.8758-A) would expand access to rooftop and community (“distributed”) solar energy by modernizing interconnection to lower costs, incentivizing solar development, and ensuring there is equitable distribution of renewable energy benefits. New York currently has nearly 8 gigawatts of rooftop and community solar up and running, and the State is on track to achieve its 10 gigawatt by 2030 goal 3-years ahead of schedule. The legislation would increase New York State’s distributed solar target to 20 gigawatts by 2035, ensuring continued growth in a proven and successful clean energy sector. 

A January 2026 analysis by Synapse Energy Economics found that deploying 20 gigawatts of rooftop and community solar would save New Yorkers $1 billion per year in avoided energy costs, savings that flow to all ratepayers through lower wholesale electricity prices.

In addition to helping bring down skyrocketing utility prices, the increased investment in solar energy, as prescribed by the ASAP Act, would reduce New York State’s exposure to global fossil‑fuel price swings brought about by the current war in the Middle East.

The ASAP Act is sponsored by Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Didi Barrett, along with 84 cosponsors in the Senate and Assembly. 

Noah Ginsburg, Executive Director of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association said: “Many New Yorkers do not realize that investing in clean energy and creating a more affordable New York actually go hand-in-hand. Distributed solar is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal to give New Yorkers relief from rising utility rates. By passing the ASAP Act in the State Budget, New York can make meaningful investments in clean energy, reduce our dependence on expensive and volatile fossil fuels, and save ratepayers $1 billion a year in utility costs. That’s why over 50 environmental, civic, labor, and business groups have come together to encourage our leaders to make this commonsense investment in the future of New York. We thank Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Barrett for their leadership on this issue and strongly encourage Governor Hochul to include the ASAP Act in her final budget.”

Senator Pete Harckham, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation, said:  “The ASAP Act is receiving wide support statewide because it will save residents over $1 billion annually, enhance grid reliability and create well-paying jobs and new industries in New York. It will lead to cleaner, healthier air to breathe in communities as well. All this and the risks inherent with fossil-fuel dependency make our commitment to solar energy needed more today than ever before.”

Assemblymember Didi Barrett, Chair of the Assembly’s Energy Committee, said: “With an unprecedented energy affordability crisis and a hostile federal administration set on hindering our efforts to combat climate change, it is critical that New York State double down on the success of distributed solar – the only climate goal we’ve been able to meet and exceed – and streamline the interconnection process to get these projects online quicker. The ASAP Act is a win-win-win for New York, and I stand with my colleagues and advocates from across the state in urging its inclusion in the Final 2026-27 New York State Budget!”

Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said: “New Yorkers can’t afford another year of rising energy bills. The ASAP Act would deliver real savings for families by expanding clean, locally generated solar power and reducing our reliance on volatile fossil fuels. Community solar is already working across New York, and we hit our goals ahead of schedule. Now is the time to build on that success. We need to advance the ASAP Act in the final budget and deliver the relief New Yorkers need.”

Donato A. Bianco Jr., Vice President and New England Regional Manager of Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), said: "The inclusion of the ASAP Act in the finalized state budget will further incentivize distributed solar development, creating family-supporting construction jobs in the renewable energy sector, while also assisting the state in reaching a zero emissions future. We urge the Governor and Legislature to act in the best interest of workers, the economy and the environment, and include this critical proposal in the FY 2026-27 budget."

Kate Daniel, Northeast Regional Director of Coalition for Community Solar Access, said: “Easy answers are rare — but there is at least one in the ASAP Act. This legislation would reduce energy costs for all New Yorkers, increase access to bill savings for low- and moderate-income customers, and lean into the state’s most successful energy sector to drive progress toward our climate commitments. This win-win-win is why the ASAP Act has such broad support, and we urge the Legislature and Governor Hochul to include it in the final budget.”

Ruthie DeWit, Director of Northeast State Affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association, said: “Rooftop and community solar are tailor-made for this moment, when energy demand is surging and electricity prices are rising fast. By doubling down on these quick to deploy and affordable to build energy resources, the ASAP Act is a win-win for New York ratepayers, grid reliability, and our environment.”