Central Hudson Gas & Electric reaches major clean energy milestone

Central Hudson Gas & Electric in Upstate New York reached a major renewable energy milestone in January, reaching the plateau of having 10,000 interconnected solar energy sources now online.

Specifically, there are now 10,214 solar and paired energy storage systems within the service area with an installed capacity of 162 megawatts (MW). This supplies about three to four percent of the region’s electric consumption. It will also reduce carbon emissions by 40,000 tons.

“Central Hudson’s service area is home to among the highest levels of solar development and interconnected renewable resources in New York State on a per capita basis,” Central Hudson President and CEO Charles Freni said. “With many more proposed projects on the way, we must continue to invest in our electrical system to expand the interconnection capacity in order to support this demand and further reduce our carbon footprint.”

In the coming years, company officials said the total capacity of interconnected renewable energy sources within Central Hudson’s service area could triple. Currently, an additional 201 MW of solar capacity is proposed for Central Hudson’s distribution grid, as well as an additional 230 MW from larger-scale projects on the transmission system.

Central Hudson is primed to meet New York State’s climate goals, which are among the most ambitious in the nation. New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) sets a goal of an 85 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions target by 2050.

“Achieving these targets requires the combined efforts of residents, businesses, and organizations alike throughout the state,” Freni said. “Actions we can all take include the adoption of new, clean technologies and managing energy use in all we do, from driving to heating our homes to how we use electricity.”