Solstice Power Technologies and Delaware River Solar (DRS) have partnered to offer NYSEG customers one-year community solar contracts without cancellation fees, marking a new milestone in U.S. solar accessibility.

Community solar allows residents to enroll in a local, shared solar array and see consistent savings on their electric bill—without paying any upfront costs or making any changes to their property. The Laurens, New York, project will serve 400 households across Otsego, Delaware, Chenango and surrounding counties, and its one-year, no cancellation fee contracts will allow renters to participate without fear of getting stuck with a contract that they can’t take with them if they move.

The Laurens project is Delaware River Solar’s third community solar project in the state, and the third for which the local New York State solar developer has partnered with Solstice to sign up area households. Solstice is a socially-minded organization that is expanding solar access by running inclusive solar enrollment campaigns and driving financial and policy innovations to combat structural barriers to low-income solar participation.

In addition to the clean, renewable energy and energy bill savings that it will bring to area residents, Delaware River Solar spokesperson Cindy Menges said that the project would bring $300,000 in additional revenue to the town, create 37 full-time construction jobs during the project’s installation phase, and protect 13 acres of unused farmland for future use.

DRS plans to begin construction early this month and complete the project in the fourth quarter.

Solstice co-founder & CEO Steph Speirs said, “We’re incredibly excited to again be partnering with Delaware River Solar to offer some of the nation’s most inclusive community solar contracts. We’ve been working for years to make renter-friendly contracts a reality, and we’re grateful to have such a great partner in pushing this work forward.”

“Solstice brings a breadth of experience and depth of understanding in the community solar market, and we are pleased to partner with them again to make solar available to everyone. Outreach and education are a key strength of Solstice and helping everyone in New York understand the benefits of community solar environmentally and financially is very important to us both. We look forward to continuing a great partnership,” said Cindy Menges, director of community relations for DRS.

Residents who wish to go solar can contact Solstice at (607) 398-0597, email outreach@solstice.us, or visit the following website to get started www.solstice.us/go-solar

News item from Solstice