At a solar jobs fair in Syracuse on Thursday, local business leaders, environmental advocates and labor union representatives announced they are joining forces to ramp up solar energy in New York State.

Solar remains a largely untapped energy resource in New York.Specifically, the groups are rallying behind the New York Solar Jobs Coalition's call to expand clean energy to help improve the environment and create new, sustainable jobs. The New York Solar Jobs Coalition is an historic collaboration of organized labor, the solar industry and environmental organizations working to promote and develop good jobs in the clean energy economy.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration recently announced a two-year solar plan to double the amount of solar capacity in New York by the end of this year, and to quadruple it by the end of 2013. Just last week, the Public Service Commission approved a request to double funding for customer-sited solar electric systems -- known as solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems -- to $432 million over the next four years. 

In addition, the state Assembly this week introduced the Solar Industry Development & Jobs Act to help create thousands of new solar jobs and jumpstart investment in New York’s growing solar energy industry. The legislation requires that 3,000 megawatts be installed on the grid by 2021— enough to power over 300,000 households.

Solar energy is one of NYLCV's top legislative priorities for Albany this year.