New York grid records highest output from solar power

The grid operator of New York state said on Tuesday that the grid recorded its highest output from solar energy last week.

New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) announced that for one hour on May 18, the grid produced 3,330 megawatts (MW) of solar power, meeting about 20% of its requirement.

NYISO said that could provide electricity to between 2.7 million and 3.3 million homes.

The higher solar production takes the Empire state closer to the targets outlined in its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which mandates the generation of 70% of power from renewable energy sources by 2030 and all power from clean sources by 2040.

At present 60% of the electricity generated within New York is produced from clean sources, but the state has much stricter targets, including a roadmap to reach Net Zero.

The climate act, signed in 2019, tasks New York with reducing emissions to 40% below its 1990 levels by 2030 and to 85% below its 1990 levels by 2050. For the balance 15%, the state envisions offsets instead of reductions, with moves such as planting trees and carbon capture.