Mayor Galime and the City of Utica along with the Executive Director of the Utica Industrial Development Agency, Jack Spaeth announce the Community Solar Campaign.

UTICA, NY – November 6, 2024 – The City of Utica today announced the launch of a community solar initiative designed to bring the benefits of community solar to the residents of Utica. This initiative offers Utica residents, homeowners and renters alike, a simple way to reduce their energy bills by up to 10 percent while supporting renewable energy—without the need to install solar panels on their property. Additionally, residents in public assistance programs like SNAP, SSI, or HEAP can increase their savings rate to 20%.

“The City of Utica Community Solar Initiative is about doing the right thing for our community by returning real benefits to our residents," said Mayor Michael P. Galime. "This initiative provides a valuable opportunity for our residents to save money at a time when it would be especially welcome. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this program and see firsthand how it can positively impact their energy costs."

Participating residents will receive a portion of the energy generated by the solar project in the form of credits on their National Grid bill. These credits, which are proportionate to household usage, directly reduce monthly energy costs.

The campaign will utilize posters, flyers, letter-based outreach, and social media to encourage enrollment. PowerMarket will manage customer subscriptions, provide outreach assistance, and offer customer support services.

Residents are encouraged to sign up now to secure their spot, as enrollment is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will be connected to a range of community solar projects, including operational projects in Cicero, Chaumont, and Auburn, NY. Additionally, the Ingraham Project in Troy, NY, is expected to begin operations in December 2024. Savings on electricity bills will typically start 2-3 months after enrollement or once the project goes live.

"At PowerMarket, we specialize in making community solar accessible and beneficial for everyone involved," said Brad Tito, Director of Community Energy at PowerMarket. "Our team is dedicated to providing seamless customer support and ensuring that residents can easily participate and start saving on their energy bills. We're excited to bring our expertise to the City of Utica and help make this initiative a success."

For questions about the city’s involvement, please contact the Mayor’s Office at (315) 734-9250 or mayor@cityofutica.com. For questions about the enrollment process, please call (888) 487-1192 or email greenstreet@powermarket.io.

To learn more about the campaign and to sign up, visit powermarket.io/utica.html.