By William Opalka

The New York Public Service Commission on Thursday approved rules designed to allow low- and moderate-income apartment dwellers to own renewable energy projects (15-E-0082).

The program, also known as community distributed generation, is part of New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision initiative to revamp the energy landscape with more clean and distributed generation resources. (See New York PSC Bars Utility Ownership of Distributed Energy Resources.)

“Shared Renewables places customers who do not own homes on an equal footing with traditional single-home customers and creates opportunities for low- and moderate-income families who don’t have access to electricity generated from renewable resources,” PSC Chair Audrey Zibelman said.

Customers can band together to form larger groups that share in the benefits of renewable energy projects, such as solar energy installations and wind farms.

The plan contemplates “community solar” projects, where solar panels are erected on a shared site, such as a vacant lot, with the economic benefits shared among its participants.

Under the first phase of the program, from Oct. 19 through April 30, 2016, projects will be limited to those that site distributed generation in areas where it can provide the greatest benefits to the power grid or support economically distressed communities (at least 20% participation by low- and moderate-income customers).

A second phase beginning May 1, 2016, will make shared renewable projects available throughout entire utility service territories.

The program was proposed in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2015 State of Opportunity Agenda. “This program is about protecting the environment and ensuring that all New Yorkers, regardless of their zip code or income, have the opportunity to access clean and affordable power,” he said.