New York Senate Approves ASAP Act for Solar Energy Expansion
The New York State Senate has passed the ASAP Act, aiming for 20 GW of solar energy capacity by 2035. This legislation seeks to streamline interconnection processes and reduce deployment costs for distributed energy resources (DERs).

On April 21, 2026, the New York State Senate approved the Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act, targeting 20 gigawatts (GW) of distributed solar energy capacity by 2035, up from the current 10 GW goal. The Act mandates the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) to implement reforms to reduce interconnection times and costs for DERs, including solar and energy storage systems.
The PSC must ensure continuous funding for the NY-Sun Program, which supports the new capacity goal. The ASAP Act requires the PSC to enhance cost transparency by mandating electric corporations to report on grid upgrade costs necessary for interconnecting new DERs.
Furthermore, it aims to establish a flexible interconnection program utilizing smart-grid technology to optimize DER management, potentially increasing hosting capacity while minimizing costs. The PSC is also tasked with defining a distribution system voltage threshold of 69KV to facilitate retail compensation for more DER projects.
These reforms could significantly mitigate cost risks associated with DER deployment, supporting the achievement of the 20 GW target with reduced reliance on the NY-Sun program.




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