Albany, NY – New York State Sen. Pete Harckham and Assemblywoman Judy Griffin announced today that their legislation, championed by youth climate activists, to help school districts deploy renewable energy and energy conservation measures has been signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.  

The new law, also known as the Students for Solar Act, will extend the time period for the guaranteed recovery of energy performance contract costs from energy savings incurred by school districts, making more projects economically viable for districts.

The time extension approved in the new law, from 18 years to 25 years, falls in line with federal standards and will benefit school districts interested in installing solar energy systems in schools. Not only is the initiative a tremendous cost-saver, as solar energy is far less expensive than the use of fossil fuels, it is also in line with New York’s decades-long transition to renewable forms of energy as part of the effort to save money and fight the climate crisis.

“It’s time to help school districts that are ready to commit to renewable energy projects like solar for their buildings, and that’s what this new law does,” said Senator Harckham. “Along with assisting in the fight against climate change, these renewables will end up saving taxpayer dollars year after year. I thank Governor Hochul for signing the bill and Assemblywoman Griffin for her strong partnership with this legislation. But most of all, I am proud of the student advocates whose hard work and concern about their environment helped spur this initiative.”

Harckham added, “Truly, this is a great example of young people driving change that will benefit us all.”

“After nearly a decade of championing this common-sense, cost-saving legislation with Senator Pete Harckham, I am extremely proud to see it cross the finish line,” said Assemblywoman Griffin. “School districts across our state are facing significant financial pressure, and this measure is an effective way to save districts money, which prevents passing costs on to local taxpayers. Extending the recovery period for school energy performance contracts from 18 to 25 years makes more energy upgrade projects financially feasible, helping districts invest in modern, energy efficient infrastructure. These lower energy bills offer long-term savings for school districts directing more resources to students.”

Added Assemblywoman. Griffin, “This is a win for taxpayers, for schools, the environment, the work force, and the clean energy economy. I thank all the school districts and organizations for advocating for this legislation, especially the Students for Climate Action, whose fierce support for renewable energy initiatives highlights the strength of youth advocacy. I appreciate Senator Harckham’s leadership in carrying this bill through the Senate chamber, and thank Governor Hochul for recognizing the importance of this measure.”

Harckham noted that the legislation (S.1986 / A.6318), also known as the Students for Solar Act, was prompted by advocacy from high schoolers in a group originally called Students for Solar, and then later known as Students for Climate Action (S4CA). Members of the group have been closely following the bill’s progress through the legislative process.

Energy performance contracts have been a successful way for municipalities and school districts to lower their costs while improving efficiency. Energy performance contracts use the projected savings from the performance contract to pay for the project, which is often significantly cheaper than the previous energy costs.

Formerly, state law required that energy performance contracts must guarantee the recovery of contract costs from energy savings during a contract term of not more than 18 years. Harckham and Griffin’s new law will allow contracts to not exceed more than 25 years, the same as the federal government.

The extension would have numerous benefits, such as energy efficiency and reducing operating costs. These contracts help schools avoid significant upfront costs for renewable energy projects, like solar energy installations, and allow for reinvestments over time.  Furthermore, contracts usually result in reduced maintenance costs and a decrease in the number of emergency repairs.

Melissa Parrott, Executive Director of Students for Climate Action, said, “We thank Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Griffin for championing this bill since day one. I am proud of the students who kept advocating for it. They never stopped; every year, they were back at it, meeting with elected leaders, stakeholders, and engineering firms, all to help get this bill over the finish line. The Students for Solar Act will help school districts implement renewable energy, reducing costs and fossil fuel use while helping to mitigate climate change. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for signing this bill into law.”

Harrison G. Bench, Deputy Executive Director of Students for Climate Action, said, “The Students for Solar Act will give hundreds of schools around New York the flexibility to pursue renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades at their facilities. This means cleaner air, lower bills, and a future that young New Yorkers can count on. S4CA thanks Senator Harckham and Assemblymember Griffin for their advocacy, the State Legislature for passing the bill unanimously, and Governor Hochul for signing it into law. But most importantly, we applaud the hundreds of student activists who worked tirelessly over the past seven years to turn their idea into reality. You did it!”

Aanya Dhamija, S4CA activist and recent North Babylon High School graduate, said, “After years of calls, emails, and meetings with legislators, the Students for Solar Act becoming law is a testament to how powerful it is to make yourself heard. I hope it shows every student who takes pride in caring for the environment that countless opportunities are waiting for them. And for me, it proved to my 2nd-grade self that cleaning up for Earth Day could lead to this moment of making a real impact.”

Prisha Chadha, S4CA activist and junior at Commack High School, said, “I started making calls and sending emails about the Students for Solar Act when I was a freshman, and I'll admit, I didn't know if it would actually go anywhere. But we kept showing up, meeting after meeting, year after year, and now it’s law. It means a lot to know that students were taken seriously, and I hope it shows other young people that you don't have to wait until you're an adult to make a real difference.”