Governor Andrew Cuomo on July 16 announced a new program, allowing individuals, schools, or businesses to join together on small-scale renewable energy projects to share costs and savings. “The Shared Renewables initiative will help people and communities across the state save money on local clean energy projects,” Cuomo said in a press release. “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. Together, we will build a cleaner and greener New York.” The state's solar capacity grew 300 percent between 2011 and 2014 without the program. Now different groups can work on local solar, wind, and other renewable energy projects. Each individual member’s production would appear as a credit on their monthly utility bill. The first phase of Shared Renewables will focus on promoting low-income customer participation and installations in areas of the power grid that can benefit most from local power production. Beginning May 1, 2016, a second phase will make shared renewable projects available throughout the state. There's more information about the program at www.ny.gov/REV4NY.