New York State Bridge Authority plans solar array at Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. >> The New York State Bridge Authority plans to start of construction on a 486-kilowatt solar panel array at the west end of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge.

The array is expected to generate about 26 percent of the electricity currently used by the authority.

The project cost is estimated at $117,000 and the investment will be paid off in 13 years by the energy savings realized during that period, officials say. The project is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Clean Energy Standard, which requires 50 percent of New York’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, by 2030.

The Clean Energy Standard was established to help fight climate change, reduce harmful air pollution, and ensure a diverse and reliable energy supply, according to a Bridge Authority press release.

Construction of the solar array is expected to be completed by the end of the year.