Nonprofit Citizens Energy announces new low-income community solar site in New York

Citizens’ JOE-4-SUN program will provide much-needed electricity savings to families, make renewable energy more accessible
Boston, Mass. – With Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado (NY), Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Global Partners CEO Eric Slifka, Citizens Energy today announced their latest low-income community solar site in Albany, New York. The site, at Global Partner’s Albany terminal, will supply electricity bill credits to low-income families in upstate New York as part of Citizens’ JOE-4-SUN program, which is now enrolling qualified households to save up to 20% off their monthly utility bill.
The JOE-4-SUN program extends the benefits of green energy to low-income families without the need of rooftop solar panels on their home or changing their utility provider. Instead, Citizens Energy develops, finances, constructs, owns and operates utility-scale, ground-mounted projects that generate renewable energy and provide reduced electricity costs to communities across the country. Already, the JOE-4-SUN program is providing electric savings to 2,200 households in New York and Massachusetts.
“Citizens Energy is removing barriers to clean energy here in New York and across the country,” said Joe Kennedy III, President of Citizens Energy. “It’s critical that we not only take part in a clean energy transition, but an equitable one. Too often, renewable energy is out of reach for low-income and marginalized communities, but with our Albany solar array and JOE-4-SUN program, we make it easy to tap into renewable energy and save on electricity bills.”
“I was proud to be in Albany today to celebrate the launch of Citizens Energy’s JOE-4-SUN program in our Capital Region – a groundbreaking effort that will bring solar power to low-income households in our community,” said Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20). “Citizens Energy’s innovative model is a prime example of how sustainable energy solutions can help power communities across our nation while providing families with significant savings on their home energy bills, and I’m thrilled to support their mission here in Albany.”
“Community solar programs like JOE-4-SUN ensure that the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy are accessible to all,” said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado (NY). “We are excited to see this project come to New York and look forward to giving low-income residents the opportunity to utilize solar energy at no cost.”
Founded by former U.S. Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II in 1979, Citizens Energy is a non-profit energy company helping Americans afford life’s basic necessities. They have distributed over $600 million in charitable benefits to programs and families in need, and now are extending their reach with the addition of the new solar array in Albany at the Global Partners terminal.
“We appreciate the intentional, focused outreach that Citizens Energy is conducting to ensure the project will benefit Albany residents,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “The City of Albany is committed to the development of innovative and collaborative efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the impacts of climate change.”
In partnership with Global Partners, Citizens Energy has redeveloped this brownfield, converting the former fossil fuel storage site into a facility that will use clean solar energy to help decrease low-income Albany families’ energy costs for the next 20 years.
“We’re proud to partner with Citizens Energy and provide the land on which this solar farm is built,” said Eric Slifka, Global Partners LP President and CEO. “The clean energy created here benefits families in need and will make a tangible difference to ensure the affordability of their energy. Supporting the communities where we work and live is ingrained in Global’s DNA, and this initiative underscores our dedication to ensuring families have access to affordable energy.”
For more information about the JOE-4-SUN program, visit the website or call (855) JOE-4-SUN.
About Citizens Energy
Established in 1979 by former U.S. Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II, Citizens Energy Corporation is a non-profit energy company that develops for-profit business ventures to fund charitable assistance programs for low-income households and traditionally marginalized communities. Since its founding, Citizens has provided over $600 million in funding to those in need.
With a mission to make life’s basic needs more accessible and affordable, Citizens funds, develops, and builds renewable energy and high-voltage transmission projects that support a just clean-energy transition. They own and operate America’s largest low-income community solar project in California’s Imperial Valley and are Massachusetts’ largest low-income community solar developer and operator.