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ELMSFORD, N.Y. SolarCity has announced its expansion into Elmsford and is now offering jobs and energy to Westchester County residents.
SolarCity expanded to the East Coast last year from its California headquarters and has been fully operational in its Elmsford location since mid-August. With its official launch, the company is now open to Westchester residents to explore its opportunities, said Ed Steins, northeastern regional vice president.
What's unique to the company is its "SolarLease" option, which offers customers consultation, installation and maintenance of solar panels, all for no down payment and a cheaper monthly cost than utility power, he said.
"They'll get a monthly bill from us for clean energy at least 10 percent less than they pay for dirty energy," Steins said.
The company's leasing system opens up options for middle-class people who may not have been able to afford solar energy, but are seeking an environmentally friendly way to power their homes and businesses.
"This is energy that is produced in a renewable way," Steins said. "We're using the power of the sun, not burning any natural gas or fossil fuels, to create electricity."
The expansion follows Gov. Andrew Cuomo's clean energy efforts in August when he signed the NY-Sun Initiative, intended to drive growth in the solar industry and make solar technology more affordable.
Unlike Solyndra, a solar-cell manufacturer that went bankrupt last September, SolarCity does not build the solar panels. Instead, it buys them in bulk so that it can offer cheaper leasing prices to its customers, Steins said.
In addition to cleaner energy, the facility at 203 Ridgewood Drive still has 22 positions open for installers, electricians, construction managers and other jobs. As a training center, the building will temporarily bring in SolarCity employees from throughout the East Coast.
The company is planning to open a second New York location. The Long Island location is awaiting approval by the Long Island Power Authority, Steins said.
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