Commentary: New York hit its goal on distributed solar. That's great — now let's keep going.

As the country celebrated its 250th anniversary, solar was our savior. We were close to not having enough energy to support our need to keep cool as the temperatures soared over 100 degrees. But solar reduced our peak demand by nearly 8% — and saved ratepayers from paying an additional $200 million for electricity, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency.

As our summers get hotter, we find ourselves asking the same daunting question every year: Can New York’s energy grid hold up during a heat wave?

Solar energy has been stepping up when New Yorkers needed it most, helping keep the grid reliable while responding to near-record demand.

Data from the New York Independent System Operator, which manages the state power grid, shows that rooftop and community solar projects cut statewide peak electricity demand by more than four gigawatts. Solar supplied 15% of statewide electricity demand during peak hours on the hottest day of the heat wave, according to data from Grid Status. This is what a cleaner, more resilient grid looks like: air conditioners running full blast, powered by solar generation across New York.

Improving energy efficiency and using energy conservation programs will continue to play an important role during periods of extreme demand, and utilities were right to ask customers to use electricity wisely during recent heat waves. But the long-term solution is to keep building clean-energy infrastructure.

That’s why, with the state on pace to blow past its community solar goal, New York should set a new, higher target that tells developers and workers this market still has room to grow.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that New York has installed eight gigawatts of distributed solar statewide, a milestone reached years ahead of schedule on our way to a goal of 10 gigawatts. Just a few years ago, that seemed ambitious. But more than 276,000 solar projects were built by skilled union workers across New York, turning clean-energy plans into reality while generating roughly $12 billion in economic activity and supporting about 16,000 jobs statewide.

This year’s budget includes $200 million to strengthen the state’s NY-Sun incentive program. The next step is turning that investment into projects New Yorkers can build so that more clean energy can come online.

We also need to make it easier to build these projects. Too many solar developments spend months or even years working through permitting processes that add unnecessary costs and delays. Permitting reforms will modernize our system so projects move forward at a faster pace.

Together, those steps mean more family-sustaining union jobs, more reliable electricity, cleaner air and a stronger grid for New Yorkers.

New York has built one of the nation’s leading distributed solar programs. But we can’t stop at 10 gigawatts. Let’s build on that success by setting a more ambitious solar goal. Let’s build the clean-energy future our state depends on.

Julie Tighe is president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. Vinny Albanese is the executive director of the New York State Laborers Political Action Committee.