Community Distributed Generation (CDG) under VDER · NY Public Service Commission · NYSERDA · NY-Sun
The largest community solar market in the country. Compensation runs through the Value Stack (VDER) with strong inclusive-community-solar adders for low-to-moderate income subscribers.
Project cap
Up to 5 MW AC
Typical savings
5–25% off subscriber supply rate
LMI requirement
Inclusive community solar adder for LMI
Utilities
Con Ed · NYSEG · RG&E · NGrid · O&R · Central Hudson
Program overview
New York's Community Distributed Generation (CDG) program is administered by the Public Service Commission and supported by NYSERDA's NY-Sun initiative. Projects are compensated through the Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) 'Value Stack,' which combines energy, capacity, environmental, demand-reduction, and locational components into a per-kWh credit. Updated CDG VDER procedural requirements took effect June 1, 2025.
The laws & rules
Established the Value Stack methodology that replaces traditional net metering for new CDG projects. Credit values vary by zone, time-of-day, and project vintage.
CDG projects capped at 5 MW AC. Subscribers and project must be in the same utility service territory and load zone.
NYSERDA pays an additional incentive for projects that serve a minimum percentage of LMI subscribers, affordable housing, or disadvantaged-community customers.
PSC's Uniform Business Practices for DER Suppliers govern disclosure, transferability, cancellation rights, and subscriber dispute resolution.
Utilities we deliver in
Con Edison · NYSEG · Rochester Gas & Electric · National Grid · Orange & Rockland · Central Hudson
What Cannon does in New York
Site control, SEQRA review coordination, interconnection CESIR navigation, and zone/load-zone optimization for Value Stack maximization.
Ground-mount community solar across upstate utility territories, prevailing-wage compliant where required, with NY-Sun adder qualification baked into design.
CANOS handles 24/7 SCADA, snow management, and OEM warranty work - critical for upstate sites. We onboard third-party-built assets in 30–60 days.
Inclusive Community Solar adder compliance, Consolidated Billing setup, and credit allocation across multi-zone portfolios.
Why we win New York
Value Stack modeling we can defend to a sponsor or IE
Inclusive Community Solar Adder qualification handled end-to-end
Snow + ice O&M experience that transactional EPCs don't have