The New York Power Authority announced on Wednesday a statewide solar plan with the potential to power 15,000 homes from the sun by 2014, in the form of its 100 MW Solar Photovoltaic Initiative. The NYPA has called for proposals from developers to install, own and operate solar photovoltaic arrays on primarily publicly owned buildings, such as schools, local government facilities and municipal electric utilities. The electricity generated from these solar panels would then be sold to the NYPA under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA), with development for the initiative beginning this year and set to finish in 2014.

From the press release:

Richard M. Kessel, NYPA president and chief executive officer, said: “Through this solar initiative, the New York Power Authority is working toward Governor Paterson’s 45 by 15 goal and helping build the solar industry in New York State. This initiative will advance the development of the solar industry and clean energy jobs throughout the state, will further help diversify our energy sources and incorporate green power educational opportunities for our schools.”

The Governor’s “45 by 15″ program aims for New York to obtain 45 percent of its electricity through “energy efficiency and clean renewable energy,” a target that even California would find challenging, given its widely expected inability to meet its own RPS goal of 20 percent by 2010. Will the NYPA be up to the challenge? With its recent Request for Proposals (RFP), the power organization is indicating that it is casting a wide net for bids: projects in Western New York, Northern New York, Central New York, Southeast New York and New York City are all eligible. The deadline for RFP responses is April 22.

“A sustainable future for New York requires bold initiatives which will increase the deployment of clean energy,” Governor Paterson said. “The New York Power Authority’s advancement of this, the largest solar initiative in State history, aligns with the State Energy Plan’s direction to increase in-State energy supplies. In doing so, this initiative will support growth in the clean energy industry and promote job creation, diversify our energy portfolio and support our energy independence.”

New York, the next hotbed of solar? We’ll keep our ears to the ground.