Rooftop solar panels in New York City. Photo courtesy of AtisSun Inc.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is projecting that with the newly approved 10 photovoltaic energy systems scheduled for installations on 10 city-owned community service buildings, the city’s annual solar power production will increase to 648 kilowatts (kWh) – tripling the city’s current solar energy production.
The mayor also said this will “cut 205 metric tons of carbon emissions, as well as save on annual energy costs.”
The solar power installation sites will be the:
- NYC Police Department, 48th Precinct – Bronx
- NYC Police Department, 114th Precinct – Queens
- NYC Police Department, 115th Precinct – Queens
- NYC Fire Department R&T Repair Shop – Queens
- NYC Fire Department Engine Co. 168 – Staten Island
- NYC Department of Sanitation Garage – Brooklyn
- NYC Department of Sanitation Garage – Queens
- NYC Department of Transportation Maintenance Shop – Queens
- Brandeis Educational Complex – Manhattan
- New Horizon Middle School – Brooklyn
The projects are being funded through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants distributed through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
In addition to the solar installations, the federal grants have help fund other energy efficiency projects. “High efficiency lighting has been installed on 12 sites throughout the city to cut more than 917 metric tons of carbon emissions and save more than $332,000 each year,” said Bloomberg as an example.
“Since the launch of PlaNYC, the city has completed a total of 143 energy retrofits and clean energy installations, and has another 99 projects in design and construction,” added Bloomberg.
Regarding the 10 new photovoltaic systems to be installed around the city, Francis Murray, president and CEO of NYSERDA, said, “Solar projects like these will help the state meet the goals of the NY-Sun Initiative.”
Earlier this month, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo launched the NY-Sun Initiative, which is designed to spur increased installations of photovoltaic systems in the residential sector.
The NY-Sun Initiative will also bring together and expand existing programs administered under NYSERDA, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in an effort to coordinate and fund solar energy expansion projects.
As part of the initiative, the Public Service Commission has approved NYSERDA’s request to double funding to $432 million over the next four years for project and infrastructure relating to residential photovoltaic systems.
To make solar more affordable for homes and businesses, the governor’s office said NYSERDA and NYPA will provide at least $40 million to promote research into reducing overall solar equipment and installation costs, so in the future solar energy is competitive with other forms of electricity and will require no government subsidies.
In addition, LIPA said it’s implementing a program in New York State to “purchase up to 50 megawatts of solar power that is generated on its customers’ premises.” Under the plan, the owners of the photovoltaic systems will be paid a fixed rate by LIPA for every solar kilowatt hour generated over a 20-year term.
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