Solar Power Use Ramping Up In NYC With New Installations On 10 Community Service Buildings
April 20, 2012 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis 
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.