How NYC is Shaping the Solar Landscape for Major Cities
With the recent decision to opt out of the Paris climate accord, many Americans have gained a renewed sense of responsibility to lower carbon emissions and utilize renewable energy sources. States have come forward, stating that while the U.S. is leaving the accord, they will not. New York is one of those states. And progressively over the past few years, New York City has increased its efforts to become greener.
Recently, much of its efforts have gone towards solar energy. Solar has obvious environmental benefits: it produces zero emissions, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and leads to cleaner air, water and soil. And it’s a renewable resource.
But solar also has many economic benefits. While it has an upfront cost, over time solar panels pay for themselves; any solar installation, no matter how small or large, reduces your electricity bill, possibly completely. Not to mention some states, including New York, offer incentives – net metering, tax credits, state renewable energy credits, etc. – to those who install solar panels. If you qualify for these incentives, your utility company actually pays you for the clean energy that your panels produce. On top of saving money, solar energy can also raise the value of your property.
And then there’s the added factor that solar energy is beneficial to the economy as a whole. The increase in green energy projects and companies has brought an influx of jobs into the sector. In NYC alone, the increase in the solar energy field has produced 2,700 jobs in the five boroughs, combined. And this is only the beginning.
While some people may think there’s only enough sunlight for solar to serve as a “green accessory” in the city, the truth is that if New Yorkers took full advantage of the city’s rooftops, we could generate more than 5.8 gigawatts of power, that’s enough to power about 870,000 homes.
As of mid-2017, New York City is generating 105 megawatts of electricity through solar with almost 10,000 solar projects, producing enough electricity to power more than 15,000 New York City homes. And with another 35 megawatts to be installed in the remainder of 2017, NYC is on track to reach 140 megawatts of solar capacity by the end of this year.
NYC has a goal of installing 1 gigawatt of solar capacity citywide by 2030, enough to power 250,000 homes. To further support that goal, the city is helping launch several campaigns and partnerships. The first is Solarize NYC, a citywide program designed to further increase access to solar energy through community purchasing campaigns. Overall, the program is expected to lower the costs of solar panels by 10 to 20 percent and increase solar capacity in communities that have historically had limited access to clean energy.
Then there is the New York City Solar Partnership, a collaboration between the City University of New York’s Sustainable CUNY program, the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. In recent years, it has taken a number of steps to increase the presence of solar energy in NYC. Its Solarize groups have helped lower solar costs and enable homeowners, businesses and community institutions to connect with and commit to solar opportunities in their neighborhoods. The Solar Partnership’s shared solar program helps people who can’t install solar where they live or work participate instead in offsite solar projects. And its online New York Solar Map not only allows users to see how much solar they can install on their buildings, it also shows how much that solar might cost, what incentives are available and how long the payback period might be.
The plummeting cost of solar panels, along with state and city-wide initiatives, have both contributed significantly to the immense solar growth in the city. But smart policies implemented by New York City have also streamlined the siting, financing, and installation process opened New Yorkers the city’s significant solar potential.
Programs like Solarize NYC, the New York City Solar Partnership and related efforts to expand solar on public and private buildings are part of Mayor de Blasio’s sweeping commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, and a core component of New York City’s OneNYC goal of being the most sustainable big city in the world and a global leader in the fight against climate change.
So far, NYC has already been recognized by the Department of Energy as a SolSmart Gold community, the highest designation a community can receive for the actions it takes to reduce barriers in the solar marketplace. And with more solar projects popping up every month, it looks like NYC’s solar industry has a bright future.
For more information on solar energy and the solar potential of New York, visit www.nysolarmap.com
Is Solar the Right Match for You?
Expert guidelines from Sunflare, a top flexible solar panel manufacturer, for navigating the options of off-grid power
While silicon panels are being installed on more homes and buildings today, the number of places solar can be installed is still limited. Some rooftops cannot support the weight of the racks that the glass panels have to be suspended in, and often rooftops do not follow the right angle to allow for maximum sun exposure.
These stringent requirements make it hard for solar to be installed at multifamily complexes, on hi-rises, even on some homes. City rooftops are often too flat and too congested with AC units, skylights and access points to make it possible for metropolitan hubs to jump on the solar trend.
For homeowners, the costs of installing panels and knowing whether it is better to rent or buy can also be hard to analyze. Researching local utility company rules governing solar panels is a must before taking any action. You need to know before committing to solar if your utility will credit you or bill you if your panels create a surplus.
Some questions to ask when considering solar panels include:
1. What direction does the majority of your roof face?
Rooflines that have a westerly exposure will be able to collect more sunlight during the day than those that face north or south.
2. What type of shingles does your roof have and do you have a rooftop air conditioning unit or skylights?
Tile roofs and those with extreme angles can be more difficult and intricate to install solar panels on than roofs that are flat or have less rigid shingle types. Rooftop air conditioners and skylights can complicate solar installs and decrease the area that panels can be installed on because clearance is needed to access these other roof features.
3. Does your utility provider reimburse for extra power generation or charge a grid maintenance fee to solar customers?
While solar panels can save you money on your monthly electric bill, if you stop using power from the utility company, reduce the amount of power you use each month, or if your panels harvest a surplus and put power back into the grid, there is a chance your utility could charge you a fee.
4. How long will it take for your solar panels to offset enough electricity bills to pay for them selves?
When calculating the value of installing solar panels be sure to take into consideration how long you plan to own the building or home. If you are only living there for a short period of time the offset costs of monthly electric bills may not be enough to recoup the initial cost of purchasing and installing the panels.
5. Do any installers in your area offer options for the type of solar panels that can be installed?
Silicon panels are not the only option for solar any more. There are alternative solar technologies like CIGS flexible panels. Some alternatives to silicon panels are easy to maintain and install, but may have a higher cost upfront. Knowing your options can help to determine which solar technology is best for your building or residence, your environment and overall goals.
Via: WasteDrive
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