Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 25, 2018
CONTACT: media@nycha.nyc.gov

NYCHA ANNOUNCES PARTNERS TO DESIGN ROOFTOP SOLAR GARDENS FOR COMMUNITIES CITYWIDE

Kinetic Communities Consulting, Solar One, Fifth Avenue Committee, Sol Purpose, and BlocPower to propose designs for up to 6 megawatts of solar power atop more than 180 NYCHA rooftops across New York City

NEW YORK – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced today that it is partnering with five teams led by local non-profits and small businesses that will each design and propose rooftop solar gardens that will increase New Yorkers' access to sources of low-cost solar power.

Kinetic Communities Consulting, Solar One, Fifth Avenue Committee, Sol Purpose, and BlocPower will design proposals for up to 6 megawatts of solar capacity generated on 189 rooftops across 28 developments as part of NYCHA's ACCESSolar program, which stands for “ACcelerating Community Empowered Shared Solar.”

These proposals, the first to be developed under ACCESSolar, build on NYCHA’s Commercial Solar Program and will play a vital role in the NextGeneration NYCHA Sustainability Agenda goal to provide 25 megawatts of solar power by 2025 – the single largest goal for a residential landlord in the United States.

The energy produced by these installations will also contribute to meeting Mayor Bill de Blasio’s climate change goals, including reducing greenhouse gases by at least 80 percent by 2050.
ACCESSolar will also help the City reach its goal to produce 1,000 megawatts of solar power by 2030.

“Our new solar partners will help connect New Yorkers to clean, low-cost solar power and green jobs while also reducing our environmental footprint,” said NYCHA Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff. “Our Sustainability Agenda remains firmly committed to improving our residents’ quality of life today and for generations to come.”

“The scale of this solar program alone sends a signal to the energy market that New Yorkers want renewables,” said Mark Chambers, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. “By leveraging the creativity of small businesses and community groups, we can create new jobs, clean our air, and give more New Yorkers the affordable renewable energy options they deserve.”

The five teams are all non-profit organizations or small businesses that applied for the program between April and August 2018 and are in a NYCHA community. All five partners pledge to develop career-path green jobs for NYCHA residents and to develop a proposal for lease payments or other benefits to the developments where the solar will be built.

The electricity generated by the solar gardens, also known as “community shared solar,” will belong not to NYCHA but to residents and neighbors who subscribe to the service. Under the agreements to be developed with NYCHA, a portion of their subscribers must be low-income New Yorkers, including NYCHA residents and NYCHA Section 8 voucher holders who pay their own electric bills. Subscribers will receive a credit on their electric bill as if the solar panels were on their own roofs. Construction of approved designs by ACCESSolar partners is expected to begin by winter 2019.

Teams will also have access to start-up funding through the Fund for Public Housing's Ideas Marketplace crowdfunding platform, as well as technical support provided by Sustainable CUNY. Both resources are available thanks to approximately $110,000 in funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) through NY-Sun, a $1 billion initiative to advance the scale-up of solar and move New York State closer to having a sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry.

“Sustainable CUNY and our Solar Ombudsmen are proud to have worked with NYCHA to design and implement ACCESSolar as part of the NYC Solar Partnership’s Shared Solar NYC program,” said Tria Case, CUNY’s University Director of Sustainability and Energy Conservation. “We support ACCESSolar’s goals of fostering community engagement and empowerment, creating green jobs and providing lower-cost clean energy to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households, and look forward to continuing to work with NYCHA on these pioneering programs.”

Kinetic Communities Consulting is a New York-based benefit corporation that advocates for and implements energy-efficiency solutions in diverse, local communities. Kinetic was founded by Daphany Rose Sanchez, a NYCHA resident. Kinetic’s partners include Euclid Training, which will provide solar training; Standard Solar, which will provide design and construction; and Reneu Energy, which will provide consulting and arrange financing for the proposal. Kinetic will develop a proposal for up to 850 kilowatts of solar power at 24 buildings in 8 developments.

Solar One is a New York non-profit organization that has experience helping affordable housing providers and multifamily home owners build solar through their “Here Comes Solar” program. Solar One’s partners include Green City Force and WE ACT for Environmental Justice, which will provide solar training and outreach; Resonant Energy, which will arrange financing, and Co-Op Power, which will operate and maintain the systems. Solar One will develop a proposal for up to 1.3 megawatts of solar power at 49 buildings in 3 developments.

Fifth Avenue Committee, Inc. is a non-profit affordable housing developer and community development corporation based in southern Brooklyn that has experience providing community shared solar to LMI populations through its FAC Solar program. The organization will develop a proposal for up to 1.3 megawatts of solar power at 30 buildings in 6 developments.

Sol Purpose is a New York-based firm that was founded to support the Bard Prison Initiative and is committed to developing renewable energy projects that provide public benefits to local communities. Sol Purpose’s partners include Green City Force, which will provide solar training; Bright Power, which will provide design and construction; and Solstice, which will provide customer subscription and outreach. Sol Purpose will develop a proposal for up to 2 megawatts of solar power at 73 buildings in 9 developments.

BlocPower is a Brooklyn-based technology firm focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Their partners include CUNY Medgar Evers College and GRID Alternatives, which will provide solar training and materials, and Brooklyn Solar Works, which will install the systems. BlocPower will develop a proposal for up to 400 kilowatts of solar power at 13 buildings in 2 developments.

ACCESSolar advances the goals outlined in the NextGeneration NYCHA Sustainability Agenda, which details the Authority’s 10-year commitment to improve resident well-being and operate as an effective and efficient landlord. It is supported by the NYSERDA, the Fund for Public Housing, Sustainable CUNY of the City University of New York, and the consulting firm ICF.

Since the Sustainability Agenda's release in April 2016, NYCHA has continued to work with government and private-sector partners to provide better service for residents, improve energy efficiency, and curb the effects of climate change. In addition to ACCESSolar, NYCHA launched its Commercial Solar Program, Energy Performance Contracts, and other energy programs.

ACCESSolar PARTNERS BY DEVELOPMENT AND BOROUGH

KINETIC COMMUNITIES CONSULTING   
Bracetti Plaza (Manhattan)
Elliott Houses (Manhattan)
Meltzer Tower (Manhattan)
Metro North Plaza (Manhattan)
Morris Park Senior Citizens Home (Manhattan)
Ocean Hill Apartments (Brooklyn)
Thomas Apartments (Manhattan)
Wagner Houses (Manhattan)

SOLAR ONE
Kingsborough Houses (Brooklyn)
Glenwood Houses (Brooklyn)
Carver Houses (Manhattan)

FIFTH AVENUE COMMITTEE
Baisley Park Houses (Queens)
Garvey (Group A) (Brooklyn)
Lafayette Houses (Brooklyn)
Taylor Street-Wythe Avenue Houses (Brooklyn)
Unity Plaza, Sites 4-27 (Brooklyn)
Wyckoff Gardens (Brooklyn)

SOL PURPOSE
Baruch Houses (Manhattan)
Berry Houses (Staten Island)
Howard Houses (Brooklyn)
Latimer Gardens (Queens)
Mariners Harbor Houses (Staten Island)
New Lane Area (Staten Island)
Parkside Houses (Bronx)
Richmond Terrace Houses (Staten Island)
Todt Hill Houses (Staten Island)

BLOCPOWER
Adams Houses (Bronx)
Highbridge Gardens (Bronx)

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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
NYCHA’s mission is to increase opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers by providing safe, affordable housing and facilitating access to social and community services. Almost 400,000 New Yorkers reside in NYCHA’s 325 public housing developments around the five boroughs, and another 202,000 receive subsidized rental assistance in private homes through the NYCHA-administered Section 8 Leased Housing Program. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/nycha, and for regular updates on NYCHA news and services, connect with us viawww.facebook.com/NYCHA and www.twitter.com/NYCHA.