New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced that the amount of solar power installed across the city has tripled since the beginning of 2014. To help continue that momentum, de Blasio has launched Solarize NYC, a new citywide program designed to further increase access to solar through community group purchasing campaigns over the next nine years.
According to a press release, Solarize NYC is a core component of the OneNYC goal of expanding in-city renewable energy and part of the mayor’s commitment to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 80% by 2050.
“New York City is moving toward renewable, clean energy and away from fossil fuels, and making solar more accessible is a key piece of that puzzle,” says de Blasio. “Now, Solarize NYC means more and more New Yorkers across the city will have access to lower-cost solar.”
The mayor’s office says that since the start of 2014, the amount of solar capacity installed in the city has tripled, with private and public installations now totaling almost 75 MW. Through One City: Built to Last, de Blasio committed to installing 100 MW of new solar on public buildings and 250 MW of new solar on private buildings by 2025.
Solarize NYC is meant to remove barriers for communities that have historically had limited access to clean energy. The NYC Solar Partnership will work alongside selected communities to design a Solarize NYC campaign that will include technical assistance from solar ombudsmen, funding support for marketing materials and staff time, and marketing and outreach plans that are tailored to the needs of their community.
Communities that are interested in applying can submit a letter of interest at NYCSolarize.com.
