New York City To Triple Solar Power Capacity

New York City will triple its production of solar power by installing rooftop photovoltaic systems on 10 public buildings in an effort to cut carbon emissions and meet energy efficiency targets under the city's PlaNYC 2030 plan.

New York City will triple its production of solar power by installing rooftop photovoltaic systems on 10 public buildings in an effort to cut carbon emissions and meet energy efficiency targets under the city’s PlaNYC 2030 plan.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the 10 new systems atop various police, fire, transport and sanitation buildings across the city will bring New York City’s total solar capacity to 428 kilowatts – or enough to power 143 homes – and cut carbon emissions by 205 tons each year.

Although 428 kilowatts of solar power may not sound like a big deal in a city with a population of around eight million people, the installations form part of Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC 2030 initiative, which seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Launched in 2007, the Plan has already brought the Big Apple’s carbon output down to 13 percent below 2005 levels, according to the PlaNYC website.

Mayor Bloomberg announced the 10 solar projects at the opening of offices for clean tech company Expansion 2.0, a New York-based venture which works with energy providers to reduce customer consumption.

“In clean tech, New York City is leading by example and the solar projects we’ve completed will generate clean, affordable energy while cutting our carbon emissions and energy cost,”” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We’re also committed to tapping into the power of the private sector and with the success of startups like Efficiency 2.0, we are making our city the place to be for innovation.”

Mayor Bloomberg also launched a City-first sustainable energy software design event called Reinvent Green. The “hackathon” will bring together computer programmers and web developers design new applications and digital tools allowing New Yorkers to engage in more sustainable living practices.

A statement from the Mayor’s office said that measures such as tripling New York’s solar capacity and hosting events like Reinvent Green would make the City a haven for clean energy companies, rivalling Silicon Valley for technical innovation.

“New York City’s clean energy community is unique in its focus on low capital intensity and high opportunity clean technology companies,” said Tom Scaramellino, founder and CEO of Efficiency 2.0.

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