Welcome back to my solar blog, the resource for those of you who might be considering hopping on board the solar train and taking major steps toward a sustainable future. In light of recent discussions and adaptations within the solar world, I thought it fitting that we travel to The Big Apple this time around, examining how this major metropolis is ramping up its efforts to embrace and implement solar solutions.
With its continuous sea of rooftops and industrious atmosphere, New York City can sometimes seem more like a daunting concrete jungle than an ideal hotspot for solar energy installation. However, recent changes in the city’s approach hint at promising times ahead for both solar companies and individuals looking to install solar arrays for homes.
CEO of Brooklyn SolarWorks, T.R Ludwig, detailed the following five ways in which the city is actively driving growth in solar panel adoption:
1) City of Yes: A progressive shift in the city’s zoning regulations aims at making New York more equitable, modernized, and environmentally conscious. The initiative significantly broadens the rooftop space available for solar panel installation and simplifies energy storage applications.
2) Property tax abatement: Doubling down on its commitment to solar expansion, the city has upped its property tax abatement from 20% to 30%. This effectively chips away at 30% of your solar panel installation costs via a four-year property tax reduction.
3) Local Law 97: This new law catapults New York towards achieving its emission reduction goals by imposing strict emission limitations on buildings larger than 25k sqft. Concurrently, the so-called Green Roof Law mandates that all new roof construction must incorporate a green roof, solar array, or a blend of both.
4) Low-income communities bonus credit: As part of its Inflation Reduction Act, the city now offers a whopping 30-70% tax credit on solar installation costs. This aligns with its annually allocated Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit program that makes up to 1.8 GW of eligible solar or wind capacity.
5) Job Creation: Lending credence to the saying ‘a rising tide lifts all boats’, the growing demand for cleaner energy is ushering in a surge of new jobs within the city. Ludwig shed light on predictions forecasting the advent of 13,000 clean-energy jobs over the coming eight-year span.
Now more than ever before, it’s crucial to turn our attention towards solar companies and their offerings. Whether you’re contemplating solar panels for your home or a larger solar array for your commercial building, the tide certainly seems to be shifting favorably towards solar energy solutions.
Keep in mind, these changes aren’t isolated to the confines of the Big Apple alone. There’s a wider pattern of cities worldwide actively seeking to leverage the power of the sun for their energy needs. Staying informed about the latest trends and offerings within the solar industry is fundamentally important.
Remember, a solar array for home isn’t just a green-choice anymore – it’s a financially and socially beneficial decision that many cities, like NYC, are enthusiastically supporting. Let’s take this as an opportunity to contribute to a sustainable future, one rooftop at a time. Stay tuned for more updates on the dynamic world of solar energy in coming posts.
Original Article: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/02/05/five-drivers-of-new-york-city-solar-energy-expansion/
