TESTIMONY
Adam Roberts, Policy Director at Community Housing Improvement Program on Overcoming Fire Code Restrictions for Solar Panel Installation
1:33:16
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106 sec
Adam Roberts advocates for changes in fire code restrictions to facilitate the installation of solar panels on existing buildings in New York.
- Roberts represents the Community Housing Improvement Program, supporting legislation for solar panel installations.
- He highlights the obstacles faced by housing providers due to fire code limitations, making the cost of solar installation prohibitive without full roof coverage.
- Legislation such as Intro 73 is mentioned as a potential solution, though fire code challenges persist.
- Battery storage systems face similar installation barriers.
- Roberts urges the city council to ensure compliance with sustainability policies, emphasizing the broader goal of carbon neutrality.
Adam Roberts
1:33:16
Thank you for holding the hearing today.
1:33:19
I'm Adam Roberts, policy director for the community housing improvement program, also known as Chip.
1:33:24
We represent New York's housing providers, including apartment building owners and managed measures.
1:33:29
We are strongly supportive of legislation to promote the installation of solar panels on existing buildings.
1:33:35
Our members are already installing solar panels on a buildings throughout the city.
1:33:39
However, too many of them face obstacles when seeking city approval to do so.
1:33:43
In particular, the fire code severely limits the ability to comprehensively cover a roof with solar panels.
1:33:49
Without sufficient coverage, the high cost of installing solar panels can become prohibitive Installing them is only a worthwhile endeavor if they can actually power an entire apartment building.
1:34:00
The city of yes carbon neutrality zoning text amendment does reduce the zoning obstacles to sufficiently covering a roof with solar panels.
1:34:08
Yet this text amendment will not remove the strict limits put in place by the fire code.
1:34:13
Meaning the city council must act.
1:34:15
While it's not being heard of this hearing, intros 73 would remove many of these fire code restrictions.
1:34:21
Batteries storage systems face similar roadblocks to solar panels.
1:34:25
The city of yes will reduce the zoning limitations of battery storage systems but FDNY will still have significantly wait to block their installation.
1:34:33
We recognize that severe limitations placed on solar panels and battery storage systems are well intentioned efforts to limit the risk of fires.
1:34:41
Yet even as these technologies have become much safer, the city continues to make their installation incredibly difficult.
1:34:47
Unless this problem is addressed, New York's apartment buildings will continue to be hampered in their efforts to comply with local R97 and other sustainability legislation.
1:34:56
The council should do everything in its power to ensure compliance with its own policies feasible.
1:35:00
Again, thank you for holding the hearing today.
