citymeetings.nyc

Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.

TESTIMONY

Adam Roberts, Policy Director at Community Housing Improvement Program on Overcoming Fire Code Restrictions for Solar Panel Installation

1:33:16

·

106 sec

Video Player is loading.

Current TimeÂ 0:00

DurationÂ 0:00

Loaded: 0%

Stream TypeÂ LIVE

Remaining TimeÂ 0:00

Â

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.

← Previous Chapter

Shravanthi Kanekal on Supporting Legislative Initiatives for Sustainable Energy Transition in New York City

Next Chapter →

Rami Dinnawi on Advocating for Intro 353 and 354 to Promote Renewable Energy and Environmental Justice in New York City