Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
TESTIMONY
Testimony by Steve Levin, CEO of Solar One, on expanding solar energy access in NYC
0:31:24
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5 min
Steve Levin emphasizes the critical role of solar energy, particularly community solar, in meeting New York City's climate goals, reducing reliance on peaker plants, and providing affordable, clean energy access to all residents, especially low-income communities.
He notes that lack of space is a major barrier to community solar expansion and advocates for leveraging city-owned property and streamlining processes, specifically urging the commission to make it easier for the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to partner with the city on public renewable projects.
- NYC has ambitious goals for carbon neutrality, solar power, and energy storage deployment.
- Community solar is key for equitable access, providing savings for renters and those with unsuitable roofs.
- Lack of space hinders community solar growth needed for programs like Statewide Solar For All and NYPA's REACH.
- Leveraging city assets and facilitating partnerships with NYPA are crucial for building publicly owned renewables.
Steve Levin
0:31:24
Good.
0:31:25
Good.
0:31:25
Nice to see you, everybody.
0:31:27
Thank you very much for the opportunity to testify.
0:31:30
I wanna thank the chair and the commissioners for this opportunity to submit testimony before their Charter Revision Commission.
0:31:36
My name is Steve Levin, CEO of SolarOne, and I'm submitting this testimony on behalf of our organization.
0:31:43
Solar One is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to design and deliver innovative education, training, technical assistance, advocacy that fosters sustainability and resiliency in diverse urban environments.
0:31:58
We provide comprehensive solar technical assistance to building owners, affordable housing providers, and community organizations to facilitate high impact solar projects, and we advocate for policy solutions that make solar affordable and accessible to low income communities and affordable housing.
0:32:15
Making our city more sustainable, equitable, and healthy is central to our goals.
0:32:20
Climate change is a direct threat to residents across the city, especially frontline communities that have been historically burdened by environmental injustices and continue to bear the brunt of climate impacts like storm surges and extreme heat.
0:32:34
We believe there is a unique opportunity to mitigate these threats by updating the city charter to reflect today's climate and affordability crisis and the need to rapidly expand affordable and resilient infrastructure like solar while still prioritizing robust community input.
0:32:52
First issue I'd like to talk about is expanding solar in New York City, because it is critical to our city and state climate goals in improving community health.
0:33:03
New York City has been a leader in setting ambitious climate goals.
0:33:07
It is committed to carbon neutrality by 2050, deploying 1,000 megawatts of solar power by 2030 and five hundred megawatts of solar of energy storage by 2025.
0:33:18
Achieving these goals advances the global fight against climate change while improving daily life for New Yorkers who are disproportionately burdened by air pollution and climate impacts.
0:33:28
Local renewable energy within New York City is also critical to relieve a congested grid, mitigate increasing energy demand, and reduce our resilience reduce our reliance on polluting peaker plants.
0:33:43
While the city has made great strides in the deployment of solar, continued progress is at risk in the face of federal attacks on clean energy programs, dwindling New York Sun rebates and the increasing cost expected from tariffs.
0:33:58
So this was written, you know, four hours ago.
0:34:04
To keep our city to keep our city and state on track there's still an issue with tariffs because of to keep our city and state on track, we ask the commission to seize the opportunity to leverage city owned land where where fees where feasible and beneficial to communities to continue sorry.
0:34:23
To to seize opportunity to leverage city owned land where feasible and beneficial to communities to continue our ambitious build out of local affordable renewable energy as well.
0:34:35
Expanding community solar and storage in New York is New York City is essential for equitable access to renewable energy as well.
0:34:42
Community solar is one of the most important methods to ensure equitable access to the benefits of solar.
0:34:49
For rental and building owners with roofs not suitable for solar, subscribing to a community solar array provides reliable savings from fossil fuel free electricity.
0:35:01
While CNED's recently proposed rate hikes and the federal cuts to the LIHEAP program, energy costs are skyrocketing, and resources for low income rate payers are insufficient to address high energy burdens.
0:35:14
Community solar can fill in the void, but the lack of space for community solar projects in New York City is a major barrier.
0:35:22
Leveraging city owned land for public renewables and solar access is also a priority.
0:35:29
Two new statewide programs recognize the importance of community solar as a tool for equitable solar expansion.
0:35:36
Statewide Solar For All and the New York Power Authority's REACH program, both programs redistribute bill savings from community solar and storage projects to low income New Yorkers enrolled in the energy affordability program, EAP, and living in disadvantaged communities.
0:35:55
But bill savings from such projects will only be meaningful if there's a massive build out of projects within New York City.
0:36:02
Once again, New York's lack of space is hindering beneficial savings from renewables for low income residents.
0:36:10
The city's real estate assets present an opportunity to leverage existing space for projects that can enroll in these affordable energy programs.
0:36:19
We especially want to urge the charter revision process to streamline the feasibility for NYPA to work with the city on its build out of publicly owned renewables as part of the build public renewables mandate.
0:36:32
Partnering with NYPA will increase public ownership of energy resources, include include increase build discounts for low income residents, and increase high paying jobs in the clean energy sector.
0:36:43
I have a few more, recommendations, but I I'll submit them in our written testimony.