Rooftop Solar Gardens Coming to NYCHA

Rooftop solar gardens will be built on 189 NYCHA buildings at 28 developments across the city to increase New Yorkers’ access to low-cost solar power as part of NYCHA’s ACCESSolar program, which stands for “ACcelerating Community Empowered Shared Solar.” Construction is expected to begin by winter 2019.

Rooftop solar gardens will be built on 189 NYCHA buildings at 28 developments across the city to increase New Yorkers’ access to low-cost solar power. Construction is expected to begin by winter 2019.

NYCHA is partnering with five teams led by local non-profits and small businesses that will design the first rooftop solar gardens as part of NYCHA’s ACCESSolar program, which stands for “ACcelerating Community Empowered Shared Solar.” The electricity made by the solar gardens will be for people who subscribe to the service, with a portion of subscriptions set aside for low-income New Yorkers, including NYCHA residents and NYCHA Section 8 voucher holders who pay their own electric bills.

The teams, led by Kinetic Communities Consulting, Solar One, Fifth Avenue Committee, Sol Purpose, and BlocPower, will develop proposals for up to 6 megawatts of solar power, as well create career-path green jobs for NYCHA residents in the growing solar industry and benefits for residents at the developments where the solar will be built.

“Our new solar partners will help connect New Yorkers to clean, low-cost solar power and green jobs while also reducing our environmental footprint,” said NYCHA Interim Chair and CEO Stanley Brezenoff. “Our Sustainability Agenda remains firmly committed to improving our residents’ quality of life today and for generations to come.”

As part of the NextGeneration NYCHA Sustainability Agenda, NYCHA plans to provide 25 megawatts of solar power by 2025 – the single largest goal for a residential landlord in the United States.

ACCESSolar Partners by Development and Borough

ACCESSolar is supported by the NYSERDA, the Fund for Public Housing, Sustainable CUNY of the City University of New York, and the consulting firm ICF.

Kinetic Communities Consulting, founded by NYCHA Resident Daphany Rose Sanchez, will develop a proposal for up to 850 kilowatts of solar power at 24 buildings in 8 developments:

Bracetti Plaza (Manhattan)

Elliott Houses (Manhattan)

Meltzer Tower (Manhattan)

Metro North Plaza (Manhattan)

Morris Park Senior Citizens Home (Manhattan)

Ocean Hill Apartments (Brooklyn)

Thomas Apartments (Manhattan)

Wagner Houses (Manhattan)

Solar One will develop a proposal for up to 1.3 megawatts of solar power at 49 buildings in 3 developments:

Kingsborough Houses (Brooklyn)

Glenwood Houses (Brooklyn)

Carver Houses (Manhattan)

Fifth Avenue Committee will develop a proposal for up to 1.3 megawatts of solar power at 30 buildings in 6 developments:

Baisley Park Houses (Queens)

Garvey (Group A) (Brooklyn)

Lafayette Houses (Brooklyn)

Taylor Street-Wythe Avenue Houses (Brooklyn)

Unity Plaza, Sites 4-27 (Brooklyn)

Wyckoff Gardens (Brooklyn)

Sol Purpose will develop a proposal for up to 2 megawatts of solar power at 73 buildings in 9 developments:

Baruch Houses (Manhattan)

Berry Houses (Staten Island)

Howard Houses (Brooklyn)

Latimer Gardens (Queens)

Mariners Harbor Houses (Staten Island)

New Lane Area (Staten Island)

Parkside Houses (Bronx)

Richmond Terrace Houses (Staten Island)

Todt Hill Houses (Staten Island)

BlocPower will develop a proposal for up to 400 kilowatts of solar power at 13 buildings in 2 developments:

Adams Houses (Bronx)

Highbridge Gardens (Bronx)