The NYCHA Journal

The NYCHA Journal has informed and inspired residents since 1970, covering the news, contributions, and uplifting stories of the NYCHA community while providing the latest information on Authority initiatives.

pedro castillo bright power
Program Partners 

Solar Energy Comes to NYCHA

LaToya

NYCHA’s ambitious solar power program, a feature of the Authority’s Sustainability Initiative, will install solar panels at 190 developments by 2025, providing 25 megawatts of power to 6,600 households and creating dozens of jobs for NYCHA residents in the process. Two energy companies, Bright Power and Tangent Energy, have been selected to install the first panels on 90 roofs and 13 parking lots.

“There is no issue more pressing today than saving our atmosphere and planet. I’m excited to help transform the energy grids of neighborhoods that are too often neglected. Energizing our world, while providing green construction job opportunities for NYCHA residents is exactly what is needed.”

—​Pedro Castillo, Bright Power Installation & Construction Team Member and NYCHA Resident.

 

NYCHA’s ambitious solar power program, a feature of the Authority’s Sustainability Initiative, will install solar panels at 190 developments by 2025, providing 25 megawatts of power to 6,600 households and creating dozens of jobs for NYCHA residents in the process. Two energy companies, Bright Power and Tangent Energy, have been selected to install the first panels on 90 roofs and 13 parking lots.

NYCHA will lease the sites for up to 25 years and the energy companies will install, operate, maintain, and sell the power to an estimated 550 to 750 low- to moderate-income households across the city; NYCHA residents and NYCHA Section 8 voucher holders who pay their own electric bills are eligible for the program. Construction is set to begin and be completed within 2019; each installation will last approximately two weeks per building and parking lot permit holders may experience temporary disturbances.

Bright Power

“Bright Power is excited to be partnering with Sol Purpose, Solstice, Green City Force, and Solar One to deliver an exciting win-win-win-win for NYCHA, its residents and the planet, providing clean solar power, good jobs, revenue for NYCHA and lower electricity rates through this innovative community solar model.” 

—Jeffrey Perlman, Bright Power President & Founder

  • Panels will be installed at 27 Queensbridge North and Queensbridge South buildings.
  • 12 positions will be created for NYCHA residents who are enrolled in or are alumni of Green City Force. 
  • Twenty percent of the power created will be sold to low-income households throughout the city, who will pay 10 to 20 percent less than the Con Ed rate.
  • Bright Power will pay NYCHA a yearly lease of $65,596.80 over 20 years, for a total of $1.3 million to be invested back into Queensbridge.

Tangent Energy

“We are honored to be one of the first distributed energy providers selected by NYCHA to develop rooftop solar arrays on their residential buildings. This project builds on the success of previous solar projects and other ongoing initiatives between Tangent Energy and the City of New York.” 

—Andy Meserve, Vice President, Sales and Development of Tangent Energy 

  • Panels will be installed on 63 buildings and 13 parking lots at six developments: Pomonok, Beach 41st Street-Beach Channel Drive, Coney Island Site lB, Throggs Neck Addition, South Beach, and Gowanus.
  • Tangent Energy will also provide the technology needed to monitor the amount of energy that is generated by the solar arrays and ensure that the system is working properly.
  • 16 one-year jobs will be created for NYCHA residents.
  • Sixty percent of the power created will be provided to low- and moderate-income households, who will pay 20 percent less than the Con Ed rate.
  • Tangent will pay NYCHA a yearly lease of $112,227.5 over 20 years, for a total of $2.24 million to be invested back into the six developments.

This project advances the goals outlined in the NextGeneration NYCHA Sustainability Agenda, which details the Authority’s 10-year commitment to improve resident well-being and operate as an effective and efficient landlord. Since the release of the agenda in April 2016, NYCHA has been working with government and private sector partners to provide better service for residents, improve energy efficiency, and curb the effects of climate change.

NYCHA’s solar initiative is one measure to help New York City reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050 and also contributes to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Renew300 initiative in which 300 megawatts of solar energy capacity will be installed at federally assisted housing by 2020.