NYC Housing Projects To Have Solar Power Installed
Two New York City Housing Authority developments will have community solar installations at 27 sites courtesy of a partnership between Bright Power, Solstice Power Technologies, Sol Purpose Development Company, Green City Force, and Solar One.
The low and moderate-income residents of the affordable housing structures will experience electricity savings of 10% and 20% once the solar power arrays are operational. This amount might not sound like a lot, but it adds up over years of power consumption.
In addition to the savings, a yearly lease of $65,596.80 will be paid to the housing authority over 20 years. Some of the jobs created by the solar power projects will also go to local residents.
Initially, the arrays will have a 2 MW capacity, but the plan is to add another 23 MW by 2025.
“Solstice was founded to make affordable, clean energy available to underserved communities,” explained Solstice co-founder and CEO, Steph Speirs. “Low-income communities pay a higher portion of their monthly income for energy, and will benefit the most from electric bill savings. We’re excited to be working with NYCHA, Bright Power, Sol Purpose, Green City Force and Solar One to ensure that residents of these communities are able to gain access.”
This kind of project is important because too often some people are locked out of the solar power market — and while is not a deliberate form of discrimination the situation remains unfair. A reduction in living costs is also quite a benefit for people living on fixed incomes. According to one source, the tenure for NYC affordable housing can be over 20 years for some residents.
So, to some of us saving a small amount on a monthly utility bill might not sound like much, but for someone living with less means for two decade,s any savings would be welcome. In fact, solar power can have some economic benefits, but it has been misrepresented as being ‘environmental’ only.
Additionally, New York City has plenty of rooftop space for solar power.
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