Storm Clouds Over New York City's Solar Energy Push

The new economics of solar energy – reduced costs coupled with attractive incentives and tax breaks – are making it an affordable option for a growing number of co-op and condo boards. The good news for environmentalists is that New York City's solar capacity has eclipsed 100 megawatts, having risen by 333% in the past three-plus years, Crain’s reports. The bad news is that 100 megawatts isn't all that much.

The city's current solar-power capacity of 105.3 megawatts could supply approximately 26,325 homes. That's just 0.84% of the city's total. Solar has a long way to go before it can have a sizable impact here, and there are hurdles it must overcome to achieve widespread adoption.

Installing panels today needs approval from the Fire Department, which limits their placement on roofs or requires that they be elevated to ensure firefighters can traverse roofs in the event of a blaze. If not enough panels will fit, or elevating them is too expensive, it can make a solar installation uneconomical or at least less enticing for property owners.

"Another big challenge is getting solar to work for multifamily buildings," says Conor Bambrick, air and energy director for Environmental Advocates of New York. "The solution is community solar, where households can buy into large solar projects that aren't necessarily located on-site. Figuring out how to get community programs financed will be a question for the city."

With the relaxation of certain regulations and campaigns through the Solarize NYC program—bringing solar power to communities that have limited access to clean energy—the city has made clear strides forward. The de Blasio administration's goal is to have 1 gigawatt of solar capacity by 2030, enough to power 250,000 homes. But that would still represent only 8% of the city's 3.1 million dwellings. Solar advocates believe the goal could be much higher.

"I think with the right combination of solar-energy efficiency and energy storage—something like a battery that can store solar energy and use it at peak times—it could power 100% of the city's electricity needs," said Bambrick. "But there's got to be the political will and long-term commitment to get there."

Edward C. Greenberg, a “New York City employer,” writes to the Crain’s website:

"The dollar-per-watt cost of solar in the U.S. is still significantly higher than in Germany, in part because most states, counties, and municipalities in the U.S. have inconsistent, time-consuming, and costly permitting processes. In New York, much of the cost stems from the time spent by installers in obtaining the building, zoning, and fire department permits, waiting for inspections and approvals from utilities, dealing with changes and unexpected delays – and losing customers in the process. California and other states have streamlined the process and lowered permit fees – not in New York, where the installation costs of like systems for residences are generally 20 to 30 percent higher than the national average and due to northern weather, yield less electricity than the identical system in Texas, Georgia, or Alabama."