New York City working to boost solar energy use

New York City strives to use more solar power - Image from Wikipedia

New York City officials today highlighted plans to make the city more suitable for producing large amounts of solar energy – a possibility that exists on top of 80 percent of the city’s more than a million rooftops. An increase in the amount of solar power generated in the city can reduce strain on the city’s existing electric grid and create more green jobs.

For instance, New York City has plans to establish solar farms atop old landfills. The city also is working to streamline its solar energy permitting processes. In addition, the City of New York University actually has a detailed solar energy city map designed to help officials determine the potential of solar power from one building to another. As a result, more homeowners can rely on solar power for their energy needs, and an increase in the number of green jobs in the solar energy industry will create more opportunities.

New York gets only a small portion of its energy from solar power – about six megawatts out of a total potential amount of 13,000 megawatts. However, a solar energy-related mandate that demands 30 percent of New York’s power to be generated from renewable sources in the next five years is motivating city officials to more readily embrace solar power and the green jobs it affords.

“Some people are waiting to see what the federal or state government will do,” said David Bragdon, the leader of the sustainability office for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “But important things are happening right here [with solar energy].”

Solar energy initiatives receive funding, tax breaks in New York City

By becoming more reliant on solar energy, New York City can avoid the major costs of establishing new transformers to help the heavily used electric grid. Blackout risks also will subside through the increased use of solar power.

The U.S. Department of Energy actually named New York City one of 25 “Solar American Cities” in 2007, and the city received a $200,000 grant.

New York City also has named three different parts of the city as solar power empowerment zones, which makes them eligible for tax credits that cover an extra 15 percent of the cost of a solar power system. The company Con Edison recently began efforts to approve solar power projects within 100 days as well, additionally creating hope for more green jobs.

“Anything that generates energy and doesn’t burn anything is an amazing technology,” said John Mucci, vice president of Manhattan operations for Con Edison. “We should try to use more of it.”

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