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Caribbean Life, OCT. 29-NOV. 4, 2021 17
BY ALEJANDRA
O’CONNELL-DOMENECH
Almost 50 New York City
public schools will get solar
arrays as part of a joint
project between the New
York Power Authority and
the New York City Department
of Citywide Administrative
Services.
“With extreme weather
events increasing in frequency,
New York needs to
take every possible opportunity
to address climate
change,” said Governor
Kathy Hochul. “This transformational
investment in
solar and energy storage
will help New York meet our
bold green energy goals and
chart a cleaner future.”
The project also includes
installing a number of solar
arrays on several water
treatment facilities in
order to push New York
state closer to the clean energy
targets outlined in the
2019 Climate Act. Under
the Climate Act, the state
committed to rolling out
100 megawatts of solar energy
systems on city-owned
properties by 2025 as part
of a greater effort to reduce
the city’s carbon emissions
by 80 % by the year 2050.
The schools have yet to
be selected by state offi -
cials said construction on
the panels is scheduled to
begin early next year. Once
the project is completed, the
solar arrays will generate a
combined 25 megawatts of
energy, and up to 6.6 megawatts
of energy storage,
which is enough to provide
power to up to 1,297 New
York City residents and offset
over 7,100 metric tons of
CO2 each year or the equivalent
of removing 1,553 cars
from city streets.
“This school solar project
will help advance the ambitious
clean energy goals set
by both New York State and
the City,” said chairman of
NYPA’s Board of Trustees
John R. Koelmel. “Working
with schools allows us
to set a good example for
young people who we hope
will be the sustainability
and clean energy leaders of
tomorrow.”
ENGIE North America
will design, construct, own
and operate the school solar
power systems which
will be phased into operation
between 2022 and 2023.
Although the school sites
have not been chosen yet,
offi cials plan on selecting
schools in racially and economically
diverse neighborhoods
throughout the
fi ve boroughs.
New York City Schools
Chancellor Meisha Ross
Porter commended Gov.
Hochul on Wednesday for
taking steps to address the
climate crisis.
“New York City schools
are leading the way in sustainability
and educating
our young people about the
importance of environmental
stewardship, ” said Porter.
“This project will help
create a greener future for
the entire community, reduce
our carbon footprint,
and inspire countless students
to take an active role
in protecting our planet.”
Education
A brand new solar system
Close to 50 New York City public schools will get rooftop solar
panels next year under initiative to reduce state’s carbon footprint