2008 Woodie Awards
A plan for NYC solar power by 2022
Panel states that New Yorkers are willing to pay more for alternative energy sources
Sherry Mazzocchi
Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: News
The Center for Sustainable Energy has set a goal - the establishment of 500 solar roofs in New York City within the next four years. CSE, founded in 2003 at Bronx Community College, is part of CUNY's Million Solar Roofs Initiative.
On a peak summer day, New York City consumes approximately 11,000 megawatts (one megawatt can power 1,000 homes). The energy needs of New York ranks somewhere between Switzerland and Portugal. And New York's consumption is growing. Eighty percent of New York City's power is produced in the five boroughs while the rest comes from the Indian Point nuclear plant in Westchester and power plants found in surrounding states.
Most power plants in the city are run on natural gas - a non-renewable resource. But a solar roof only employs photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight into electricity. CSE's study, "New York City's Solar Energy Future," claims that the amount of solar energy that falls on the city each year is two times the amount the city requires. They estimate that photovoltaic systems on rooftops and building facades could provide 18 percent of the city's power needs by 2022.
The report looks at the complex interplay of federal and state agencies, regulations, tax codes and Con Edison requirements, which can stymie CSE's goals. Many policies make the installation of PV systems less than cost-effective. For example, New York State Tax Credit for solar roof systems is only available to residential taxpayers, while the vast majority of available rooftops are on commercial and municipal spaces. Tax credits are also considered income by the federal government and are thus taxable items. In addition, the state tax regulations say that any grant money received for the PV system reduces its depreciable basis.
Getting a PV system connected to the grid in New York State is an expensive, time consuming and bureaucratic process. It involves not only the State's Standard Interconnection Requirements, as well as Con Ed's requirements - Con Ed often mandates PV systems to incorporate expensive reverse power relays that prevent the possible back-feeding of power, even though the risk is small.
On a peak summer day, New York City consumes approximately 11,000 megawatts (one megawatt can power 1,000 homes). The energy needs of New York ranks somewhere between Switzerland and Portugal. And New York's consumption is growing. Eighty percent of New York City's power is produced in the five boroughs while the rest comes from the Indian Point nuclear plant in Westchester and power plants found in surrounding states.
Most power plants in the city are run on natural gas - a non-renewable resource. But a solar roof only employs photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight into electricity. CSE's study, "New York City's Solar Energy Future," claims that the amount of solar energy that falls on the city each year is two times the amount the city requires. They estimate that photovoltaic systems on rooftops and building facades could provide 18 percent of the city's power needs by 2022.
The report looks at the complex interplay of federal and state agencies, regulations, tax codes and Con Edison requirements, which can stymie CSE's goals. Many policies make the installation of PV systems less than cost-effective. For example, New York State Tax Credit for solar roof systems is only available to residential taxpayers, while the vast majority of available rooftops are on commercial and municipal spaces. Tax credits are also considered income by the federal government and are thus taxable items. In addition, the state tax regulations say that any grant money received for the PV system reduces its depreciable basis.
Getting a PV system connected to the grid in New York State is an expensive, time consuming and bureaucratic process. It involves not only the State's Standard Interconnection Requirements, as well as Con Ed's requirements - Con Ed often mandates PV systems to incorporate expensive reverse power relays that prevent the possible back-feeding of power, even though the risk is small.
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Michael DiPaolo
posted 12/07/07 @ 2:35 PM EST
I am amazed that solar thermal systems are not given any mention. Evacuated tube solar collectors delivery six times the energy of PV collectors on a square foot basis. (Continued…)
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