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An inside look at one of the first community solar developers in NYC
By Elise Baker
Community solar – relatively new nationwide – is a recent addition to New York City’s energy landscape.
For those of us who care about the planet but don’t have a single-family, detached house to invest in, it’s a good deal. Solar panels are installed in a convenient location in a community, and residents of the area can purchase energy by subscribing to the project. The solar power is delivered directly to the local grid.
An aerial view of the first completed UrbnDER community solar installation
Going green without all of the strings
However, some community solar projects come with a drawback. A New York City renter may be unwilling to take on an energy lease that lasts longer than his or her rental contract. While not all community solar developers require long contract periods, many are financed by banks that require some kind of assurance that they can recoup their investment and earn a profit. This can take the form of multiyear contracts, credit checks or cancellation fees, depending on the project.
Enter UrbnDER, a new local solar developer. UrbanDER plans to make it easier for New Yorkers to sign up for community solar by offering options with shorter contract periods and no cancellation fees. This can be especially impactful for low-income and moderate-income renters who want to support clean energy. (more…)
By Melanie Mason
Image from (https://theintercept.com/2019/02/02/green-new-deal-aoc/)
The Green New Deal (GND) has been making headlines since young activists took it upon themselves to push for legislation to combat the climate crisis through a comprehensive plan for zero emissions. The Green New Deal aims to establish a massive program of investments in clean energy jobs and infrastructure that would completely transform the energy sector and reshape the entire economy. The name of the legislation is reminiscent of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s original New Deal in the 1930s, which was designed to stabilize the US economy, and provide jobs and prosperity to its citizens. While the GND shares many of its principles, the overarching driver is the climate crisis, a challenge that is both global and unprecedented in scale.
Over the past several months, various events led to the strides in the GND that are making headlines today. The GND is becoming a major player in the upcoming 2020 presidential election. For the first time in a decade, environmentalists are hopeful that effective policy is in our future. (more…)
Learn how to put your foot forward with confident body language and presentation skills.
Presented by GreenHomeNYC Board Member and Director of Building Operations Research and Training at CUNY Building Performance Lab, Paul Reale.
Date: June 11th, 2019
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm with networking afterwards
Location: GROHE, 160 Fifth Avenue (Entrance on 21st), Floor 4, New York, NY
Enormous problems of the future are making their way into the present-day at an accelerating rate. From aging infrastructure failures to climate-related catastrophes, from significant human population shifts to energy supply interruptions and more, we collectively face the daunting task of keeping up with the myriad changes happening all around us.
Adaptability will be critical in order for future generations to thrive. But what are we doing in order to achieve that? What projects, technologies and policies are advancing that effort? What is happening on the ground and out in the field to help us build that resilient future? We will be exploring these questions and more in our upcoming Monthly Forum!
Join GreenHomeNYC on May 15th to hear from professionals on the front lines of developing a more resilient physical infrastructure for our communities, and learn about the impact their efforts have in creating a more sustainable future for NYC and beyond!
Date: Wednesday, May 15th, 2019
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Place: Fujitsu Airstage, 1450 Broadway, 42nd floor, New York, NY 10018
