New York Solar for All Program
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
HR&A supported the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice and the Office of the Comptroller to develop Public Solar NYC, the city’s first public solar program for low-to-moderate income residents. Our comprehensive feasibility analysis, program design, and grant application support helped secure $250 million in federal funding, establishing a transformative solar program that addresses equity barriers in NYC’s clean energy transition.
New York City’s dense urban environment and complex building stock create substantial obstacles for solar installations, particularly in low-to-moderate income communities where residents lack resources to access clean energy incentives. Leading a multidisciplinary team, HR&A tackled these challenges through comprehensive operational, financial, and legal feasibility analyses while engaging stakeholders to understand installation barriers. We analyzed NYC’s building stock to identify priority neighborhoods and developed targeted solutions for the city’s unique constraints. This foundational work directly informed Mayor Adams’ PlaNYC commitment to public solar financing for low-income homeowners in environmental justice communities.
Building on this analysis, HR&A supported NYC’s successful application for the federal Solar for All grant from the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, securing millions in funding for PSNYC. We designed an innovative, self-sustaining program structure that revolves profits from solar leasing and community solar back into the program fund, ensuring long-term financial viability. Our detailed implementation plan established the administrative framework spanning marketing, installation, and operations phases. HR&A continues supporting the city as PSNYC receives federal funding and advances toward full implementation, creating a replicable model for equitable clean energy programs in dense urban environments.
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