NYSolar Smart Newsletter

JUNE

2017

Stay Connected

CUNY Solar Resources

Find a complete list on the
NY Solar Portal

New York State Model Solar Energy Law

DG Hub Solar+Storage Permitting Guide

NYC Solar Permitting

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Additional Resources

Residential/Small Commercial MW Dashboards

Commercial/ Industrial MW Dashboards

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CUNY WINS SEPA'S VISIONARY OF THE YEAR

The Smart Electric Power Alliance has named Sustainable CUNY the 2017 SEPA Power Players
Visionary of the Year. The SEPA Power Players Awards recognize utilities, their industry partners, individuals and other stakeholders on the front lines of energy transformation in the U.S. that are significantly advancing knowledge of or access to distributed energy resources that benefit electricity consumers and the grid.

Sustainable CUNY formed the Smart DG Hub in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to help provide resiliency to New York City by developing a streamlined process for integrating solar+storage into the infrastructure and the grid. Working collaboratively, the Hub has already developed significant resources, including a NYC Energy Storage Systems locator on the NY Solar Map and Portal. "A distributed energy future means not only making the grid cleaner and more efficient, but making it more resilient.The Smart DG Hub is a step toward transforming grid infrastructure to remain reliable during weather related and other threats," said SEPA President and CEO Julia Hamm. "Moving toward a clean energy future means we will need many more projects like this one, designed to provide benefits to both customers and the grid."

MEMORABLE MOMENTS AT THE SUMMIT

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul opened the 11th annual NY Solar+Storage Summit with an energizing speech to a full house at John Jay College, pointing out that New York State remains at the forefront of the energy revolution, at home and globally, and is determined to follow the terms of the Paris Accord stating that "New York State has embarked on one of the most ambitious clean energy strategies in the US, and one of the pillars of these efforts is the expansion of solar onto our grid." Janet Joseph Interim President at NYSERDA noted that "Reforming the Energy Vision is the boldest utility reform effort ever," with David Sandbank, Director of NY-SUN, drawing a cheer from the audience when he said: " We get 600 residential solar applications from NYC a month, the market here is hot." Highlights from the afternoon keynote are noted in the below article. Summit Presentations

CAN'T SHUT DOWN THE SUN

Miranda Ballentine, former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy delivered the afternoon keynote at the NY Solar Summit, giving a first hand perspective on Stockpiling Sunlight: Why the U.S. Military Cares. When asked if the Department of Defense is moving beyond diesel to solar and battery storage, Ms. Ballentine pointed out that forward deployment fuel supply convoys provide attractive targets for insurgent forces and can result in both higher costs and higher casualties. This ultimately led General James Mattis to famously ask the Department of Defense during the Iraq war to "Unleash Us From the Tether of Fuel". As General Mattis is now the Secretary of Defense, Ms. Ballentine stated that "stockpiling today's sunlight (instead of coal, which is ancient sunlight) is a critical element to building the secure, clean, resilient power system our nation's military leaders are calling for," adding, "Our adversaries can not shut down the sun."

76% PV JOB GROWTH PROJECTED FOR NY

The Solar Foundation's annual report, National Solar Jobs Census 2016, found that the number of solar jobs increased in 44 of the 50 states in 2016, with New York in the top six. To go beyond a one-year projection, the Solar Foundation partnered with the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University to create workforce growth scenarios through 2021 for six U.S. states based on historic sector correlations, industry trends, and increased labor efficiencies known as "National Trends Projections" (NTP). In 2016, New York had 8,135 solar jobs. By 2021, under the NTP scenario, New York's solar workforce could increase by nearly 76%, to reach 14,350 jobs. Read the Report

PV PANELS ABSORB GLARE CONCERNS

Here's one less thing to worry about when you fly: Your pilot being blinded by sun glare from solar arrays. The Federal Aviation Administration reviews and clears all large solar projects near airports to ensure that any glare doesn't pose a threat to air traffic. Solar panels are designed to absorb sunlight rather than reflect it - and are less reflective than water - so solar development at or near airports can continue to grow safely.

NEW YORK SOLAR ANALYTICS

NYSolar Smart Partner Jurisdiction

Southampton Solar Snapshot

(population 56,790)

FROM THE DIRECTOR

"Sustainable CUNY's role, as a trusted third party has never been more important. Despite the ever-changing political and atmospheric climate, the demand for power is unabated. Our strategic partnerships with New York State and City agencies, municipalities and more than 70 utility, industry and other organizations advances solar, and now solar+storage and helps address climate change. The Chancellor of the City University of New York signed on to the 'We Are Still In' commitment to the critical goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The future of our planet depends upon the kinds of actions that our University, City and State are already taking to create a clean energy future."

Tria Case, University Director of Sustainability and Energy Conservation, City University of New York, Lead of NYC Solar Partnership

NYSolar Smart is a strategic effort led by Sustainable CUNY of the City University of New York that supports Federal, State and NYC solar initiatives to strategically remove barriers to large scale solar deployment.