DCAS & NYC Public Schools Announce Completion of New York City's Largest Collection of Solar Arrays

December 10, 2024

Through a Power Purchase Agreement with a Generate Capital subsidiary, the City pays zero in capital dollars for an estimated $120 million project, with an agreement to purchase $85 million in clean energy at a fixed cost over the next twenty years.

The 72 schools with solar arrays - 58 completed and 14 more expected to be complete by the end of the year - will represent nearly 17 Megawatts of the City's solar production, nearly tripling the municipal solar capacity.

Announcement marks NYC Public Schools surpassing 100 solar installations, advancing clean energy commitments coupled with robust in-school sustainability initiatives and climate education in the classroom.

NEW YORK - Today, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Louis A. Molina and New York City Public Schools (NYC Public Schools) Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chancellor for Operations and Finance Emma Vadehra, joined representatives from Generate Capital, students from NYC Public School's Green Team, and the principal and students from PS 58 in Brooklyn to cut the ribbon and celebrate the completion of the city's largest collection of solar arrays to date, either public or private, representing a 20-year, $85 million long-term commitment toward clean power for the city.

Situated atop 72 public schools across the city - with 58 completed and 14 more expected to be complete by the end of the year - the new solar panels along with other recently completed projects will nearly triple the City's solar capacity since the pandemic, adding nearly 17 Megawatts (MW) worth of energy generation to the City's portfolio, and $85 million in clean, renewable energy to power municipal operations for decades. With these new installations - which brings the total number of schools with solar panels up to 104, and a total of 22.5 megawatts of solar energy capacity - the City continues to lead the charge on incorporating renewable energy into the city's power portfolio, creating a cleaner and more sustainable environment for New Yorkers.

"Through innovation and interagency collaboration, we are leading the charge on climate resiliency and making transformative changes for our city, our students, and its residents each and every day," said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. "As we cut the ribbon on the city's largest collection of solar arrays ever, we're not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also empowering the next generation with the tools and knowledge needed to tackle climate challenges. I commend DCAS, NYC Public Schools, and all our partners for making this project a reality, and for setting a benchmark for what's possible when we invest in a sustainable future."

"Transitioning to clean, renewable energy is a down payment today, on our tomorrow. As we unveil the City's largest collection of solar arrays on our NYC Public School roofs, we're showing that we're not merely talking about green energy, we're investing, taking action, and well on our way towards building a sustainable future for our next generation of New Yorkers," said DCAS Commissioner Molina. "I could not be more proud of this effort; this is a massive step forward in our efforts to ensure that our next generation not only lives, but thrives in our great city."

"Today's ribbon cutting represents an incredible milestone in our city's clean energy and sustainability efforts: over 100 solar panels on our schools, bringing renewable power to the city and augmenting the robust sustainability work happening inside our buildings," said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. "I am eager to see how this work continues, inside and outside of the classroom. I applaud all our young people for their dedication to the planet and our sustainability educators who are working to raise the next generation of leaders."

"All of the buildings the City owns need to serve New Yorkers in many different ways," said Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. "DCAS' ambitious program to build solar generation on City schools is a perfect example of leveraging our roofs to generate clean energy, while upgrading the spaces where our children learn. The City is leading by example by showing the next generation that transitioning to clean energy isn't just possible - it's happening right over their classrooms."

Of the new 72 projects, 55% are installed in disadvantaged communities, and represent the city's largest solar project to date. With solar arrays covering roughly 70% of existing school roof surface, the project sites were chosen, in coordination with NYC Public Schools, based on their roof feasibility and condition. This analysis included roof warranty checks and water tightness inspections of the buildings to avoid future capital project conflicts.

In conjunction with these investments, New York City Public Schools is working to connect students and teachers across all grade bands to sustainability and climate education, including solar energy education in partnership with Solar One and NYC Solar Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming to introduce job-training skills for solar installations into existing electrical, construction, and engineering course tracks at CTE High Schools. NYC Public Schools is also proud to have launched four citywide Climate Action Days each school year to galvanize action and celebrate climate solutions in schools. Each day has a specific focus: Waste; Energy; Health, Wellness, and Green Space; and Water.

The arrays were installed through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with an investment subsidiary of Generate Capital, who is responsible for the costs of installation, operation, and maintenance of the systems, with DCAS agreeing to buy the solar power produced by the panels over the next two decades. The $85 million dollar portfolio cost estimate is the total cost for the clean power over the next twenty years; through this agreement, the city has saved an estimated $120 million in capital costs, and millions more in annual operations and maintenance costs over the panels' lifetimes.

"The completion of this solar portfolio marks a major leap forward toward the City's goals of installing 100 MW of solar by 2030 and 150 MW by 2035," said NYC's Chief Decarbonization Officer and DCAS Deputy Commissioner of Energy Management Sana Barakat. "Thanks to our dedicated DCAS Clean Energy professionals and our partners at NYCPS and Generate Capital, the project will make the City of New York the host of the largest set of solar arrays in the city and a leader in generating clean, renewable electricity to help power its operations. We will continue to install more arrays on more City buildings, driving down the City's reliance on fossil fuels and expanding clean energy generation across the city."

"Incorporating solar energy into school construction projects is an investment in the future-empowering students with a clean, sustainable energy source while providing a hands-on education in renewable technologies," SCA President and CEO Nina Kubota said. "Installing solar panels in schools reduces energy costs and teaches students the value of renewable energy and environmental responsibility."

"The installation of these solar panels across 72 public schools across the city marks an important milestone in our city's path to a sustainable future," said Council Member James F. Gennaro, Chair of the New York City Council's Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency & Waterfronts. "It is fitting this project includes a crucial focus on educating our youth about these eco-friendly technologies, and their importance. This project is a testament to our commitment to a greener New York City, and I applaud DCAS for leading the efforts."

"I'm proud to celebrate this milestone in electrifying our schools at PS 58 in my district-a critical step toward advancing New York City's decarbonization goals and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels," said Council Member Shahana Hanif. "As a proud supporter of the Green Healthy Schools Campaign during this year's budget cycle, I advocated for the electrification and air quality upgrades of 500 schools by 2030, prioritizing environmental justice communities. Every student deserves a safe and healthy learning environment with clean air to breathe. I'm committed to working with DCAS and DOE to expand these transformative initiatives, creating a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable future for our students, families, and school staff."

"This project represents the power of public-private partnership to accelerate the clean energy transition while delivering tangible benefits to communities," said Bill Sonneborn, President of Generate Capital. "New York City is setting a model for other cities to follow through bringing clean energy to its schools, reducing emissions, and saving taxpayers money. All without significant upfront costs."

The project is a major step forward toward the City meeting its ambitious clean energy goals. As codified in Local Law 99 of 2024, the City will install 100 MW of solar on City-owned property by 2030 and 150 MW by 2035. DCAS has rapidly scaled up its solar development over the last decade, through innovative design and efficient project delivery, and will continue to do so, taking advantage of new tools like the design-build project delivery model.

The 72 new solar arrays build on the City's larger decarbonization efforts. In June 2024, DCAS provided a comprehensive overview of the City's progress and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy efficiency in public buildings. As highlighted in the Powering Change report, over the past decade, through targeted investments and efficiency measures made by the City, municipal buildings have seen an 8% reduction in energy consumption; as of FY23, the City has seen a 13% reduction. Further, due to the collaboration between DCAS and sister agencies, city government has reduced its GHG emissions from its overall operations, including emissions from buildings, fleet, wastewater treatment and solid waste by over 26%. This is compared to a 20% reduction in emissions across the entire city, highlighting the City's efforts to reduce emissions continue to be not only aggressive, but achievable.

About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:

• Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees.
• Managing 55 public buildings.
• Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property.
• Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies.
• Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country.
• Leading the City's efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations.

Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas and by following us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.

About New York City Public Schools

New York City Public Schools is a testament to the history and impact of urban education in the United States. With over 1,600 schools spread across five boroughs, the system is made up of approximately 1.1 million students and staff, making it the largest public school system in the nation. These schools employ more than 75,000 teachers who deliver a rich tapestry of educational experiences to a student body that reflects the city's vibrant and diverse cultural heritage. This network of educational institutions represents not just the scale of New York City's commitment to public education, but also its dedication to fostering a learning environment that is as dynamic and diverse as the city itself.

Contact:
Dan Kastanis
Director of Media Relations, DCAS
[email protected]

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