The Clean Energy Program of the DCAS is a comprehensive initiative to expand distributed energy resources, such as solar photovoltaic and energy storage facilities, throughout the city. This program is part of a series of climate plans released every four years by the city, as required by local legislation, and was developed in collaboration with the New York City Climate Cabinet, which is made up of representatives from more than 35 city agencies and offices, the Sustainability Advisory Board, and stakeholders. The installations include solar energy on building roofs and other innovative projects, such as solar awnings in parking lots, garages and wastewater treatment facilities. In all five counties, greenway projects are being planned, designed and built that will create active and safe transportation routes and facilitate connections between parks.
Sea levels in New York City have already risen one foot since 1900 and are expected to rise to an additional 5.4 feet by the end of the century, according to the New York City Panel on Climate Change. The Clean Energy Program of the DCAS was one of the first in the NYCHA portfolio to use clean heating and cooling and paved the way for many future initiatives, as well as serving as a basis for the development of the NYCHA climate change mitigation roadmap. PlaNYC reinforces New York City's core clean construction efforts by requiring that the city's most important project agencies commit to taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance and disposal of building materials. The future of New York City and the planet depends on reducing emissions and adapting to the obvious and present danger of climate change. To this end, city and state leaders have awarded two green energy infrastructure projects that will help decarbonize New York City toward a greener future that moves it away from its dependence on fossil fuels, which power 85% of the city's electricity. These awards will strengthen the state's current renewable energy portfolio so that more than 66 percent of New York's electricity comes from renewable sources. Payments to NYSERDA under these awards will begin once the projects have obtained all the necessary permits and approvals and begin operating to supply energy to New York.
The Clean Energy Program of the DCAS is an important step towards achieving a sustainable future for both New York City and its citizens.
