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The I Heart PV Street Team Visits Albany, Urges Stronger Solar Policies for the State.
On Monday June 16th, with only a week remaining until the end of the current legislative session, six members of the Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day High School I Heart PV Street Team met with key leaders in Albany to make the case for solar energy in New York City and State. The group met with distinguished senators from throughout the state, including the Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, George Maziarz, and Senators Joseph Griffo and Michael Nozzolio.
The Albany expedition occurred as a result of Brooklyn Senator Eric Adams’ deep interest and appreciation for the I Heart PV project and the street team’s activities. After seeing the team in action last month at the Grand Army Plaza Green Market in his Brooklyn district, the senator invited them to join him for a fast-paced day of lobbying in Albany. I Heart PV warmly thanks him for his hard work, generosity and responsiveness to the campaign’s goals
The Senator and his wonderful office administrator Mary Harris arranged an amazing experience for the young members of the team that none of them will soon forget. In addition to meeting directly with Senators, during which time they were able to commend the officials for passing expanded net-metering legislation and the New York City Solar Property Tax Abatement as well as inquire about what the state might do next to help advance solar development, the group also appeared before a session of the Senate Minority Conference. After being formerly introduced by Senator Adams the group demonstrated their mobile solar charging unit and answered questions from curious senators, including Suzi Oppenheimer and and NYC’s own Velmanette Montgomery, Ruth Hassell-Thompson, and Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
Perhaps the team’s most exciting moment occurred at the end of the day when they met directly with Assembly Member Herman Farrell just one hour before he moved the Solar Property Tax Abatement bill (introduced by the Assembly Member himself) through the Ways and Means Committee, of which he is the chair. Team member Khaddy Ndiaye had the chance to directly relay to the Assembly Member the merits of the policy and why it should be considered a high priority during the last days of the session.
The street team has done an amazing job this spring reaching out to hundreds of New Yorkers, and encouraging voter interest in state solar policies and legislation. Their commitment was crucial to the campaign’s success and Solar One could not be more impressed by their efforts and proud of their accomplishments. Indeed, it would not surprise us in the least if at some point in the future one or more of them were to one day experience lobbying from the other end of the table.
