The I Heart PV Street Team Visits Albany, Urges Stronger Solar Policies for the State.
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008
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.
Posted in I Heart PV, Legislation, Renewables, S1 in the News | Permalink
The New York City Solar Property Tax Abatement Passes in the NYS Legislature!
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
One of the inaugural goals of Solar One’s I Heart PV campaign was successfully met today when the New York State Assembly passed legislation to create a special property tax abatement for new solar system owners in New York City. Bill A11202, introduced by Assembly Member Farrell of Harlem, was identical to legislation in the State Senate (S8145-Padavan) that successfully passed last week.
The abatement will provide a powerful incentive for solar investment, level the comparatively high cost of solar in the five boroughs relative to the neighboring region, and help to permanently drive down the market cost of the technology through market expansion. The policy originated as one of the 127 recommendations in the Mayor’s longterm sustainability blueprint, PlaNYC. To find out more about the policy, click here.
For the past two months, Solar One’s I Heart PV campaign has worked with other advocates to mobilize constituents and help build legislative support for the bill. On behalf of its staff and many partners - including Vote Solar’s Shaun Chapman, with whom I Heart PV worked closely week in and week out - Solar One thanks all of the voters who made their voices heard and helped make solar more viable in New York City.
Posted in I Heart PV, Legislation, Renewables | Permalink
