From our April Newsletter, by Keisha Benjamin, Development Sr. Associate
The New Solar One Environmental Center on a Beautiful New York City Evening
Our impact in environmental sustainability, education and resources is the focus of our programs year round for the many communities we serve. Earth Week is a marker of our collaboration and progress in tandem with the commitment of individuals, businesses, and partnerships. We’re spreading the call to action across our city to protect our environment from climate change by strengthening energy reliability, conserving native ecosystems, providing access to better futures, and uplifting environmental justice initiatives for the future of our own planet.
IN THIS MONTH’S NEWSLETTER:
Solar One’s impact across NYC during Earth Week 2026, including Union Square Earth Day and our work in sustainability, STEM education, and environmental justice
Highlights from our Earth Day Career & Resource Fair connecting community members to clean energy jobs and support services
Here Comes Solar updates, including new affordable housing projects and policy efforts expanding equitable access to solar
Get involved in our community’s Global Herb Garden at Stuyvesant Cove Park through hands-on urban gardening
Save the date for July 3rd: Powering the Possibilities, a waterfront community celebration of sustainability and energy independence
SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION ON EARTH DAY AT UNION SQUARE
While refreshing spring rain brought new life to New York City, Solar One joined a full afternoon of climate-focused, family-friendly programming at the Earth Day festival in Union Square, complete with interactive workshops and activities.
Our Green Design Lab Educators showcased the Solar House Kits, a hands-on component of our Green Building Design field trip for K-12 students. We use these models with our “scavenger hunt” activity at the Environmental Education Center. Students work in groups to assemble these solar-powered model homes that power LED lights and a motorized fan. Our learning experiences strengthen STEM skills while building an understanding of how green building strategies can both mitigate and help us adapt to climate change. This is how the next generation leads on our energy industries and environmental solutions so they can apply them to future careers.
COMMUNITY EARTH DAY CAREER & RESOURCE FAIR
For Earth Day, our Community Engagement team in our Green Workforce program hosted a Career and Resource Fair bringing together workforce development, community resources, and employer engagement to support our trainees in exploring career pathways and accessing essential services. We worked with 15 community partners and employers, including Daikin Comfort Technologies, Brooklyn Navy Yard, and JPMorgan Chase.
This event exposed a range of workforce sectors, including clean energy, building operations, finance, and infrastructure, while also connecting them to supportive services that promote long term stability and career success. In addition to employment and networking opportunities, attendees received access to financial coaching resources, hygiene kits, and other community services. With great success, the career fair served as both a career exploration opportunity and a holistic resource event.
SOLAR ONE RELEASES FIRST SOLAR RFPs FOR 2026
After months of pre-development support, in March, the Here Comes Solar team released three Requests for Proposals (RFPs) seeking solar installers for projects at 6 affordable housing buildings—a total of 171.2 kW! Two of the buildings are new construction in Brooklyn, one is an HDFC cooperative in Upper Manhattan, and the other three are a small portfolio of buildings in Washington Heights. All six solar installations will see direct utility bill savings through net metering.
Impactful comments from Kate Selden’s Policy Newsletter — Where Climate Meets Housing:
“One thing was and remains clear: affordable housing operates on razor-thin margins. There’s little room for extra costs, and even less in reserve. So while solar offers real, long-term savings, adding its’ up-front cost to a construction budget often feels out of reach. Electric bills are rising for everyone, and for affordable housing providers, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations, those increases can mean painful tradeoffs that ripple out into the communities they are working to support. New York City can change this, bridging affordable housing and climate goals. Right now, many mission-driven organizations are effectively shut out of the City’s Solar and Storage Property Tax Abatement. A proposed bill (S.4272 / A.5959) would change that by allowing eligible groups to receive the incentive as a direct payment—turning an inequitable program into real, usable funding.”
SPRING HERB PLANTER ROLL OUT AT STUY COVE PARK
Last fall, we planted cover crops in the raised garden beds to help restore soil health. As the season shifted, those crops were turned back into the soil to fix nitrogen and create rich conditions for new seedlings. We kicked off the current growing season at Stuy Cove Park with our Spring Herb Planter Roll Out at the end of Earth Week. With the help of volunteers, young herbs were moved outdoors where they could take root and thrive. The event offered a great opportunity to learn about seasonal gardening practices, explore how cover crops support healthy soil, and spend time outdoors by the river with fellow community members.
These herbs reflected culinary traditions from around the world, much like the vibrant communities that make up our city. Together, we celebrate cultural connections through plants and food! We welcome your feedback and involvement in caring for and harvesting the global herbs represented in our local garden.
For questions and suggestions please contact: stuycove@solar1.org
Community Spotlight
POWERING THE POSSIBILITIES: SOLAR ONE’S JULY 3RD COMMUNITY SOCIAL
As tall ships sail the East River in commemoration of 250 years since our nation’s founding, Solar One will transform the waterfront at Stuyvesant Cove Park into an interactive exploration zone focused on science, sustainability, and healthy green and growing park spaces. This is a moment to highlight that true independence today means energy independence: solar-powered, community-rooted, and environmental justice for all!
Join Solar One: Powering Possibilities for the Next 250 at the Environmental Education Center, for family fun, food trucks, local entertainment, and educational tours as Class B tall ships from around the world sail down the East River.
CELEBRATE YOUR NEXT MILESTONE AT THE BRANT EVENT SPACE
While our Environmental Education Center operates as a beacon for classroom learning and community enrichment, it’s also serves as The Brant Event Space. Offering a memorable place to host your next special moment with stunning views of the East River and the Brooklyn and Queens waterfronts in New York City.
Learn more and start planning your event at solar1.org/the-brant-event-space
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS:
Wetland Plant Out (Hosted By Solar One)
Saturday, May 16 @ 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
https://givebutter.com/wetland-plant-out-hhyqby
East Village Community Gardens Tour
Friday, May 1, 2026 @ 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2026/05/01/east-village-community-gardens-tour
Native Trees, Plants & the Ways They Were Consumed by NY Indigenous Nations
Friday, May 1, 2026 @ 2:45 PM–4:15 PM
Edible Education: Building & Maintaining a School Garden in NYC
Friday, May 1, 2026 @ 2:45 PM–4:15 PM
Saltwater Fishing
Saturday, May 2, 2026 @ 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2026/05/02/saltwater-fishing
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Ocean Haiku Hike
Sunday, May 3, 2026 @ 1:00 PM–2:30 PM
https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2026/05/03/asian-pacific-american-heritage-month-ocean-haiku-hike
Summer on the Hudson: Horticulture Tour of Riverside Park
Monday, May 4, 2026 @ 12:00 PM–1:00 PM
Crown Heights Street Tree Care with Super Stewards
Friday, May 8, 2026 @ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2026/05/08/crown-heights-street-tree-care-with-super-stewards
Mother’s Day Birding at Forest Park
Sunday, May 10, 2026 @ 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2026/05/10/510-mothers-day-birding-at-forest-park
Mother Nature Hike and Clean-Up
Sunday, May 10, 2026 @ 10:00 AM–11:00 AM
https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2026/05/10/mother-nature-hike-and-cleanup
Mother’s Day Basic Canoeing
Sunday, May 10, 2026 @ 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2026/05/10/mothers-day-basic-canoeing1
Saturday, May 16 @ 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
About Solar One
Solar One is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to design and deliver innovative education, training, and technical assistance that fosters sustainability and resiliency in diverse urban environments. Solar One facilitates learning that changes the way people think about energy, sustainability, and resilience by engaging diverse program participants across NYC boroughs. Programs help individuals and communities explore new ways of living and working that are more adaptive to a climate-change impacted world. Learn more at solar1.org.
Solar One Media Contact
Daphne Aquije, daphne@solar1.org
