Press Release: Urgent Call to Lift New York City’s Ban on Residential Energy Storage Amid Hurricane Milton Fallout
As communities in Florida grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, the devastation echoes the impacts of Superstorm Sandy, which struck New York City a dozen years ago, resulting in 43 fatalities and widespread destruction. The increasing severity and frequency of coastal storms due to climate change underline an urgent need for clean energy technologies and enhanced infrastructure resilience.
New York City’s pioneering Climate Mobilization Act in 2019 aimed to combat carbon emissions from buildings, while the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act established ambitious clean energy goals. However, the city paradoxically maintains a de facto ban on residential energy storage systems, crucial for providing clean, resilient backup power.
While residential energy storage, typically used in conjunction with rooftop solar systems, is a safe and regulated technology, New Yorkers have limited access to this life-saving alternative to gas generators. Unlike generators, which require gasoline and can be ineffective in emergencies, solar-plus-storage systems can harness sunlight continuously, ensuring sustainable power.
Residential energy storage can also bolster the overall electric grid, facilitating the transition to cleaner energy alternatives and supporting public health by reducing reliance on polluting fossil fuels. Currently, approximately 2,400 New Yorkers die annually from air pollution, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.
In response to this pressing issue, lawmakers have extended property tax incentives for solar and storage installations, and New York’s Public Service Commission has allocated $100 million for residential energy storage incentives. However, without reforming the Fire Code, access to these incentives will remain out of reach for many New Yorkers.
As we commemorate the 12th anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, the urgency for New York City to lift its ban on residential energy storage is clear. It is imperative to take action now, ensuring that residents can harness this vital technology for a safer, cleaner future.
Ginsburg, Executive Director, New York Solar Energy Industries Association.
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