Image of the Solaire, via the NYT.

A recent post on Txchnologist (which happens to be sponsored by GE) posited that NYC is quickly becoming a leader in solar power. Coincidentally, GE just announced a massive investment in the solar industry yesterday.

More on the Txchnologist post, and the challenges of solar-izing NYC, after the jump.

Solar 2, a project of NYC’S Solar 1 (a Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center), is under construction currently and will be completely green-energy-powered. It was designed by Kiss & Cathcart.

As a general rule, the solar panels tacked, literally and figuratively, on the sides of the newest and most expensive NYC buildings (like 4 Times Square) are largely superficial — a rung on the ladder of LEED-certification. But there’s some compelling evidence that a paradigm shift is happening beyond the green-washing: in the past five years, according to the post’s author, Matthew Van Dusen, ”as photovoltaic capacity in the Big Apple has almost quadrupled from about 1.5 megawatts to 5.7.”

Interestingly, since solar power is most useful at the height of the summer (when blackouts most often happen), they ease the overworked urban power grid through a phenomenon “peak shaving” during those late afternoon hours when the sun is at its hottest. So while they may not be carrying huge loads on grey March days, when it counts in New York, they work.

However, besides the whole “New York is so grey ‘it would make a stone sick‘” thing (Khrushchev’s words, quoted in the post!), there are major hurdles involved with installing panels in New York. Namely, the laborious and complex process of gaining approval for the apparati, from multiple governing bodies with separate application protocols. One study, according to Van Dusen, showed that permitting costs could reach as much as $8k for the average guy. And for residential applicants, arguments about Economies of Scale reach into the decades – and that’s if you even have access to a roof in your building.

It turns out, people are scientifically more likely to install solar panels if their neighbors do. In short, solar is “contagious.” So it’s in the best interest of anyone hoping to profit from the technology to advocate an overhaul of the permitting system in New York. Right now, the largest adoption of photovoltaic panels is seen in large-scale development projects, with developers like Durst and others promoting panels as selling points (more on that here). They’re the only ones that can afford it – and time will tell if, indeed, the panels will become contagious among green-minded building owners.

As a side note, solar power has been hotly (and sort of hilariously/pathetically) debated across the river in New Jersey, as of late, with residents of wealthy suburbs complaining about how ugly the panels are. “It’s just horrible” said the mayor of one NJ town, according to Infrastructurist.

Check out the full post on Txchnologist here.

Solar 2, a project of NYC’S Solar 1 (a Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center), by Kiss & Cathcart.

by Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan

posted in Debate

tagged electricity, infrastructure, new york, photovoltaic, power, solar power, sun, urbanism

more articles by Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan