Joe Burns of UtilityDive reports on NYC’s move to reduce zoning restrictions for clean energy.
- The “City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality” initiative in New York City has passed zoning changes to increase renewable energy generation in the city.
- Under these changes 8,500 parking lots across the city will be open for potential installation of solar panels and building owners will be allowed to add solar energy systems on roofs — even if a building is taller than the permitted height in its respective zoning district.
- This zoning change is a common sense solution that benefits people, through lower rates, and the planet.
“The initiative also expands buildings’ rooftop and yard allowances to accommodate the increased need for outdoor electrified equipment such as heat pumps. It changes other rules to ensure a wide range of exterior retrofits and updates ‘Zone Green’ floor area exemptions to ensure a better-than-code performance. It updates the framework for accessory mechanical equipment, like HVAC units and fire protection systems, to reflect the needs of electric retrofits and other energy infrastructure, by enabling equipment to cover up to 50% of buildings to a height of 15 feet, the proposal says.”
Read the full article here.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
