Solar Companies to Pay NYCHA for Rooftops

New York City housing officials plan to lease the rooftops at 14 public housing developments to solar electricity developers. The developers will install, operate and maintain the solar panels. NYCHA will simply collect rent payments for the rooftops underneath the panels.

“We’re changing the way we do business to protect future generations,” said Shola Olatoye (pictured), chair and CEO of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), which is planning to lease the roofs at 14 public housing sites to solar developments with a total capacity of 25 megawatts, enough to serve the electricity needs of 6,600 households.

The electricity produced will travel through the exiting power grid, to be sold at affordable prices to low-income households who sign up with the program.

“NYCHA’s ambitious renewable energy plan is a smart public private partnership that will catalyze economic growth, save taxpayers money, and promote financial self-sufficiency,” said Lynne Patton, regional administrator for the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, recently appointed by President Trump.

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