A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing photovoltaic systems on city buildings

Int. No. 478-A

By Council Members Constantinides, Kallos, Crowley, Johnson, Richards, Levine, Vallone, Vacca, Garodnick, Gibson, Dromm, Rose, Espinal, Cornegy, Gentile, Koo, Lander, Mealy, Rosenthal, Torres, Maisel, Koslowitz, Rodriguez, Chin, Van Bramer, Miller, Grodenchik, Levin, Menchaca, Palma, Lancman, Cohen, Barron, King, Treyger, Ferreras-Copeland, Deutsch, Greenfield and Ulrich 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing photovoltaic systems on city buildings

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

                     Section 1. Chapter 2 of title 4 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 4-207.1 to read as follows:

                     § 4-207.1 Photovoltaic systems for city-owned buildings. a. As used in this section:

                     City building. The term “city building” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in section 28-309.2 of the code.

                     Cost effective. The term “cost effective” means, with respect to the installation of a photovoltaic system or additional photovoltaic system capacity, one or more of the following determinations:

1.  The cumulative savings expected to result from such installation, including expected savings in energy costs, will in 25 years or less, equal or exceed the expected costs of such installation, less all federal, state and other non-city governmental assistance available to offset the cost of such installation and including the social cost of carbon value, as described in paragraphs 3 and 4 of subdivision d of section 3-125 of the code; provided, however, that a higher  site- or project-specific social cost of carbon value may be developed and used in lieu of the social cost of carbon value described in such paragraphs.

2. A power purchase agreement relating to such installation, entered into with the city, offers electricity rates for photovoltaic systems that meet or are lower than the average prevailing utility rates. 

                     Department. The term “department” means the department of citywide administrative services.

                     Eligible roof. The term “eligible roof” means a city building roof that is less than or equal to ten years old and in good condition, as defined by city asset management standards.

                     b. By December 31, 2016, and by September 1 of every second year thereafter, the department, with the cooperation of all appropriate city agencies, shall submit to the speaker of the council and the mayor, and make publicly available online, a report containing, at a minimum, the following information for each city building, disaggregated by council district:

                     1. The street address of such building;

2. The age of such building’s roof;

                     3. Whether such building’s roof is in good condition, as defined by city asset management standards;

                     4. For each eligible roof, the following information will be provided:

(a) the estimated potential photovoltaic system size that could be installed on such roof, as expressed in installed power capacity (in kilowatts);

(b) the estimated potential energy that could be generated by such system annually (in kilowatt-hours);

(c) the estimated amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced or avoided annually due to the use of such system;

                     5. Whether a photovoltaic system has been installed at such building and, if such a system has been installed, a description thereof, including:

(a) the photovoltaic system size expressed in installed power capacity (in kilowatts), as a percentage of the maximum peak power need identified for such building and, if such building has an eligible roof, as a percentage of the maximum photovoltaic system size that could be cost effectively installed on the roof of such building;

(b) the energy generated by such system annually (in kilowatt-hours) and expressed as a percentage of the estimated energy consumption of such building;

(c) the date of such installation;

(d) the total cost of such system and a description of how the installation of such system was financed, including whether such financing involved a power purchase agreement entered into with the city;

(e) the energy cost savings resulting from and revenue generated by such system annually; and

(f) the estimated amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced or avoided due to such system annually.

6. If a photovoltaic system has not been installed at such building, the reasons that such a system was not installed and, where an alternate sustainability project, structural change or other use has been proposed or carried out for the roof of such building, a description of such alternate project, structural change or use including:

(a) the projected benefits thereof;

(b) the estimated energy cost savings, if applicable; and

(c) the estimated amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced or avoided annually due to such project, structural change or use, if applicable, and associated economic value as determined using the social cost of carbon value, as described in paragraphs 3 and 4 of subdivision d of section 3-125 of the code.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

SS/WM

LS 1536

2/16/16 7:24PM