PVTIME – The US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has released a Solar and Storage Action Plan, presenting nine policy recommendations to New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani. The plan calls for the accelerated deployment of rooftop solar and battery energy storage systems in order to address grid reliability risks, reduce energy costs, and advance the achievement of climate targets, with a core focus on raising development goals and removing implementation barriers.
One of the plan’s key proposals is that New York City’s 2035 solar development target should be increased to 2GW, alongside a new goal of installing 2GW of energy storage by 2030. The New York Independent System Operator has predicted potential power supply reliability shortages for New York City in the coming years, noting that distributed solar and energy storage are the fastest and most cost-effective tools with which to meet the city’s demand for clean, reliable electricity. It is anticipated that New York City will face a 446MW power reliability gap in summer 2025, primarily due to growing electricity demand and the phased retirement of peak-load power plants.
Regarding energy storage implementation, the plan advises Mamdani to support City Council legislation that aligns New York City’s fire codes with statewide standards, thereby lifting the de facto ban on residential battery systems. It emphasises that battery systems that meet UL safety standards can be safely deployed to provide emergency power. Regarding grid access, the plan encourages Consolidated Edison to provide transparent and equitable distribution network access for community-scale energy storage projects, in order to meet the needs of New York City as a high-power-density load centre.
Reducing building emissions and improving project approval efficiency are also key priorities. The plan recommends that the New York City Department of Buildings allow owners of large buildings to purchase renewable energy credits from smaller buildings with solar installations, thereby helping the former to meet the stringent emission reduction requirements of Local Law 97. This law requires most buildings over 25,000 square feet to comply with greenhouse gas emission limits from 2024, with further tightening in 2030. The plan also proposes opening a self-certification pathway for project electrical installations, or authorising professional bodies to conduct inspections, in order to shorten the grid interconnection approval cycle.
The plan also outlines two systemic strategies: launching public awareness and education initiatives to boost acceptance of clean energy, and scaling up the deployment of solar and storage systems in municipal buildings to demonstrate this process. New York City has already passed Local Law 99, which requires 100MW of solar capacity in municipal buildings by 2030, though current progress may be insufficient to meet this target.
The report concludes that distributed solar and energy storage will support Mamdani in fulfilling his commitment to energy affordability, reducing household energy expenses, enhancing grid resilience, and creating numerous high-quality jobs.
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