Ask the Chair
Chair Russ Answers Your Questions
Every month, Chair Greg Russ will respond to questions from staff on topics like operations, the future of the agency, and how we’re overcoming everyday challenges. Have a question for Chair Russ about NYCHA? Send it to AsktheChair@nycha.nyc.gov and check back here to see if it was selected to be answered. Please be advised that featured questions will be published with the names of the employees who submitted them. Here is the selection for September:
From Robyn Morales, Secretary IV, Bronx Property Management: “Looking toward to NYCHA’s future electrification plans; will solar power be utilized at all?”
Chair Russ: “Along with a variety of electrification initiatives, a solar program is already underway at NYCHA as part of our Sustainability Agenda. In fact, it was recently announced that NYC is one of 20 finalists for a 2022 C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda.
NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda outlines transformative strategies and technologies that can cut emissions across our buildings by 80 percent by 2050 while also focusing on solutions for protecting our buildings and residents from the impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat and severe storms.
In line with these goals, NYCHA is installing a total of 30 megawatts (MW) of solar panels on its rooftops by 2026; this is on top of NYC’s 100 MW target of solar installations on municipal buildings by 2025. NYCHA has already installed over 5 MW at five developments.
Groundbreaking electrification solutions that reduce reliance on fossil fuels for heating and cooling are also a fundamental part of the Sustainability Agenda. Through the Clean Heat for All Challenge, NYCHA, in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York Power Authority, selected two manufacturers to develop new cold-climate heat pumps that can be easily installed in apartment windows within two hours. NYCHA will buy 30,000 of these heat pumps, quickly enabling low-cost electrification as well as reliable heating and cooling for thousands of residents. In addition, NYCHA is deploying geothermal energy solutions and electric induction stoves at select buildings as part of the Sustainability Agenda.
The Sustainability Agenda efforts are also creating job opportunities for residents: over 300 residents have been hired as part of our sustainability work, and another 40 were trained in solar programs. To enhance these efforts, NYCHA and the Fund for Public Housing recently established the Clean Energy Academy to train 100 residents over two years for careers in the clean energy sector. There will be similar training for applicable employees so that they too can learn more about the new technologies we’re implementing.
This is exciting and impactful work, and I’d like to acknowledge Vlada Kenniff, our Senior Vice President for Sustainability, and her team for their vision and determination.”
