Queens Borough President Melinda Katz (c.) and Deputy Borough President Barry Grodenchik (l.) led Tuesday’s Borough Cabinet meeting.
Forum Photo by Alan Krawitz
Energy, its various forms and how to save it was the topic at Tuesday’s Borough Cabinet meeting at Borough Hall.
Samuel Man, a regional representative from the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority detailed numerous programs to help both city residents and small businesses save money on energy costs while also helping the environment by using clean and renewable energy sources.
Since 1975, NYSERDA has been providing programs, technical expertise and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Man said that through NYSERDA’s programs he routinely helps to “encourage economic growth through outreach to commercial, institutional, municipal, industrial and residential customers.”
“We would like to work with as many local community boards as possible to help communities tailor specific NYSERDA programs that best fit them,” Man added.
A key focus of many of NYSERDA’s programs is moving the state towards greater adoption of solar power. One example is the NY-Sun Initiative, which effectively represents Gov. Cuomo’s commitment to expand solar technology throughout the state by making $1 billion available for solar projects. It includes outreach to residents, small businesses, and commercial and industrial sectors.
Additionally, the community solar program promotes collective purchasing, and makes solar energy more transparent and affordable for neighborhood residents and business owners.
Another program—K-Solar—helps school districts statewide with the adoption of solar energy.
Man also noted that a number of no-cost or low-cost energy saving tips can be found on NYSERDA’s website, including lowering thermostats when no one is home; closing off unused heating vents; insulating hot water heaters and hot water pipes to prevent heat loss and switching incandescent light bulbs to energy saving light bulbs and flood lights.
Still other NYSERDA programs can help residents and businesses purchase green power, or electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower.
In other Borough Cabinet news, Andrew Barnes and Simone Weems, representatives from National Grid, discussed the ongoing installation of safety shut-off valves for residential gas lines.
The safety shut-off valves are being installed outside designated buildings to give first-responders emergency access. The installations are mandated by city law to be completed by Nov. 1, 2019.
National Grid said that, to-date, all valve installations have been completed in Corona.
By Alan Krawitz
