This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
As the cost of solar panels continues to drop, more New Yorkers are embracing renewable energy. For those who rent their homes, community solar networks have made it possible to access solar power without the need for expensive installations.
One such network, activated by Daroga Power in December 2017, has already connected 170 residential accounts, mostly in Brooklyn. The network's panels are located on two industrial buildings in East New York, while customers live throughout the city.
For Eric Zion, a 34-year-old renter on the Upper East Side, the decision to join the Daroga system was a no-brainer. 'What sold me was that it's better for the environment,' he said. 'But who wouldn't want cheaper bills?' The savings, he estimates, are about 15 percent.
Next, Daroga hopes to create similar localized networks on top of large rentals and co-ops, although finding suitable roofs can be a challenge. Here Comes Solar, a division of the nonprofit advocacy group Solar One, is also working on a project at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park that will serve 175 renters.
