Int. No. 269
By Council Members Brannan, Cornegy and the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) (by request of the Queens Borough President)
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to a solar power pilot program
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Subchapter 2 of chapter 1 of title 3 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 3-126 to read as follows:
§ 3-126 Solar powered pilot program. a. Definitions.
Covered building. The term “covered building” means a building that contains one or more dwelling units.
Designated agency. The term “designated agency” means the office of long-term planning and sustainability or another agency or office designated by the mayor to administer the provisions of this section.
Dwelling unit. The term “dwelling unit” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the housing maintenance code.
b. The designated agency shall develop and conduct a pilot program in which a district-scale solar thermal heating system is used in conjunction with solar photovoltaic systems to provide all of the heating, hot water, cooling and electricity needs for covered buildings participating in such program.
c. The designated agency shall consider utilizing underground borehole thermal energy storage to store solar energy generated in connection with such program. If the designated agency determines that the use of such storage means is not practicable or is otherwise undesirable, such agency shall set forth the reasons therefor in the findings required by subdivision e of this section.
d. The designated agency shall establish a procedure for selecting a suitable site which is the recipient of sufficient solar radiation for the covered buildings to successfully participate in such program.
e. The purchaser of a residential building that is part of the pilot program must enter into a regulatory agreement with the department of housing preservation and development requiring that the building and each dwelling unit offered for rent in such building be made and remain affordable to the occupant or subsequent purchaser thereof for the duration of such program, in a manner determined by such department.
f. In July of each year, the designated agency shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council, and make publicly available online, a report on the findings of such pilot.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately
SS/JJD
LS #4503/Int. 1715-2017
LS 204
1/5/2018