Highlights from Faye on Solarization!
On Starting in Solar
My journey in solar energy began when I was asked by a friend to assist at a solar event for a day on behalf of the solar company for which he worked. I ended up staying for far longer than a day and my solar career was underway! In a way, I fell into solar. There is a joke that solar years are like dog years, as it takes about one year to learn in a solar organization what you would generally spend seven years learning in a traditional organization.
When I joined the industry a decade ago, it was a very exciting time to be in solar with all the rapid growth and positive changes. My project management background allowed me to recognize the need to bring a higher level of efficiency to managing the challenges of urban solar installations. These urban solar development challenges include high population density, flat rooftops, and extensive codes & requirements from all the authorities having jurisdiction. I founded Sologistics to help navigate these and other challenges to solar development in urban areas like NYC.
On what makes urban solar development different
Interestingly, I continue to find installation to be the most straightforward part of the solar development process. That said, the installation presents the physical logistics of getting solar equipment on the rooftops and different buildings present varying challenges such as steep pitches, limited roof access points, roof obstructions, and more. Furthermore, the potential danger of roof work is why we have OSHA standards to ensure site safety. Mechanical solutions such as canopies and ballast systems help to maximize solar production on flat roofs.
The solutions that I provide through Sologistics address all the important (and sometimes tedious) details for all the city requirements and codes needed to get a solar project efficiently permitted and approved. Surprisingly these permitting requirements remain the more challenging aspects of solar development in NYC.
On the evolving solar industry
Early on in my career in solar, there was a much greater need to sell the idea of the magic of solar to home & business owners and for general customer education on how solar works. Over the last few years, there has been an increased collective awareness of solar energy technology in NYC. In less urban territories in which I work like the Caribbean countries, there is still a fair amount of solar technology education that is needed to provide a more widespread understanding of how it does in fact, produce energy from the sun.
On policies to support successful solar development in cities
Government policy at the federal, state and municipal level can support urban solar development by making the permitting process simpler and easier to navigate. For example, current permitting requirements could require a needlessly long plan, take months for the review process, and involve multiple different agencies individually. These complex permitting processes mean that many home or business owners do not have the time, energy, or knowledge to adopt solar. My company exists to address these unnecessarily complex solar requirements. So, simplified municipal processes realistically would speed up solar adoption in urban areas.
On what cities are doing to adapt to and integrate solar
In recent New York City legislation, local laws 92 & 94, now require certain buildings such as those undergoing significant roof construction and new developments to install solar PV systems. This policy will continue to significantly increase the footprint of solar in NYC. An effective policy helps financially incentivize landlords and building owners to go solar. There is a demand from tenants to rent from places that are taking renewable energy sources into consideration.
At the state level, Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) calls for a large increase in electricity powered by renewables. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act calls for 70% renewables by 2030. Then there are organizations like NYSEIA of which Sologistics is a member, that continue to advocate for the advancement of equitable solar policy. Thankfully, New York state in general has a relatively progressive energy policy.
