Last month, Local 3 IBEW joined the Climate Jobs New York labor and environmental coalition and New York City Council member Sandy Nurse to celebrate the passage of NYC’s “Public Solar Bill” (Local Law 99) at P.S. 19 East Village Community School, one of the hundreds of public buildings deemed “solar-ready” by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). Examining Board member Manny Yllescas spoke on behalf of Local 3 during the press conference at P.S. 19.
This law, at the forefront of Climate Jobs’ “Carbon-Free and Healthy Schools” campaign, commits NYC to install 100 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic systems by 2030 and 150 MW by 2035 on public buildings including elementary schools. This work will be completed under a union labor agreement between the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and the Building & Construction Trades Council (BCTC).
For more, read the City Limits op-ed “Bringing Solar Energy to NYC Schools and Public Buildings” co-written by Council member Nurse and BCTC President Gary LaBarbera.
