NYCHA Releases New Solicitation to Install 2.9 Megawatts of Community Solar on 73 Buildings at Eight Developments
Solicitation builds on the more than 19 megawatts of solar already installed on NYCHA rooftops, under construction, or in design
NEW YORK – RealEstateRama – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced the release of a new solicitation under the Accelerating Community Empowered Shared Solar (ACCESSolar) program, which develops community solar projects on NYCHA properties. The solicitation seeks proposals from development teams to install solar arrays on 73 NYCHA buildings across eight public housing developments in Brooklyn and the Bronx and builds on 19 megawatts (MW) of solar already installed, under construction, or in design. Based on estimates calculated by NYCHA with support from the City University of New York (CUNY), the 73 buildings could potentially host up to 2.9 MW of solar — enough to power more than 750 typical New York City households.
“NYCHA is thrilled to release its latest ACCESSolar solicitation, which will add 2.9 additional megawatts of solar power to the 19 already installed on NYCHA rooftops, under construction, or in design,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “The new solicitation will contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and broaden New York City’s clean energy capacity while directly benefitting NYCHA residents through training and employment opportunities.”
“Through the development and installation of the ACCESSolar community solar systems on NYCHA properties, we are creating green career paths for NYCHA residents and turning existing rooftop space into a source of renewable, clean energy,” said NYCHA Chief Asset & Capital Management Officer Shaan Mavani. “With the release of the latest solicitation, the Authority will continue to maximize the portfolio’s potential for solar generation and advance its goal of reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions in New York City.”
“This latest solicitation in the ACCESSolar program gets us near our goal of producing 30 MW of solar on NYCHA rooftops by 2026,” said NYCHA Energy & Sustainability Programs Senior Director Siobhan Watson. “We’re excited to progress toward this goal as we head into planning our next Sustainability Agenda, where we’ll be updating our solar commitment and other forward-looking initiatives for the Authority.”
“CUNY is proud to have partnered with NYCHA’s ACCESSolar program since its inception,” said CUNY Vice Chancellor of Facilities Planning, Construction, and Management Mohamed Attalla. “The CUNY-built New York Solar Map and Portal, which can assess the solar potential of every rooftop in the city, has been a vital tool, and our staff have provided essential technical assistance and support. This collaboration promotes the availability of lower-cost clean energy for low- and moderate-income households, provides career opportunities for CUNY students, and reflects CUNY’s broader commitment to advancing sustainability across New York City.”
The solicitation divides the 73 buildings into two bundles: Bundle 1 includes 39 buildings at Butler, Bronx River, Gun Hill, Mill Brook, and Monroe Houses with a combined estimated capacity of 1.7 MW; Bundle 2 includes 34 buildings at Cooper Park, Farragut, and Sumner Houses with a combined estimated capacity of 1.2 MW. Development teams are able to bid on one or both bundles and must make best efforts to include solar on every building in each bundle. Teams may be comprised of developers, financiers, community-based organizations, workforce development entities, and other partners.
Proposals submitted to NYCHA will be evaluated by a team of NYCHA staff and residents based on criteria such as a team’s qualifications and financial plan; their technical approach, system design, and construction plans; and operations, maintenance, and safety strategies. Proposals will also be evaluated on benefits to NYCHA and its residents, including lease payments, resident job training and employment opportunities, and plans to enroll NYCHA residents and other low- to moderate-income (LMI) customers as community solar subscribers.
The development teams will own the solar installations and be responsible for their operation and maintenance. Electricity generated by those installations will be sent directly into the power grid under the community solar model, which allows credits for that power to be distributed to households throughout New York City on a subscription basis, reducing their monthly electric bills. LMI households will be prioritized in marketing the community solar subscriptions.
The ACCESSolar program — which has completed construction on a total of 6.8 MW of solar to date, with an additional 12.5 MW in design or construction — is one of many programs and initiatives that NYCHA is using to make progress on its sustainability goals. Released in 2021, NYCHA’s Sustainability Agenda outlines methods of addressing the climate crisis while solving long-standing quality of life issues in NYCHA homes, and was informed by 10 months of engagement with NYCHA residents, City agencies, community-based organizations, and technical experts. The Authority’s most recent progress is detailed in the 2025 Sustainability Agenda Progress Report.
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About the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1934 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 520,808 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. In addition, NYCHA connects residents to critical programs and services from external and internal partners, with a focus on economic opportunity, youth, seniors, and social services. With a housing stock that spans all five boroughs, NYCHA is a city within a city.
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