Hurdles to New York’s Adoption of Solar Rooftop Panels

Well established as an Albany, New York, attorney, Lawrence Schillinger focuses on issues of government relations and environmental compliance. A longstanding member of the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV), Lawrence Schillinger chairs the Capital Region chapter of an organization that seeks to address diverse sustainability issues facing state residents and ecosystems.

One major issue New York is currently grappling with is how to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Governor Cuomo’s recently developed Reforming the Energy Vision plan lays out an ambitious goal of reaching 50 percent renewably sourced electricity by 2030, with solar energy a being a vital part of that.

Unfortunately, despite a tax-incentive driven push toward solar that has led to a nearly 600 percent increase in solar adoption since 2011, rooftop panels are not yet common statewide. A major issue identified by NYLCV goes beyond installation costs and involves the sheer number of permit-related obstacles that must be overcome before approval. Permitting steps span the Department of Building, Con Edison, and the fire department. In addition, there are property tax abatement applications that involve an entirely separate process.