14 DAY TRIAL // Just yesterday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced to the world that, as part of a green-oriented project worth $28 million (€22 million), as many as 24 public schools in New York City, US, would be fitted with solar panels in the months to come.
Once up and running, these solar installations are expected to help New York City cut down on its yearly greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 2,800 metric tons.
Just to put things into perspective, it need be said that this predicted drop in annual greenhouse emissions is estimated to be the equivalent of taking as many as 600 cars running on dirty fuels off roads.
Where is the money coming from?
As already mentioned, the price tag of implementing this project is one of $28 million (€22 million). The money needed to fit the 24 schools with solar panels will come from City funds and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Thus, Mayor Bill de Blasio says that City funds will provide $23 million (€18 million). The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, on the other hand, is expected to offer $5 million (€4 million) in grants.
The solar panels will have a clean energy generating capacity of 6.25 megawatts. When finally installed and put to work, they will not only help New York City improve on its ecological footprint, but will also serve to educate kids about the need to protect the planet.
“These schools will serve as laboratories for learning as students develop habits for protecting our natural resources, and then carry these lessons forward. Teaching children to be environmental stewards is crucial as they have a critical role in making sure that New York is sustainable for centuries to come.”
“Our New York City schools are showcases for being good everyday citizens, and this is what we need our children to be—good everyday citizens now and in the future,” Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said in a statement.
What's next for New York?
By the looks of it, Mayor Bill de Blasio has some very serious plans when it comes to helping New Yorkers green up their ways. Thus, he hopes that, by the year 2050, the city will manage to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80%.
To achieve this goal, the Mayor wishes to have solar panels installed on the roof of at least 300 city-owned buildings. These planned solar installations would have a clean energy generating capacity of 100 megawatts.
Interestingly enough, Bill de Blasio wants ordinary folks to get behind the fight against climate change and global warming, and join hands in installing 250 megawatts worth of solar capacity on private buildings by the end of 2050.
“These 24 new solar installations at our schools mark a significant step forward, tripling the amount of solar currently on City buildings—but they’re also just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how we’ll dramatically reduce our contributions to climate change,” the Mayor told the press.
“In the next 10 years, we’ll retrofit every single public building with significant energy use, and catalyze the private sector to begin to do the same, charting a path toward an 80 percent reduction in emissions by 2050 and a total transition from fossil fuels,” he added.