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COMMUNITY OP-ED MAY 05, 2023 | The Indian Eye 16

PLANYC: Getting Sustainability

Done in New York City

Building a renewable energy future will bring down emissions and mitigate climate damage in the

years to come, and it will also drive down pollution and improve air quality

ERIC ADAMS

ast week, New York City cele-
brated Earth Week by power-
Ling up new rooftop solar pan-
els in Brooklyn, cleaning up parks
in Queens, and releasing PlaNYC:
Getting Sustainability Done, our new
plan to create a more climate-resil-
ient city for all. The New York City will install solar energy, electric building infrastructure, green roofs, and other renewable energy on as much city-owned
This strategic climate plan builds
on our city’s ongoing efforts to pro- property as possible, including our DOE schools and our NYCHA buildings (File photo)
tect New Yorkers from extreme
weather, improve quality of life, and ing our electric vehicle charging the building trades. building new overflow tanks along
support our new green economy. network across the five boroughs, so Building a renewable energy the Gowanus Canal to improving
Most importantly, these new ini- every New Yorker who chooses to future will bring down emissions drainage in flood-prone neighbor-
tiatives are not happening in some drive can drive electric – especial- and mitigate climate damage in the hoods.
far-off future, but right now, in your ly our for-hire vehicle drivers. We years to come, and it will also drive All of these efforts will protect
neighborhood. are already electrifying our schools down pollution and improve air and sustain our environment, as
The plan includes a new public and our entire school bus fleet and quality. We’re going to amplify that well as lay the foundation for a new
solar program that will help every- working to reduce our emissions effort by getting polluting trucks off green economy. That’s why a big
day New Yorkers afford the cost of from every major source — build- our streets, creating new low-emis- part of this new plan is about provid-
installing rooftop solar panels, heat ings, transportation, and food. sions zones in neighborhoods that ing education, training and oppor-
pumps, and other energy efficiency The city will install solar ener- have seen far too much traffic and tunity for New Yorkers to acquire
retrofits. The plan also includes pro- gy, electric building infrastructure, congestion in the past. And plans the skills and training they need to
visions to advocate for Home En- green roofs, and other renewable are already in motion to expand succeed in this new job market, one
ergy Assistance Program (HEAP) energy on as much city-owned prop- New York City’s tree canopy by 30%, that will protect our future and sup-
reform – reforms that will help peo- erty as possible, including our DOE planting thousands of new trees and port a new generation of workers.
ple afford new air conditioners and schools and our NYCHA buildings. improving our green spaces, parks, New York City has always been
assist with their utility costs to keep We will also phase out capital and recreation areas as well. a leader when it comes to climate
cool during increasingly hot weather. spending on new fossil fuel equip- We’ve already seen what cli- solutions and environmental jus-
Thanks to our robust public ment and infrastructure and update mate-driven storms can do to our tice. We have so much to be proud
transit system, New Yorkers already our zoning practices to facilitate city. From Hurricane Sandy to Trop- of, and so much to protect. This new
have some of the lowest carbon building retrofits and eliminate bar- ical Storm Ida, we know that lives plan is a positive and practical road-
emissions per capita in this country, riers to electrification. This is not are at stake, and our homes and map to creating a cleaner, greener,
but we can go further. We’re going only good news for our environment, our infrastructure are at risk. This and more just city for all.
to help more New Yorkers join the but a path to more jobs and oppor- plan expands our efforts to prevent Eric Adams is
clean energy revolution by expand- tunity for New Yorkers working in flooding and sewage problems, from the Mayor of New York City, NY

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