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September 22, 2017
New Solar Charging Stations and Electric Vehicles Bring Cleaner and Sustainable Transportation to DDC in Long Island City
Contact:
Dan Leibel
718-391-1251
Long Island City, NY – The NYC Department of Design and Construction’s (DDC) fleet became substantially cleaner and more environmentally sustainable this past month as its fleet of electric vehicles expanded to 21 and two advanced solar charging stations were installed at its Long Island City headquarters, Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio announced today.
“The use of all-electric vehicles that are charged by clean and sustainable solar energy directly supports the Mayor’s initiative to reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050,” said DDC Acting Commissioner Ana Barrio. “Our staff has been very pleased to know that they’re helping keep the City’s air cleaner by avoiding fossil fuels.
The new solar panel charging units, which cost $61,000, can generate approximately to 39 kWh/day or clean and renewable energy, and can fully charge a Chevy Bolt EV in nine hours. Each solar charging station features a 17’x 10’ power generating surface that automatically tracks the sun throughout the day and which charges a battery pack in the unit’s base. Up to three electric vehicles can then be connected to the charging station, including overnight, providing up to 238 miles of travel distance to a fleet of 14 new Chevrolet Bolt EVs that agency employees use to visit over 1,200 active construction sites throughout the City. DDC also operates seven all-electric Nissan Leafs.
In 2014, the City committed to supporting the growth of solar power by setting a target of 250 megawatts (MW) for private sector solar capacity and 100 MW for solar capacity on public buildings by 2025. These targets were outlined in One City: Built to Last. DDC also makes solar generating capacity part of many of its public building designs, including at the new home for the FDNY’s Rescue 2 in Brooklyn.
About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to city projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.