NYLCV's campaign to bring more solar energy to New York got a big boost Thursday from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer also called on the Legislature to pass the Solar Jobs Act -- a top NYLCV priority.
Historical Cities-New York City (All Boroughs)
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Lyn WilkersonA likely contender for mayor in 2013, Stringer released a report concluding that installing solar panels on the roofs of New York City public schools could produce thousands of new jobs and lots of clean energy. 

Using the City University of New York's NYC Solar Map, Stringer's office developed new data showing these installations could host 169.46 megawatts of clean, renewable electricity and eliminate 76,696 tons of carbon from the air each year -- the equivalent of planting over 400,000 trees. It would also increase solar capacity in the five boroughs by over 2,600 percent.

The Borough President also noted that that solar installations on New York's City's public school roofs could create an estimated 5,423 green collar jobs, according to an analysis by the advocacy organization New Energy New York.

Stringer also called on the state Legislature to pass the Solar Jobs Act. This measure -- one of NYLCV's top priorities for this year -- would establish a system of renewable energy credits, help foster a stable investment climate for power purchase agreements and ultimately create tens of thousands of jobs and generate billions in new revenue.

"At a time when New York City's working families are struggling to make ends meet and our tax dollars are stretched to the limit, we need to stop talking about solar energy and start making it a genuine job producer," Stringer said, appearing at a press conference on Hunter College's Solar Roof.