NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY ENERGY CO-OP (NYC CEC)

The New York City Community Energy Co-op is a multi-class, multi-race cooperative working for energy justice and a just transition throughout the boroughs. The New York CEC is part of the Co-op Power regional network of Community Energy Co-ops. We have worked with Solar One, UHAB, CUNY, UPROSE, WE ACT, Brooklyn Movement Center, Accord Power, 770 Electric and Resonant Energy to develop affordable solar solutions in New York City.

We build community owned renewable energy, jobs and community wealth for all, that especially benefit people of color and low income communities. We’re building shared solar arrays and creating a path to community ownership so that we not only have solar discounts on our electric bills, but we have jobs and the economic and political power that comes from owning the arrays.

Each member has one vote in member decisions.

The NYC CEC is owned by the people, the families, and the organizations that subscribe to the solar arrays and by others who join to access other benefits we’re building together. We’re working together to create solar arrays, green jobs, and enterprises that will create a more just and equitable energy future in NYC - where everyone has access to affordable, clean, safe energy and has an equal voice in how our energy economy works. The NYC CEC operates on a not-for-profit basis and any excess money collected is given back to Members based on how much they’ve paid into the Co-op. Owner-Members each have one vote in decisions of the NYC CEC. Together, we elect a board that makes decisions that we delegate to them between Member meetings.

We exist to make a difference. Members make decisions about what projects to do, where to invest our membership dollars, what community solar arrays to build, what benefits to develop for our Members and what benefits to bring to our community. We start by looking at what’s needed in our community and choose the things we can do that will meet our community’s needs, meet our needs, and grow our cooperative. Benefits are created by Members pooling their buying power, their investment dollars, their power as workers and volunteers, and their power as voters.

The Community Energy Co-ops (CEC’s) in the Co-op Power regional network have supported the development of 12 enterprises including solar installation, solar finance, energy efficiency, thermal window insert fabrication, green plumbers and biodiesel manufacturing. They have created more than 400 good, green jobs. The CEC’s share business plans, staff, money, ideas and other resources with each other and are as committed to the success of the other CEC’s as they are to their own success. This regional network is a commons - a shared resource where communities come together to make a difference.

NYC CEC MEMBER BENEFITS

Our CEC has focus on building community ownership of solar arrays to serve families with limited resources. We are always researching ways that people can reduce their energy costs. Here’s a list of the ways we’ve found so far.

We have built solar arrays that are serving Nazareth Housing in Manhattan and Housing Works in Brooklyn.

We helped develop an array on the Brooklyn Army Terminal in partnership with UPROSE and Solar One and sold it to Working Power to build. It will benefit 150 to 200 low income families that live in Sunset Park.

We have built 40 arrays on rooftops owned by NYCHA in Manhattan and Brooklyn in partnership with Brooklyn Movement Center, WE ACT, and Solar One which serves 450 low income families who live in low income housing that does annual income qualification verification (like section 8). These households save approximately 20% on their energy bills. To see if you qualify, send an email to nyccec@cooppower.coop to get discounts on your electric bill.

All of these solar arrays include a green job training component. If you’re interested in training, let us know! Send us an email at nyccec@cooppower.coop with more info about who you are and what you’d like to do!

We’re partnering now with local installers to build more solar and create more jobs. Together, we can make a difference!

Contact Saba Hamadi (saba@cooppower.coop) and Galilea Matias (galilea@cooppower.coop) for more information and to get involved!