NYC Solar and Storage Installer Workshops

Sustainable CUNY's Smart DG Ombudsman partner with NYS and NYC agencies and authorities, utilities, and subject matter experts to conduct workshops for solar and storage installers and the stakeholder community. Notices of upcoming workshops are distributed through DG Hub and Solar Installer Roundtables. For more information contact nysolar@cuny.edu

2026 Solar Installer Workshop

The 2026 NYC Solar & Storage Installer Workshop will be hosted by Sustainable CUNY's Smart DG Hub and Con Edison on Thursday March 26th, 2026. Register Here

This workshop will detail updates to incentives, permitting, and codes for both Solar and Energy Storage Systems. Speakers included representatives from the NYC Department of Buildings, FDNY, NYSERDA, NYCHA, the Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, Con Edison and the Sustainable CUNY Ombudsmen.

2025 Slide Presentations

Sustainable CUNY's Smart DG Hub

Welcome and Workshop Overview

Tria Case, Executive Director of Sustainability & Energy Conservation, CUNY

Accessing TA & Permitting Resources

Daniella Leifer, Energy Storage Ombudsman, Sustainable CUNY

Emily Sweeney, Solar Ombudsman, Sustainable CUNY

Con Edison Programs, Incentives and Processes

Opening Remarks
James Gaughan, Director, Distribution Planning

Demand Response Program Updates
Gerrianna Cohen, Energy Efficiency Program Manager – Distribution Planning

Best Practices for Interconnecting Energy Storage
Libin Mao, Senior Engineer – Distribution Planning

E-Mobility & Demonstration Incentive Programs
Keegan Edward, Clean Energy Specialist – E-Mobility & Demonstration

Non-Wire Solutions Program Updates
Joshua Brown, Clean Energy Senior Specialist – Distribution Planning

Best Practices for Interconnecting Energy Storage
Libin Mao, Senior Engineer – Distribution Planning

Interconnection Updates & Policy Updates
Constantine Spanos & Brittany N. Allerdings -- Ombudspersons

Energy Storage: Updates on Incentives, Permitting and Code

Con Edison: Utility Dispatch Rights (UDR) Program and Current ESS Procurement
Mike Talley, Section Manager – Energy Storage

FDNY: ESS Application Process; COA; COF; Inspections; and Final Approval
Yash Patel, Assistant Chemical Engineer, Sustainability Unit, Office of Technology Management

DOB: ESS Application Process with Focus on DOB NOW
Alan Price, P.E., Director, Office of Technical Certification & Research

Steven Hong, R.A., Deputy Director, Office of Alternative Energy

NYSERDA: ESS Incentives and Statewide Experience with Market Trends
John Petinos, Senior Project Manager, Energy Storage, Distributed Energy Resources

Solar: Updates on Incentives, Permitting and Codes

DOB: Construction & Electrical Permits

Diana Laverpool, Senior Clerical Associate and Emily Rae Chang, Assistant Chief Plan Examiner

FDNY: Application Process and Rooftop Access Code Requirements

John Ingenito, Supervisor, Rooftop Access Unit, Office of Technology Management 

Con Edison: Hosting Capacity Map Overview and Updates

Kathryn Osenni, Specialist, Distribution Planning

NYSERDA: Inspections & Program Requirements

Luke Forster, Senior Business Analyst, Distributed Energy Resources 

NYC Solar Initiatives

Public Solar NYC

Isha Patel, Senior Policy Advisor, Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ)

ACCESSolar

Katy Burgio, Deputy Director of Sustainability Programs, NYCHA   

Ombudsman Services and NY Solar Map & Portal 2.0

Daniella Leifer, Energy Storage Ombudsman, Sustainable CUNY

Emily Sweeney, Solar Ombudsman, Sustainable CUNY

2024 Presentations