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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 was hosted by Sustainable CUNY's Smart DG Hub and Con Edison on Thursday March 26th, 2026. The workshop detailed updates to incentives, permitting, and codes for both Solar and Energy Storage Systems. Speakers included representatives from the NYC Department of Buildings, FDNY, NYSERDA, Con Edison and the Sustainable CUNY Ombudsmen.

2026 Webinar and Q&A

Presenters answered attendees questions as time allowed. The ombudsman compiled written answers from FDNY and the NYC DOB for the outstanding questions. Additional responses are pending. Q & A, April 27, 2026

You can view the entire workshop and the questions answered live on the 2026 Recorded Webinar 

2026 Slide Presentations

Sustainable CUNY's Smart DG Hub

Welcome and Workshop Overview

Laurie Reilly, Communications, Sustainable CUNY

Sustainable CUNY’s Smart DG Hub: Accessing TA and Permitting Resources 

Daniella Leifer, Energy Storage Ombudsman, Sustainable CUNY

Emily Sweeney, Solar Ombudsman, Sustainable CUNY

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Con Edison Programs, Incentives and Processes

Welcome

Britt Reichborn-Kjennerud – Director, Distribution Planning  

Interconnection Overview 

Constantine Spanos, DG Ombudsman 

Documentation/Best Practices Application

Will Littman, Engineer-Distribution Eng. 

Demand Response Program Updates 

Dimitris Vantzis, Dept. Mgr., Dist. Planning 

Non-Wires Solutions Program Updates

Jason Brown, Section Mgr., Dist. Planning 

Bulk Energy Storage Procurements and Road Map

Brian Schaitkin, Clean Energy Manager, Energy Storage

Integrating EVs with PV & ESS

Chris Russo, Clean Energy Program Manager  

Community Solar Billing

Tom Schaefer, Section Manager, Specialized Activities 

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Energy Storage: Updates on Incentives, Permitting and Code

FDNY

Yash Patel, Asst. Chemical Eng., Sustainability Unit, Office of Tech. Mgmt. 

 

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NYC DOB

Tony Singh, Project Manager/Electrical Engineer, Office of Alternative Energy 

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NYC Electrical Code Updates & Q&A 

NYC DOB

Vincent Yu, Senior Electrical Engineer, Technical Affairs 

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Solar Updates on Permitting and Codes

NYC DOB

Yarnell Williams, Assistant Chief Plan Examiner

Diana Laverpool, Senior Clerical Associate 

 

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FDNY

John Ingenito, Supervisor, Rooftop Access Unit, Office of Technology Mgmt.