'Solar Empowerment Zones' Will Be Focus of Forum

Swaths of the city could band together to create "solar empowerment zones" in order to generate renewable power and reduce emissions. The plan, among several others, will be discussed today at a forum on alternative energy sources organized by the City Council.

The forum, which will take place at Hunter College in Manhattan, features energy experts from academia and the private sector who will offer recommendations on how to implement alternative energy.

According to Council Member Daniel Garodnick, who represents parts of Manhattan, one issue that will be discussed are the difficulties New Yorkers face in installing solar panels, which require them to assess and possibly upgrade their energy infrastructure through Con Edison, a costly and time-intensive process. Mr. Garodnick said the forum would discuss policies to create "solar empowerment zones" in which groups of buildings would band together to cut down on the building costs of solar power infrastructure.