New York's first solar canopy EV station opens at Staten Island school, starting borough push

New York City has launched a first-of-its-kind EV charging station in the city — a station under a solar canopy at a public school on Staten Island, combining on-site renewable power with routine fleet charging in a setup that could lower costs, cut pollution, and strengthen city operations.

The installation is also an opening move in a borough-by-borough plan to bring similar equipment to other parking lots the city controls.

Here's what to know

At Staten Island's Michael J. Petrides School, the new setup adds six Level 2 charging ports for municipal electric vehicles and school-related use, according to Solar Builder.

Passed in 2024, Local Law 63 created a pilot effort to place solar canopies in all five boroughs, and Solar Builder said the Petrides School installation is the first project finished under that law.

City officials, as cited by Solar Builder, said the sustainable fleet project received over $250,000 in funding. The same report said the addition brings New York City's municipal EV charging network to more than 2,600 ports and supports a fleet of 5,970 electric vehicles.

Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson said the installation is shooting for two targets — helping the city meet its climate goals while also reducing costs.

"By expanding electric vehicle charging stations, we are taking the next step to building a greener and more sustainable city," Kerson said. "This project will make green infrastructure more accessible, cut the city's carbon emissions and lower energy costs for New Yorkers in every borough."

Charging vehicles with solar power can reduce daytime demand on the grid and help the city avoid some fuel and operating costs.

More background

Solar Builder said the Petrides project is also the first solar canopy installation on Staten Island.

The city's other operational solar charging canopy began service in 2022 at the Department of Correction on Rikers Island, Solar Builder reported.

Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Yume Kitasei said the new station is part of a larger push to transition the city's fleet to EVs: "At DCAS we are committed to building the nation's leading municipal electric fleet — to do so, we must continue to invest in the infrastructure needed to power that transition."

Officials said the structure will shield parked vehicles from sun and bad weather, while grid electricity can supplement charging overnight or whenever extra power is required.

That grid backup can help essential city services stay on the road during times of heavy electricity use, and cleaner vehicles can also cut tailpipe pollution that worsens air quality.

What's being done?

City leaders are presenting the Petrides School installation as an example of infrastructure that can do several jobs at once: make renewable electricity, charge EVs, protect vehicles from the elements, and support everyday government operations.

Solar Builder reported that Keith Kerman, DCAS deputy commissioner and New York City's chief fleet officer, said the canopy is expected to serve the city's fleet primarily.

Using it that way could reduce dependence on conventional fuels and help agencies electrify more of the vehicles they already rely on each day.

Parking lots that are already built can be repurposed into even more effective power-producing sites with solar canopies, potentially cutting electricity costs, supporting cleaner transportation, and also providing some shade to protect your car from the weather.

This project allows the city to tackle two needs at once — expanding EV charging options while simultaneously generating renewable energy. New York City's chief climate officer Louise Yeung said that pairing is exactly the goal: "By pairing renewable energy with EV charging, this project helps reduce emissions while strengthening the city's ability to power its growing electric fleet."

"This new solar canopy will charge electric fleet units and school buses using sunlight while providing additional shade and storm resilience," Kerman said.

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