City Leaders Tell Gov. Hochul: Legalize Balcony Solar!

NEW YORK, NY (07/29/2026) (readMedia)-- On Thursday, July 30, city council members and more elected officials will hold a rally at City Hall Park urging Governor Hochul to sign the Solar Up Now New York (SUNNY) Act (S.8512 Krueger/A.9111 Gallagher). The group will also release a letter sent to the Governor in favor of the SUNNY Act and signed by NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and 26 more city council members.

The SUNNY Act will remove regulatory red tape to small, "plug-in" solar panels, so that New Yorkers-especially renters or families living in apartments-can take advantage of clean energy technology that allows them to lower their energy bills and do their part to cut pollution and fight climate change. As energy bills continue to skyrocket, especially during the summer heatwaves that climate change is making more prevalent and dangerous, the SUNNY Act shows the way forward: affordable, accessible solar is key to lowering bills and fighting climate change.

Following the rally, advocates will use a solar panel to power a blender and hand out free milkshakes.

The rally will be livestreamed here.