NYPA Press Release

New York Power Authority to Offer Programs That Emphasize STEM Learning and Inspire Young People and Seniors to Engage and Participate in New York’s Clean Energy Economy

New York, NY – Today, a group of young people living at Astoria Houses in Queens participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new community greenhouse lab focused on teaching cutting-edge skills in urban agriculture, sustainability-based programming, and environmental science. The lab will be operated under the auspices of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and will be a first-of-its-kind facility at a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) campus. The learning lab is part of NYPA’s Environmental Justice program, which provides educational resources to students from underserved communities near the Power Authority’s energy assets statewide.

“Learning about Sustainability and climate action is something all New Yorkers can do and NYPA is privileged to work with NYCHA to bring environment-focused education and resources to communities across New York, including in Astoria, Queens,” said NYPA Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “This hands-on experience in urban farming aims to provide students and residents with an elevated set of skills, a broader perspective, and a lasting sense of engagement with a more sustainable global community.”

The state-of-the-art science lab, located in a community room used for afterschool programming, will expose youth and all community members in the Astoria Houses to good nutrition, access to healthy food sources and the concept of environmental justice.

“NYCHA is committed to exposing our residents to emerging green technologies and connecting them to sustainable career pathways,” said NYCHA Chair and CEO Greg Russ. “The installation of this state-of-the-art community greenhouse lab at Astoria Houses will provide a fertile training ground for environmental science and food education, and we are grateful to the Power Authority and HANAC Cornerstone for facilitating this innovative source of youth programming.”

HANAC Cornerstone, a citywide nonprofit that provides year-round programming to young people, will host and maintain the lab, and incorporate the curriculum into its afterschool programs.

More than a dozen Queens students—elementary to middle school—led today’s tour of the hydroponic systems, where crops grow indoors without any soil, and showed off the vegetables and herbs they helped grow from seed to harvest. They offered cucumber and basil samples paired with mozzarella and balsamic vinegar.

The lab, which also includes seeding stations, a tower garden, hanging vines and a composting station, will be utilized by families who live in the NYCHA buildings. The harvest from the lab will go to program participants.
  

NYPA provided funding for the program and partnered with New York Sun Works, a non-profit organization that uses hydroponic technology to educate young people about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), climate and sustainability, and provides curriculum, training and community engagement support.

Eighteen green classrooms and two green community laboratories have been developed in New York City over the past three years. The average New York Sun Works hydroponic classroom produces more than 500 pounds of vegetables per school year.

NYPA and New York Sun Works also will offer additional classroom experiences through a series of community engagement events. NYPA staff will work with HANAC Cornerstone to coordinate harvest celebrations and activities, farmers market stands, donations to soup kitchens, or cooking demonstrations. Programs will be available to both student and, adults and eventually expanded to include intergenerational offerings.

The initiative is part of NYPA’s Environmental Justice STEM program, which is driven by a commitment to be a good neighbor to the historically disadvantaged communities that host NYPA’s facilities and strategic projects.

“The Astoria Houses garden is a learning lab that integrates science and sustainability into a fun program that everyone will enjoy,” said Lisa Payne Wansley, NYPA’s vice president of Environmental Justice. “Families will learn about cutting-edge technology through sustainable urban farming and be inspired to ask questions, investigate systems, and design solutions. Learning about STEM concepts will open up opportunities for young people and others who want to benefit from being part of New York State’s emerging clean energy economy.”

The program supports New York State’s long-standing commitment to increasing student awareness of technology and innovation, and teaching skills that will create a more diversified, highly skilled workforce.

As part of its community engagement activities, NYPA’s Environmental Justice team provides workshops on STEM education throughout the state, programs on energy literacy/weatherization and electric transportation, and energy services projects. In 2020, an indoor farming project was launched in Buffalo to increase the year-round production of fresh fruits and vegetables in areas where they are not readily available.

Last week, NYPA announced another energy-focused project with NYCHA: a $72 million construction project on energy-efficient heating upgrades at Marble Hill Houses in the Northwest Bronx and Berry Houses on Staten Island. The work will provide more efficient heat and hot water service for more than 4,000 residents across 2,100 public housing apartments.

More information about NYPA’s Environmental Justice programming can be found on the Environmental Justice web page on NYPA’s website.

###

About NYPA