NYC Health + Hospitals and NYC DCAS Celebrate Completion of Rooftop Solar Installation at NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney
Over two hundred solar panels installed at the Brooklyn long-term care facility will offset more than 11% of the facility’s annual electric grid use and advance the public health care system’s clean energy goals
Aug 27, 2025
New York, NY – NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) today announced the completion of a major rooftop solar panel installation at NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney, the public health care system’s post-acute long-term care facility in Brooklyn. The installation will supplement McKinney’s daily energy use with cleaner, greener, renewable power. The new solar system comprises 234 540-watt solar panel modules that cover more than 6,400 square feet of rooftop space — the public health care system’s largest solar installation to date. The photovoltaic (PV) system will generate over 150,000 kWh annually, offsetting approximately 11.5% of McKinney’s annual conventional grid electric use.
“This is an exciting moment for NYC Health + Hospitals as we continue to expand solar energy across our system,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “By reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and lowering our greenhouse gas emissions, we are fulfilling our pledge to do our part in addressing the climate crisis. Forward-thinking projects like this will be instrumental in helping us meet our goal of cutting health sector emissions in half by 2030.”
“The installation of these solar panels at the McKinney long-term care facility represents another impactful collaboration between DCAS and NYC Health + Hospitals,” said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. “A $2 million investment, this new installation at McKinney means cleaner air and reduced carbon emissions for our city, and another project completed towards our commitment to a greener future for New Yorkers.”
“The McKinney solar installation demonstrates how NYC Health + Hospitals continues to lead in sustainability and resilience,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Vice President of Facilities, Manny Saez, PhD. “By integrating renewable energy, we are reducing emissions, lowering costs, and creating a healthier future for our patients and community.”
“At McKinney, we are proud to care for our residents with compassion and clinical excellence while also caring for the health of our community and planet,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney CEO Daveth Forbes-Thomas, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, LNHA. “This solar installation and building improvements not only reduce our environmental footprint, but also demonstrates our commitment to innovation and sustainability in healthcare. By offsetting more than eleven percent of our energy use with clean, renewable power, we are showing that a long-term care facility can lead the way in building a healthier, more resilient future in Brooklyn and beyond.”
The rooftop solar photovoltaic installation at McKinney was part of a broader $12.75 million comprehensive energy upgrade at the facility, which included a new chiller system, Building Management Systems (BMS) improvements, and lighting upgrades. The PV installation represents a $2 million investment and is expected to deliver net annual savings of nearly $12,000 in reduced electricity costs after accounting for maintenance.
NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney is a 320-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation center located in central Brooklyn that provides quality rehabilitation therapy and long-term skilled nursing services. McKinney serves long and short-term residents, offering medically complex services including dementia, pastoral, hospice and palliative care, Parkinson’s care, IV therapy, wound and tracheostomy care. New York City’s only nursing home to receive 5-star ratings across all four CMS metrics including quality measures, staffing, health inspections, and overall rating.
NYC Health + Hospitals operates more than 75 buildings across the five boroughs, totaling 20 million square feet and over 1,000 pieces of major mechanical equipment. These facilities contribute significantly to the city’s overall carbon footprint. The solar installation at McKinney advances the public health care system’s progress to decarbonize its facilities and build resilience against climate change. NYC Health + Hospitals has achieved an over 31% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions since 2006 and is continuing to advance efforts to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030.
The project was funded by DCAS Division of Energy Management, which is expanding distributed energy resources such as solar photovoltaic and energy storage installations across New York City’s municipal portfolio. Since 2014, DCAS has contributed nearly $1.1 billion in funding across over 15,600 completed energy conservation measures, leading to a reduction of 410,000 MTCO2e — an impact equivalent to removing 89,000 cars from the road. These projects are estimated to have reduced annual energy costs by $145 million.
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NYC Health + Hospitals: 212-788-3339; PressOffice@nychhc.org
DCAS: 212-386-6300; communications@dcas.nyc.gov
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services:
The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:
- Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees
- Managing 55 public buildings
- Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property
- Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies
- Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country
- Leading the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations
Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas or by following us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.
