Brett Wynkoop for Brooklyn, New York Assembly District 52

Our neighborhoods in Assembly District 52-from Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights to Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, DUMBO, and beyond-are growing and changing. New residential and commercial buildings are bringing needed housing and vibrancy, but they are also placing unprecedented strain on our aging electrical grid. This has led to more frequent brownouts, blackouts, and even electrical issues under our streets.

These disruptions affect everyone, but they hit our most vulnerable residents hardest: seniors on fixed incomes, low-income families, and those who rely on medical equipment or can't easily relocate during outages. We deserve power we can count on-without facing higher bills or safety risks from an overstretched system.

The Current Challenge

When low-rise homes (typically 1-6 family buildings) are replaced by much larger developments, the added demand often requires significant upgrades to Con Edison's local infrastructure-new lines, transformers, and more. Right now, the cost of these necessary upgrades falls largely on everyday ratepayers through higher delivery fees, even though the growth comes from specific projects. Con Edison typically only acts reactively, after lines fail, rather than planning proactively for denser neighborhoods.

A Fairer Path Forward

We can protect our grid, our wallets, and our environment by making smart, targeted changes in Albany:

1. Shift upgrade costs to those driving the demand
   Require developers of large-scale projects in areas without sufficient existing infrastructure to cover the full cost of required Con Edison grid upgrades-before construction begins. This ensures that new development pays its fair share, relieving the burden on existing residents and small businesses. It's a matter of basic fairness: those who profit from increased density should invest in the supporting infrastructure.
2. Promote distributed renewables and energy resilience
   Mandate that major new residential and commercial buildings (especially those replacing smaller homes) incorporate meaningful on-site renewable energy generation-such as rooftop solar, small-scale wind, or efficient co-generation systems. These distributed resources would reduce overall demand on the grid, enhance local reliability during peak times or emergencies, and advance our shared goals of cutting carbon emissions and building climate resilience. Even if a building's renewables cover only part of its needs, they still ease pressure on the shared system and support New York's clean energy transition.

By adopting these practical measures, we can ensure that growth benefits our entire community-keeping energy reliable and affordable, protecting vulnerable neighbors, and accelerating the shift to cleaner, more resilient power. This isn't about stopping development; it's about making sure it's done responsibly, equitably, and sustainably for all of us in AD-52.