New York City needs to get going on transforming Rikers, environmental activists say Mar 5 Written By Michael Higgins Jr. Environmental advocates are renewing the push to make Rikers Island a centerpiece of New York City's climate strategy as Mayor Zohran Mamdani commits to closing the jail complex there.The jails currently house nearly 7,000 people and have been steeped in controversy for decades. By law, the complex is scheduled to close by August 2027 and be replaced by four smaller borough-based jails. The city will miss this deadline due to construction delays on the new facilities, officials have said.As part of the mandate to close Rikers, the city was required to generate feasibility studies on renewable energy and wastewater treatment options for the island. The study presented different scenarios, with a preferred option of solar, large-scale battery storage, an offshore wind connection and a new wastewater treatment plant. Michael Higgins Jr.
New York City needs to get going on transforming Rikers, environmental activists say Mar 5 Written By Michael Higgins Jr. Environmental advocates are renewing the push to make Rikers Island a centerpiece of New York City's climate strategy as Mayor Zohran Mamdani commits to closing the jail complex there.The jails currently house nearly 7,000 people and have been steeped in controversy for decades. By law, the complex is scheduled to close by August 2027 and be replaced by four smaller borough-based jails. The city will miss this deadline due to construction delays on the new facilities, officials have said.As part of the mandate to close Rikers, the city was required to generate feasibility studies on renewable energy and wastewater treatment options for the island. The study presented different scenarios, with a preferred option of solar, large-scale battery storage, an offshore wind connection and a new wastewater treatment plant. Michael Higgins Jr.
