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Dan Welsh

Jan 19

Solar + Storage at our Mount Kisco Headquarters!

By Our Blog

Solar + Storage at our Mount Kisco Headquarters!

40 Green Street rooftop solar array.

On December 7, 2023, Sustainable Westchester proudly unveiled a new electric vehicle (EV) fast charging station that is demonstrating a first-in-its-kind concept of fast-charging electric vehicles fully from renewable energy, in this case, from solar Photovoltaic (PV). The solar PV arrays and chargers are located on top of 40 Green Street, home to the Sustainable Westchester office as well as the Mount Kisco Police Station, and the Mount Kisco Historical Society. 

The project involves a complex system of an 85 kW solar photovoltaic array that captures energy from the sun, stores it into a 180kWh on-site battery, and twin Jule 75 kW DC fast chargers that can charge any kind of electric vehicle with more than 100 miles of range in under 24 minutes. This unique system is thus completely independent from the grid, which ensures that the EV charging at the facility will not operate on fossil fuels derived energy and reduces the impact on the demand on the grid. 

The impact of the “Sunshine to EV” project extends well beyond powering EVs: excess electricity generated by the facility is prioritized for low-and moderate-income (LMI) households through Sustainable Westchester’s Community Solar program, which aims to equitably share the benefits of clean energy among historically underserved communities.

Pictured L to R: New York State Senator and Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee Pete Harckham, Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, NYS Assemblyperson Chris Burdick; Sustainable Westchester Interim Executive Director Jim Kuster; Anthony Fiore, Chief Program Officer, NYSERDA; Mayor Michael Cindrich, Mt Kisco; John Petronella, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation; Peter McCartt, Westchester County Director of Energy & Sustainability; William Serratore, Director of Sustainability, City of Yonkers; Theresa Flora, Mount Kisco Trustee; Michel Delafontaine; Sustainable Westchester Director of Business Development.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sustainable Westchester’s Mount Kisco headquarters was attended by a diverse range of state and local elected officials, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, EV charger manufacturer Jule, Con Edison, renewable energy industry leaders and environmental advocates. 

The cutting-edge initiative proves the possibility for this charging concept to be replicated throughout New York in service of the State’s visionary climate, clean energy, and environmental justice goals. The system was partially funded by a $250,000 grant through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure program, and also supported by the North American EV charger manufacturer Jule. The effort builds on recent progress to expand EV charging infrastructure in Westchester County, including the addition of 90 new stations by the City of Yonkers in April 2023, and 34 new stations by the Village of Tuckahoe.

75 kW DC Jule fast chargers

 

Read more in our featured article about NYCEEC’s participation in Sunshine-to-EV:

https://nyceec.com/deal-spotlight/integrated-community-solar-storage-and-ev-charging-in-westchester-county/

Jan 16

Evento de Asistencia Invernal en Peekskill

By past events

Fecha: 6 de Febrero de 2024 Hora: 4:00-8:00PM

¿Está preocupado por las facturas de energía caras? ¿Necesita asistencia con financiamiento para proyectos en su casa o apartamento que pueden ahorrar dinero y energía? Pase por el Evento de Asistencia Invernal en Peekskill, el 6 de Febrero de 2024 (si nevando: 8 de Febrero), en cualquier momento entre las 4:00 pm y las 8:00 pm. Reúnase con representantes de: Department of Public Service (Departamento de Servicio Público), NYSERDA, Homes and Community Renewal, Peekskill Conservation Advisory Council y Mid-Hudson Smart Energy Choices. Para una solicitud más facil, trae una copia de sus facturas de energía y/o una carta de SNAP/HEAP/TANF/SSI. No es necesario registrarse para el evento, pero lo recomendamos. Confirma su asistencia aquí: https://bit.ly/WinterAssistance24

Dirección: Sun River Health, 1037 Main St, Peekskill, NY 10566

Se proporcionará pizza.

¿Preguntas? Llame a Lauren K al 914-242-4725 x126

Confirma su asistencia aquí: https://bit.ly/WinterAssistance24

Jan 16

Peekskill Winter Assistance Workshop

By past events

Date: Tuesday, February 6th Time: 4:00-8:00PM
(Snow date: Thursday, February 8th)

 Concerned about high energy bills? In need of financial assistance to implement energy saving projects in your home or apartment? Stop by the “Peekskill Winter Assistance Workshop” at Sun River Health on Tuesday, February 6th (snow date 2/8/24) anytime between 4:00pm-8:00pm. Meet with representatives from the Department of Public Service, NYSERDA, Homes and Community Renewal, the Peekskill Conservation Advisory Council and the Mid-Hudson Smart Energy Choices team. For an easier application, bring a copy of your energy bills, and/or your SNAP/HEAP/TANIF/SSI approval letter.  Registration is not required but requested, please RSVP here:  https://bit.ly/WinterAssistance24 

Location: Sun River Health, 1037 Main St, Peekskill, NY 10566 

Pizza will be provided. 

Questions? Contact Lauren at 914-242-4725 x126

Register Here

Jan 16

Electric Vehicles 101

By past events
Date: January 17, 2024 Time: 7:00PM
Bedford2030 is excited to host their first electric vehicle focused webinar. Community members are encouraged to sign up and listen to three panelists answer questions about making the transition to electric vehicles. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, January 17 at 7 pm over Zoom.
 Bedford2030 will be moderating a panel of three experts, New Yorkers for Clean Power clean energy coach, Samrat Pathania; Chargepoint Account Manager, Tristan Prochnow and Bedford resident and EV owner, Cynthia Braun. All three panelists have important perspectives related to electric vehicle acquisition and ownership!
Dec 07

How to Take Advantage of Green Incentives

By past events

How to Take Advantage of Green Incentives

Free workshop on December 10, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the Croton Library, hosted by Croton100 and its decarbonizing partners. Topics include savings on heat pumps, home energy efficiency, EVs, induction and electric stoves, related electricity upgrades, and utility-sponsored savings for clean electricity. Learn from experts and neighbors who have decarbonized. This program will cover Federal, NY State and utility financial incentives.

Location: Croton Library, 171 Cleveland Dr, Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520

Register

Sep 26

Going Solar at Home!

By past events

Date: 9/27/2023

Time: 6:00 – 8:00pm

Event Description: Mt Pleasant Conservation Advisory Council and Pleasantville Climate Smart CommunityTask Force host solar experts Chris Hale from SunBlue and Leo Wiegman from Sustainable Westchester to give residential homeowners the latest information on solar energy incentives and benefits.
Registration Link: Mt Pleasant Public Library, 350 Bedford Road, Pleasantville NY

Sep 26

EnergySmart Homes Workshop at the Somers Library

By past events

Date:10/12/23

Time: 7:00 – 8:00pm

Location: Somers Library

Event Description: Join the Somers Energy Environment Committee for an EnergySmart Homes Workshop at the Somers Library. Learn about the benefits of heat pumps for your home heating and cooling. Find out about state, utility and federal incentives for weatherization and electrification. Hear from Sustainable Westchester’s EnergySmart Homes Contractor Partners. In-person at the Somers Library on Thursday, October 12th from 7:00-8:00pm. To register visit bit.ly/SomersLibrary or call the library (914) 232-5717

REGISTER HERE

Sep 06

Better Than New: Sustainable Westchester at the Ossining Repair Cafe

By Our Blog

BETTER THAN NEW: SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER AT THE OSSINING REPAIR CAFE

Authored By: Molly Levitt

Nothing embodies reduce, reuse, recycle more than a Repair Cafe!

On Saturday May 20th, three of our high school senior interns (including yours truly) went to the Ossining event to promote Sustainable Westchester programs that directly help local residents. The interns met wonderful people from all over the local community and had the chance to provide valuable information about our Grid Rewards, Energy Smart Homes, and Community Solar programs to homeowners, interested citizens, and people doing work for local sustainable businesses.

For the uninitiated, a Repair Cafe is an event where anyone with a broken item can come and take advantage of the expertise of other members of their community to get it fixed. Not only is this a great way to reduce waste by extending the life of items instead of just throwing them away, it also brings the community together in a very unique way. Repair Cafe Hudson Valley has facilitated and hosted repair cafes across the region for ten years and was even recently featured in the Earth Day segment on the Today Show. You can watch that segment here.

The organizer of this Repair Cafe, Michele Stone, explains how she came to get involved in this work: “After the 2016 election, I wanted to use my energy for something positive, practical, and community building.The election brought about much activism and mine was the Green Ossining Repair Cafe. I saw a promotion for a Repair Cafe in New Paltz and visited at the first opportunity. I was so inspired by all the volunteers with the leadership of John Wackman, a legend among the Hudson Valley Repair Cafes!”

Ms. Stone went to Green Ossining, a dedicated volunteer committee. They were happy to sponsor the first Repair Cafe in June of 2017, and there have been over 20 well-attended events since. Michele tells us, “It is gratifying to see community members leave not only with their items repaired, but with a sense of community and the feeling that there is still so much neighborly goodness in our world.”

Personally, this intern loved to talk to people one-on-one and not just give them information, but listen to their stories and learn from them. I will definitely be coming back to more Repair Cafes in the future.

Now, let’s hear directly from our other two interns in attendance about their experience!

From our intern Talia: “Repair Cafe is an incredible way to conserve resources and learn about daily sustainable practices. It is great that people are helping others repair things with their varying areas of expertise. The Cafe’s strong sense of community is truly inspiring, as we cannot make systemic improvements without working together and teaching each other. Personally, I learned a lot throughout the Cafe, whether that be how to change a watch battery, how to use a sewing machine, or how to tune a guitar– all of which I am excited to incorporate into my daily life. “

From our intern Jada: “The Ossining Repair Cafe was an awesome community event that emphasized the overlap between sustainability and community. People gathered for repairs of all kinds, for example, Virginia, an Ossining resident, helped and taught me how to mend the sleeve of one of my favorite sweatshirts.”

Do you want to check out a repair cafe or even organize one in your town? Head over to http://www.repaircafehv.org/ to check when and where your next local repair cafe is and to learn more!

Rivertowns Repair Cafe Booklet

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