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2024 Earth Day & GridRewards Recognition at Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s Weekly Address

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2024 Earth Day & GridRewards Recognition at Westchester County Executive George Latimer’s Weekly Address

April 22, 2024 

GridRewards Energy Savings Program Pays Consumers, Improves Environmental Impact, and Helps the Electric Grid When it Matters the Most 

(our feature begins a quarter way through the recording, at minute 12:30)

GridRewards is a free program administered by Sustainable Westchester, the county’s leading advocate for community resilience and provider of renewable energy, that pays consumers to lower their energy consumption during periods of extremely hot weather when people typically crank their air conditioners and electricity demand spikes.

The easy-to-use GridRewards app, powered by Logical Buildings is part of Con Edison’s Smart Usage Rewards program. More than 3,500 residents and businesses in Westchester County have signed up for GridRewards to date, and on average, each residential user received a direct cash payment of $80, with the top commercial users earning more than $20,000. During the summer of 2022, users’ combined efforts reduced energy consumption by 7MW, enough electricity to instantaneously power 25,000 homes.

The benefits of participating in GridRewards are two-fold: in addition to saving money, the program reduces the regional energy grid’s reliance on “peaker plants,” a reserve network of antiquated fossil-fuel power plants. These facilities are believed by many to be responsible for planet-warming carbon emissions and health problems that disproportionately impact low-income communities of color where the plants operate. Peaker plants exist in neighborhoods like the South Bronx and sections of Brooklyn and Queens where asthma rates remain among the highest in the state. In New York City, 78% of people living within one mile of a peaker plant are low-income or people of color.

“New York’s ability to achieve its ambitious environmental goals depends on innovative and community-led programs like GridRewards,” said Jim Kuster, Interim Executive Director at Sustainable Westchester. “During a time when most household finances are tight and people are reminded daily about the looming threats posed by climate change, GridRewards offers an easy-to-follow path for saving money and reducing their environmental impact.”

“I first downloaded the GridRewards app in 2021, and I was amazed how easy it was to begin earning cash and protecting the environment. You simply enter your ConEd account number, respond to alerts through the app, and get paid. Easiest money I ever made,” said Gregory Spock, Pelham resident.

The GridRewards program has been supported by a broad and diverse range of County residents, businesses, renewable energy advocates, municipalities, schools and elected officials. During Earth Week, Westchester County Executive George Latimer held a press conference promoting the program. Members of the New Rochelle High School community were present at the event to share their experiences with GridRewards. Carmen Glenn, AP Environmental Science and Biology Teacher at New Rochelle High School explained how the Green Schools Committee worked with their Facilities Director Keith Watkins to implement the program.

Keyera Gordon, senior at New Rochelle, who serves at the Co-President of New Rochelle High School’s Green Club and is a Student Representative on the Ecology & Natural Resources Advisory Committee within the city of New Rochelle remarked “ on this beautiful Earth Day, I am delighted to speak about the GridRewards Initiative. Our Green Club board has been promoting the GridRewards mobile app in which people can link their utility account and once signed up with their energy provider login details, they can track their electricity and gas usage over time.. Advocating for this initiative, I and the rest of our Green Club board hope to increase awareness of energy usage, educating others about how they can personally benefit from decreased electricity use. We can provide a way for people to save money while also lowering their carbon footprint. This is the first step in the direction of increased sustainability and environmental awareness on a community-wide scale.”

The mayors of several Westchester towns including Hastings-on Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Ardsley, Tarrytown, Elmsford, and Sleepy Hollow urged residents to sign up. Con Edison-serviced municipalities, businesses, and residents are all eligible to participate in GridRewards and can sign up through Sustainable Westchester’s website or by downloading the GridRewards app in the App Store. New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) customers can also sign up to receive notifications when GridRewards is available in their areas.

Municipal TEN Accelerator

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SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER SECURES $92,000 GRANT TO DEVELOP CLEAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN
YONKERS & PEEKSKILL

Municipal T.E.N. (Thermal Energy Network) Accelerator will Help Municipalities Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuels, Lower Costs, Achieve Climate Goals, and Increase Equitable Access to Clean Energy

Mount Kisco, N.Y. March 11, 2024 – Sustainable Westchester, Westchester County’s leading resource for local municipalities striving to make their communities safer and more resilient against the threats posed by climate change, announced today that it secured a $92,000 grant to help the City of Yonkers and the City of Peekskill lay the groundwork for critical new forms of clean energy infrastructure. The grant was made possible by the Westchester Community Foundation, a division of The New York Community Trust, one of the largest community foundations in the country with assets of approximately $3 billion.

Through the grant, the organization’s Municipal T.E.N. (Thermal Energy Network) Accelerator will help support the creation of community thermal energy networks (CTEN) in each municipality, a popular emerging clean energy technology that has been recognized for its ability to decarbonize buildings while lowering energy costs and ensuring a clear path to a more inclusive green economy. CTENs leverage a network of pipes and heat pumps to distribute clean thermal energy to buildings connected to the infrastructure, from ground, air, wastewater and surface water sources.

Under the Utility Thermal Energy Network and Jobs Act signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022, New York became the first state in the nation to enact legislation promoting the development of thermal energy networks on a larger scale. The law dictates that a certain number of projects must be located in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution and environmental justice issues, and the City of Yonkers and the City of Peekskill are home to 44 percent of Westchester’s Disadvantaged Communities Census Tracts as identified by New York State.

“The City of Yonkers’ strongly supports the widespread adoption of clean energy and is deeply committed to achieving the goals outlined in the City’s visionary Climate Action Plan,” said City of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “Encouraging the development and use of large-scale community thermal energy networks will help advance our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase access to reliable and affordable clean energy, and protect our residents against the impacts of climate change.”

“Partnering with Sustainable Westchester to implement state-of-the-art community energy thermal networks is the latest example of our City doing everything in its power to address climate change head on and become a more sustainable municipality,” said City of Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie. “This initiative will transform the way Peekskill incorporates climate solutions in its buildings, and it creates more pathways for residents of all backgrounds to access reliable and affordable clean energy.”

“Addressing climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and equitably decarbonizing our County depends on leveraging every tool at our disposal,” said Rachel Carpitella, Sustainable Westchester Program Director, Building Decarbonization. “Community thermal energy networks can play a pivotal role in building community wealth and health while reducing energy burden and reliance on polluting fossil fuels for a diverse range of residents. Through the Municipal T.E.N. Accelerator we look forward to establishing a successful model for speeding the implementation of this critical technology, which can be replicated by municipalities across Westchester and beyond to achieve their climate goals.”

Thwarting the widespread adoption of CTEN technologies, however, are complex and occasionally prohibitive municipal codes and permits, inconsistent processes from one municipality to the next, and a general lack of understanding by local constituencies of how of these critical technologies operate.

As part of the grant, Sustainable Westchester will help the City of Yonkers and the City of Peekskill adopt a uniform industry standard to fast track CTEN installations, and establish a clear and consistent set of rules to encourage more CTEN investments across Westchester. It is hoped that by creating a successful blueprint, municipalities throughout New York can replicate it in service of the State’s climate, clean energy, and environmental justice goals.

Sustainable Westchester’s partner in the grant is the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA).

“In order to achieve a more sustainable and decarbonized future in Westchester and across the globe, we must encourage the widespread adoption of the cleanest and most efficient heating and cooling technology available,” said Jeff Hammond, Executive Director of the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.

Sustainable Westchester launched the first-of-its-kind REACH offering to partner with municipalities to develop, administer, and operate CTENs and to help commercial building owners decarbonize their properties and potentially connect to a CTEN. Interested municipalities and commercial building owners can contact Rachel Carpitella, program director at Sustainable Westchester, at [email protected] or (914) 242-4725 ext. 106.

 

About Sustainable Westchester

Sustainable Westchester is a leading resource for local municipalities, residents, and businesses striving to make their communities safer and more resilient against the threats posed by climate change. Acting as a hub for innovative programming, extensive relationships, and effective advocacy, Sustainable Westchester has been at the forefront of regional and statewide efforts to achieve a clean energy transition, conserve natural resources, promote environmental justice, and help member communities become more prosperous, healthy, resilient, and equitable.  For more about the organization and its activities, please visit sustainablewestchester.org.

The City School District of New Rochelle Recognized for Reducing Electricity Usage During Summer 2023 Peak Demand

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The City School District of New Rochelle Recognized for
Reducing Electricity Usage During Summer 2023 Peak DemanD

City Schools Receive $23,943 Rebate from Sustainable Westchester and Logical Buildings
for Innovative Efforts to Conserve Energy, Demonstrating Climate Leadership

New Rochelle, N.Y. January 22, 2023 – At a celebration at the New Rochelle High School Library on Wednesday, January 17, Sustainable Westchester, a leading advocate striving to make Westchester communities safer and more resilient against the threats posed by climate change, and Logical Buildings, an award-winning climate technology provider, presented the City School District of New Rochelle with a rebate check for $23,943 in recognition of its leadership in reducing energy use among school buildings. 

Cooling can be a significant energy challenge for school districts,  and amid a rapidly warming planet, there is increasing pressure on buildings – which account for nearly 40 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions – to improve sustainability measures. Pioneering carbon emissions and energy tracking through artificial intelligence, Logical Buildings’ SmartKit AI technology detected peak energy demand at key points during the summer of 2023, and the school district reduced energy usage at five schools by approximately 700 kW, which resulted in $23,943 in savings. New Rochelle is the first school district in New York to participate in Logical Buildings’ Demand Response Program.

City School District of New Rochelle Superintendent Dr. Corey W. Reynolds accepted the $23,943 rebate presented by Lauren Brois, director at Sustainable Westchester, and David Klatt, COO of Logical Buildings.

“Strategically curbing energy consumption during peak times aligns with our school district’s goal of managing resources efficiently and economically. It seamlessly connects with the priority of our Green Schools Committee to reduce the school district’s carbon footprint,” expressed Superintendent Dr. Corey W. Reynolds. “The acknowledgment through this rebate is a testament to our dedication to fostering an environmentally sustainable school district, ensuring a greener future for our students and community alike.”

“By partnering with Sustainable Westchester, the City School District was able to take advantage of an innovative demand response program, earn significant funds and reduce pollution,” said City of New Rochelle Council Member Sara Kaye. “I want to commend the students, the faculty and administrators for their advocacy and taking this important step toward confronting climate change.”

A total of five schools were activated on the platform: New Rochelle High School, Trinity Elementary School, William B. Ward Elementary School, Columbus Elementary School and Albert Leonard Middle School. The program was initiated by the City School District Facilities Department in support of one of the Green Schools Committee’s priorities of developing a comprehensive utility management program that maximizes conservation of natural resources. The district implemented simple measures, like shifting buildings’ cooling schedules and temperature setpoints to reduce energy at key times, and the program remarkably had limited to no impact on students and staff comfort levels. The district is currently exploring opportunities to expand its role by adding additional buildings in summer 2024.

“We have been working with Logical Buildings to bring energy technology solutions to residents, businesses, and municipalities throughout Westchester County, and we are thrilled to be involved in this partnership with the City School District of New Rochelle,” said Lauren Brois, director at Sustainable Westchester. “Enabling this type of technology can help school districts throughout Westchester not only reduce pollution in environmental justice communities, but also earn savings that can have a tremendous impact.”

“As we move towards a more electric and decarbonized world, becoming grid-interactive and using electricity smarter is both critical and valuable to the utility as well as energy users,” said David Klatt, COO of Logical Buildings. “The City School District of New Rochelle is a leader in climate innovation, showcasing the power energy users can have to collectively reduce energy when it matters the most and earning money for it.”

Sustainable Westchester regularly partners with Logical Buildings to offer technology-driven energy savings programs to Westchester County municipalities, residents, and businesses. For example, GridRewards pays consumers to lower their energy consumption during periods of extremely hot weather when people typically crank their air conditioners and electricity demand spikes. More than 4,000 residents and businesses in Westchester County have signed up for GridRewards to date, and on average, each residential user received a direct cash payment of $80, with the top commercial users earning more than $20,000. During the summer of 2022, users’ combined efforts reduced energy consumption by 7MW, enough electricity to instantaneously power 25,000 homes. Con Edison-serviced municipalities, businesses, and residents are all eligible to participate in GridRewards.

School districts interested in learning more about partnerships with Sustainable Westchester and Logical Buildings can contact Lauren Brois, Director at Sustainable Westchester. Contact: [email protected] or 914-242-4725, ext 122.

Case Study:

About Sustainable Westchester

Sustainable Westchester is Westchester County’s leading advocate for local municipalities striving to make their communities safer and more resilient against the threats posed by climate change. It plays a critical role in helping members achieve the goals of New York’s landmark Climate Act by supplying large-scale renewable electricity, implementing innovative clean energy solutions, increasing energy efficiency, saving taxpayers money, and promoting equity and environmental justice. Its diverse hub of popular and high-effective programs developed for municipalities includes Westchester Power, Community Solar, EnergySmart Homes, Commercial Clean Heating & Cooling, GridRewards Demand Response, Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure, Zero Waste Recycling, and Sustainable Landscaping.

About Logical Buildings

Logical Buildings is an industry-leading sustainability, smart building, and virtual powerplant software and solutions provider for the built world. Our revolutionary ESG technologies combat climate change by empowering residential, commercial, and industrial energy users to earn money, enhance building health and reduce carbon footprint, all from within user-friendly, award-winning mobile apps. Founded in 2012, the company now operates in major national urban markets, such as New York, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Camden, Chicago, Miami, and more. To learn more, visit logicalbuildings.com and follow Logical Buildings on LinkedIn.

About the City School District of New Rochelle

With nearly 10,000 students in 10 schools, the City School District of New Rochelle, through an active partnership amongst the community, parents, staff, and students, provides a high-quality and challenging education for every child in a safe, nurturing environment that embraces rich diversity and drives success. Resource Management is one of the CSDNR’s four strategic directions – where we maximize resources and identify operational efficiencies to provide and support the delivery of a high-quality education. Learn more here: nred.org

Solar + Storage at our Mount Kisco Headquarters!

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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/

Better Than New: Sustainable Westchester at the Ossining Repair Cafe

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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

Making Smart Energy Choices with the Mid Hudson Energy Hub

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Making Smart Energy Choices with the Mid Hudson Energy Hub

Helping Low-Income and Underserved Households Access the Clean Energy Economy

Members of the Mid Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub.

Members of the Mid Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub.

In 2022, New York State awarded $52 million to establish 12 Regional Clean Energy Hubs throughout the state, which serve as centers of outreach, awareness, and education that help foster residents’ participation, especially those in underserved or otherwise disadvantaged communities, in New York’s clean energy transition.

In its first year, the Mid-Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub (under the name Smart Energy Choices – Mid-Hudson) has assembled a team of 16 members across nine organizations to serve the seven-county Mid-Hudson region, covering Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan, Orange, and Ulster Counties. Energy Advisors located in each county are available to help renters, homeowners, small businesses, and nonprofits navigate the programs and resources available to them to reduce their energy burden. Importantly, Energy Advisors are educators and not salespeople. Their goal is to help utility customers make informed energy decisions based on their unique needs. Read on to see our one-year impact report.

“Everybody is hurting from higher energy costs. But not a lot of people know what exactly to do about it,” said Frankie Lede, an Energy Advisor based in Rockland County. “As an Energy Advisor within the Clean Energy Hub, I can be an educator or a resource for helping people address their energy issues. That is my motivation for doing my job.”

“It’s the human ecology aspect of the work that I can be most helpful,” said Mike Murphy, an Energy Advisor based in Ulster County. “I enjoy helping people navigate some of the complex programs that are available so that they can find comfort in their own homes and not have to suffer energy insecurity, and also help the planet too, so that their children and their children’s children might have a place to thrive.”

In the program’s first year, Energy Advisors provided direct education to over 5,500 individuals through participation in 183 in-person and virtual events, and counseled over 600 households on clean energy programs. After talking with an Energy Advisor, one in three households acted on an energy program or project, 36% of which were connected with low-income programs and wrap-around services.

“We are working hard to increase our services to those households with the highest energy burdens,” said Collin Adkins, Co-Director for the Mid-Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub. A home’s energy burden is the proportion of total household income spent on energy. “Forty-two percent of our neighbors are considered low-to-moderate income. It’s far too common for these families to be spending 20% or more of their income, just to pay their utility bills.”

Smart Energy Choices – Mid-Hudson is proud to be working with Sustainable Westchester to provide outreach and education throughout Westchester County. “Sustainable Westchester is able to help people from soup to nuts. We’ve got a list of recommended contractors, and we’re able to walk people through which technologies may be best for them. We try to help at every stage, provide information about the rebates, help narrow down the list of contractors, and also share the stories of the successful installations and neighbors that are happy with their projects,” said Sustainable Westchester’s EnergySmart Homes Director, Lauren Brois.

Lauren Kroell, also of Sustainable Westchester, said “There’s no problem that I feel isn’t solvable. … Whatever I can do, even if there’s not a lot that we can accomplish in the moment or at that specific time period, I want to emphasize that we’re always here to see what we can do, and I’m always eager to explore new potential options as well.”

“I was able to use some of [NYSERDA’s] programs, and I thought they were great. And when I found out that [Cornell Cooperative Extension] was hiring, and they needed help reaching out to the low- to moderate-income demographic, especially the Spanish speaking demographic, I thought it’d be a good fit. And I’ve always been in that sustainable world and being able to reduce my carbon footprint, so that was very attractive for me,” said Fernando Ahumada, an Energy Advisor based in Orange County.

On workforce development initiatives, NYCP’s Education and Careers Coordinator Cal Trumann, said “There’s lots of people doing good work, but they’re pretty siloed. And so, my hope is to provide resources to contractors, to new businesses, to workers, to community organizations who try and support workers, but also to provide a network of some sort. That is what I’m excited about, trying to get people into these jobs, make sure they know about them, make sure the jobs are good.”

Interested households can connect with their local Energy Advisor by calling the Mid-Hudson Energy Hotline at 845-605-0580, email [email protected], or fill out our intake form at MidHudsonEnergyChoices.org.

Westchester residents can reach out to Sustainable Westchester’s EnergySmart Homes team by calling 914024204725 ext.122 or emailing [email protected].

Expanding Opportunities in the Clean Energy Workforce

In addition to the services offered by the Energy Advisors, Smart Energy Choices – Mid-Hudson is also thrilled to be working with New Yorkers for Clean Power (NYCP) to increase diversity and opportunities in the clean energy workforce in the Hudson Valley.

NYCP and Smart Energy Choices – Mid-Hudson recently co-launched a statewide coalition called Clean Energy Careers New York, which aims to help residents learn more about the green economy and give them the tools they need to join it. NYCP’s Education and Careers Coordinator, Cal Trumann, has already helped organize several career summits under this effort so far, with a special focus on racial, gender and economic equity.

“There’s lots of people doing good work, but they’re pretty siloed,” said Cal. “And so, my hope is to provide resources to contractors, to new businesses, to workers, to community organizations who try and support workers, but also to provide a network of some sort. That is what I’m excited about, trying to get people into these jobs, make sure they know about them, make sure the jobs are good.”

As New York’s energy transition accelerates, residents, businesses and communities across the State will have access to new opportunities to benefit from the clean energy economy including clean energy careers, home improvements, even rebates for businesses and personal transportation. NYCP is working with Smart Energy Choices – Mid-Hudson to build upon New York’s clean job pathway and expand outreach and resources on clean energy jobs. Together their efforts to help communities access programs to lower their energy burden and grow local clean energy careers is an ideal pairing of services.

Regional Needs Assessment

Despite some early successes, the Hudson Valley’s energy transition presents many obstacles, particularly for low-income and underserved communities. Forty-two percent of census tracts in the region have been classified by New York’s Climate Justice Working Group as “Disadvantaged Communities,” based on their environmental burden and climate change risk, population characteristics, and health vulnerabilities. The region is often noted for its historic yet energy-inefficient building stock, 59% of which was built before 1970, and electricity costs in the Mid-Hudson Region are higher than average utility prices relative to N.Y. and U.S. averages.

“We are working hard to increase our services to those households with the highest energy burdens,” said Collin Adkins, Co-Director for the Mid-Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub. A home’s energy burden is the proportion of total household income spent on energy. “Forty-two percent of our neighbors are considered low-to-moderate income. It’s far too common for these families to be spending 20% or more of their income, just to pay their utility bills.”

In early 2024, Smart Energy Choices – Mid-Hudson will be hosting a series of public forums to engage disadvantaged communities in a regional needs assessment that will help direct the efforts of the program. With our underserved communities’ participation, the Hub will develop an Equitable Engagement Plan that will determine the strategic priorities for $250,000 in community campaign support and $300,000 in pilot project funding.

“Growing up in an area that’s heavily involved in the clean energy transition, and seeing the disparities between income, it’s made very clear who’s able to be involved in the clean energy transition. So, it’s important to be able to create that equity [regarding] who benefits from the funding,” said Amanda Catale, an Energy Advisor based in Putnam County.

“I just love helping people and making a difference in their lives by connecting them with resources that they sometimes desperately need,” said Faith Laudano, an Energy Advisor based in Dutchess County.

Awareness of programs and resources alone isn’t going to help New York meet its energy targets. Research consistently shows there are barriers to enrolling in programs, economic obstacles, difficulty during installations, and an excess of misconceptions that prevent people from realizing the full benefits of clean energy investments. In order to design their outreach and engagement to specifically address the many barriers that can arise, Smart Energy Choices – Mid-Hudson is partnering with the Consensus Building Institute (CBI) to complete a regional needs assessment in coordination with the communities they serve.

“So many factors pose challenges for communities’ access to clean energy. At CBI, we coordinate efforts to understand and solve such multi-dimensional problems, and this regional needs assessment is precisely that kind of project,” said Melanie Gárate, Senior Associate, Consensus Building Institute (CBI). “I’m eager to help these communities find a way forward and address barriers, by doing targeted, intentional outreach to local leaders and residents.”

Mid Hudson Clean Energy Hub, Year 1 Impact Report.

Mid Hudson Clean Energy Hub, Year 1 Impact Report.

Our Executive Director’s Climate Ride, an Epic Fundraising Challenge for Sustainable Westchester!

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Our Executive Director’s Climate Ride, an Epic Fundraising Challenge for Sustainable Westchester!

Sustainable Westchester’s Interim Executive Director Jim Kuster is fundraising for Sustainable Westchester with Climate Ride! He will be riding from Burlington VT to Bar Harbor ME, covering 410 miles in 5 days.

Consider sponsoring the ride! Your donation will be matched 4x, so a $10 donation becomes $40! Funds will be used to expand Environmental Justice initiatives at Sustainable Westchester and support our programming.

Read on for a note from Jim on why he Climate Rides!

“My motivation to get on my bike and ride beyond my comfort zone for a purpose beyond myself – addressing climate change – started in 2006, when I noticed the national conversation around sustainability and environmental protection becoming highly politicized. As a result, I started to look for ways to raise awareness to benefit local communities without a partisan objective. I began participating regularly in charity cycling events to connect directly with organizations that put resources to work for locally based climate action. This combined my love for outdoor travel and physical fitness, and opened the door to new relationships, communities and opportunities.

In 2016, I found my way to Climate Ride, a nonprofit organization that arranges amazing events on behalf of other environmentally focused nonprofits and have ridden in more than a dozen fundraising events since then. Sustainable Westchester is now a designated beneficiary of Climate Ride.

Currently I am fundraising for a Climate Ride in September from Burlington VT to Bar Harbor ME, 410 miles. Each dollar donated to my ride will be matched by a foundation associated with Climate Ride, then donated to Sustainable Westchester. In turn, Sustainable Westchester has a matching grant in place, so donations to the event will be multiplied four-fold!

Efforts to combat climate change should be truly non-partisan, but as I have learned since, it’s complicated. Genuine interest in protecting human health, community health and environmental health can lead to difficult policy choices and resource allocation. That is why Sustainable Westchester is ideally positioned to assist its municipal members and their constituents. Our consortium reflects the power of local communities to decide what programs are best suited to them and best effectuate change.

Please donate here to Sustainable Westchester through my Climate Ride event. Thank you!” -Jim

About Climate Ride

Climate Ride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that organizes life-changing charitable cycling, hiking, running, and other outdoor adventures to raise awareness and support sustainability, active transportation, and environmental causes. Since 2008, their biking, hiking, and running events have raised over $10 million to support climate, clean energy, conservation, and bicycle/pedestrian advocacy grantees. Over 6,000 people have participated in Climate Ride events since 2008. You can find more information https://www.climateride.org/.

Clean Energy Communities 2023 Update – Webinar Recording

By Our Blog

Clean Energy Communities 2023 Update – Webinar Recording

Many local municipalities and sustainability committees tuned into the Clean Energy Communities (CEC) 2023 Program Update Meeting. If you missed the meeting or would like to review the content, this blog post is for you.

During the webinar on August 10th, the Hudson Valley Regional Council provided an overview of the CEC Campaign Guidelines and Sustainable Westchester explained how our EnergySmart Homes and Solar Programs can support your municipality’s Clean Heating and Cooling (Heat Pump) and Community Solar campaign efforts. Municipal representatives also shared their experiences and best practices learned during their CEC Campaigns.

Funding for the Clean Energy Communities program has been expanded. With the new Achievement Levels, communities can earn up to 3,800 points and $97,500 and $290,000 for small and large communities, respectively. Municipalities that have previously completed campaigns are eligible for new funding opportunities. Please refer to the image provided for a breakdown of each campaign type and tier.

Sustainable Westchester can be your municipality’s partner in offering CEC Community Campaigns. To learn more about these campaign review the materials below:

  • To get started on your Clean Heating and Cooling (Heat Pump) community campaign, access template scoping documents and review details please reach out to Lauren Brois, [email protected]
  • To get started on your Community Solar community campaign, access template scoping documents and review details please reach out to Carmen Santos, [email protected]

Quick Link for CEC resources: