Local Action, Countywide Impact: Westchester’s Sustainability Progress
In 2025, Sustainable Westchester proved something important: meaningful local progress in clean energy is still possible, even when national momentum feels uncertain. Community by community, household by household, we helped residents, businesses, and municipalities take practical steps toward cleaner energy, lower costs, and a more resilient future.
The numbers are important, but they don’t capture the entire story. Behind each statistic is a family working to lower their energy bills, a municipality planning for the future, a nonprofit organization stretching its limited resources, or a student envisioning a career in clean energy. Together, these individual efforts have contributed to a year of meaningful progress in energy efficiency, solar energy adoption, and sustainable community development.
Over 500 households discovered clean energy upgrades, rebates, and tax credits through our EnergySmart Homes program. For many families, this marked the initial step toward reducing energy costs and making informed decisions about energy efficiency. Additionally, 320 households participated in Community Solar, gaining access to nearly six megawatts of clean energy without the hassle of installing solar panels.
Interest in solar energy remained strong. Through our Residential Solarize program, 430 households received free assessments of their homes’ solar potential, and nearly 100 households went on to install new solar systems. Additionally, six municipalities utilized our Municipal Solarize expertise to develop proposals for new solar installations on public properties, enabling them to save money and reduce emissions.
Across the region, 100 nonprofits applied for funding through the Renew America’s Nonprofits program, while five municipalities participated in our Municipal Thermal Energy Network Accelerator, gaining guidance on energy efficiency and neighborhood level decarbonization. Together, these programs helped organizations and local governments reduce costs, lower emissions, and better serve their communities.
Businesses and institutions also benefited from our initiatives. Forty organizations received valuable information on efficient energy systems and clean energy alternatives. Additionally, 3,000 households took part in our GridRewards program, contributing to a cleaner and more resilient electric grid while also saving money on their energy bills.
Education and workforce development continued to be a priority. Twenty school districts explored cleaner transportation solutions during our School Bus Electrification Forum, which was hosted in collaboration with Senator Shelley Mayer and the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents. Additionally, at our third Clean Energy Career Fair, 450 job seekers connected with training and employment resources, bolstering the region’s clean energy workforce.
Looking ahead to 2026, Sustainable Westchester is focused on expanding access to clean energy and energy efficiency programs across Westchester and beyond. We plan to grow EV fast charging with additional MOVE systems, support more rooftop and parking lot solar installations, and offer new clean electricity options for households and small businesses. We will continue working closely with municipalities through Clean Energy and Climate Smart Communities initiatives and help them adopt safe and practical battery energy storage regulations.
The numbers from 2025 are encouraging, but the real story lies in the people behind them. Families, nonprofits, schools, businesses, and municipalities all worked together to create a cleaner, more sustainable future. This is the kind of lasting progress we are proud to support as we enter the new year.
In 2026, Sustainable Westchester is expanding its efforts by increasing EV charging, accelerating solar, creating career opportunities, and supporting homeowners and communities through the clean energy transition.
