The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Energize NY today announced the expansion of Energize NY into the Central New York and Mid-Hudson regions to help more communities reduce their energy costs and protect the environment through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Its mission aligns with Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.
A community-based energy efficiency program, Energize NY has operated primarily in Westchester County since 2011. By bringing its finance, residential and commercial programs to the Central NY and Mid-Hudson regions, it expects to stimulate approximately $15 million in energy cost savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36,000 metric tons, equivalent to removing 7,600 cars from the road.
NYSERDA is supporting the Energize NY expansion through Governor Cuomo’s Cleaner, Greener Communities, a statewide initiative encouraging communities to incorporate sustainability goals and principles into local decision-making, and then form partnerships to transform markets that lead to the reduction of emissions and the generation of economic development benefits.
Energize NY is New York State’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Finance program, which offers low-cost, long-term financing to commercial and not-for-profit building owners for energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy improvements. The financings are repaid through an annual charge on the property’s tax bill.
Energize NY also provides technical support and tools to residential and commercial property owners to improve energy efficiency and/or add renewable energy to their buildings, and to help building owners access NYSERDA and local utility programs.
“Energize NY’s expansion into the Mid-Hudson and Central NY regions highlights the State’s commitment to support a range of financing and outreach options to stimulate energy efficiency and renewable energy in New York,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “This partnership is one more element of a comprehensive strategy to help the State achieve Governor Cuomo’s ambitious energy goals.”
“Our goal is to help New York State residents, both homeowners and businesses, stop wasting energy and save money by improving the energy performance of their buildings,” said Mark Thielking, Executive Director of Energy Improvement Corp., which operates Energize NY. “We work with our member communities to realize the many benefits of reducing energy waste in local buildings–decreased personal and business spending on energy, increased profitability for local businesses, increased local economic activity and job creation, and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants associated with energy consumption.”
Currently, Energize NY is actively working with 50 potential solar and energy efficiency projects, totaling $15.8 million in project financings. Its residential program serves 14 communities in Westchester County and has helped nearly 900 homeowners make energy efficiency upgrades, saving approximately $1.6 million annually on their energy bills. Its commercial team has worked on 235 projects.
“Energize NY and its clean energy programs is an important part of our economic development and environmental conservation strategy. Their programs not only help commercial building owners improve their bottom lines by recapturing wasted energy dollars, but also increase local economic activity,” said Steve Neuhaus, Orange County Executive. “I am proud that Orange County was the first county in our State to implement the Energize NY program.”
Energize NY Finance is available to participating municipalities, like Orange County, which are members of Energy Improvement Corporation (EIC), home of Energize NY. There currently are 23 members, including Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Tompkins, with many other counties in the process of joining. There is no cost to join Energize NY.
“Any program that saves residents money by promoting energy efficiency and also protects our environment is a win for everyone,” said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein.
EIC is a mission-driven, local development corporation that works with its member municipalities and building owners across New York State to unlock energy savings in their buildings, saving money, fuel and greenhouse gas emissions. It drives demand for clean energy upgrades to existing buildings through community-based marketing and outreach, building owner support and by providing affordable and accessible project financing. For more information on Energize NY programs, visit http://www.energizeny.org/.
Cleaner, Greener Communities supports projects that the Regional Economic Development Councils have identified as important to the economy of the region. It is funded through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s first market-based regulatory program in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI is a cooperative effort among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector.
