Supervisor Smith Announces Green Energy Funding for Town

SUPERVISOR SMITH ANNOUNCES GREEN ENERGY FUNDING FOR TOWN OF PITTSFORD
As a “Clean Energy Community,” Town to use funds for EV charging & solar initiatives
Pittsford Town Supervisor Bill Smith today announced the Town of Pittsford received a $50,000 Clean Energy Community grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for the Town’s proposal entitled “Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction.” The Town became eligible for the funding when it was designated in 2017, by the State of New York, as a “Clean Energy Community.”  The Town earned the Clean Energy Community designation by completing “high impact” sustainability initiatives defined by the State and aimed at reducing energy use and carbon emissions, cutting costs and driving use of clean energy locally.
 
“Pittsford was proud last year, and remains proud, to be the first town of its size in Monroe County to earn Clean Energy Community designation,” said Town Supervisor Bill Smith. “This grant allows us to build on our strong record of green accomplishments.  It rewards our timing and planning in 2017 to qualify early as a Clean Energy Community, letting Pittsford in on the State grants. Together with our other forward-thinking initiatives, we’re working on continuous improvement for Pittsford, to make life for our residents even better than it is today.”

The Town’s proposal entitled “Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction” takes a multi-faceted approach to green energy, with community benefit at the forefront. Part of the $50,000 funding will support  the installation of a new EV (electric vehicle) charging station at the newly renovated Paul M. Spiegel Pittsford Community Center. This will be the Town’s second EV charging station.  The first was installed in the municipal parking lot behind the Pittsford Community Library in 2017. The charging stations are offered free of charge to users. The existing station has been used by hundreds of residents and visitors. Funds from the grant have also been allocated for the installation of solar panels on Town-owned buildings. The solar panels will make Town buildings more energy efficient and will reduce the Town’s energy costs, which in turn saves taxpayer dollars.

 “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, communities in every corner of New York are realizing the benefits of clean and renewable energy in reducing operational costs and carbon footprint,” said Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “Congratulations to the Town of Pittsford for taking control of its clean energy future and serving as a role model for communities across the state.”

Pittsford has a long history of policy commitments that benefit the environment, starting with its Greenprint plan in 1996.  Hailed as a national model for community conservation, it preserved nearly 2,400 acres of open space and agricultural lands. Among other green initiatives, the Town has adopted a law enabling Community Choice Aggregation as a sustainable and lower-cost option for electric power for Pittsford residents.  The Town is working on conversion of street lights to high-efficiency LED lights bulbs, and is exploring practicalities of a solar energy farm in the Town of Pittsford.

New York State adopted the Clean Energy Communities initiative in order to encourage local governments throughout New York to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable development projects and to support them in that effort.  The program is administered by (NYSERDA.

Grant funds are being provided through New York State’s Clean Energy Fund and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. For more information on Clean Energy Communities, visit www.nyserda.ny.gov/cec.