Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, PSEG Long Island and the Long Island Power Authority today announced a new partnership that will be included in the countywide 2020 Suffolk County Shared Services plan to assist local governments with energy efficiency projects, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve taxpayer savings through lower electricity bills.
“This is another example of how shared services is changing the way local governments do business on Long Island,” said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “As it stands, there may be several million dollars being left on the table each year in possible rebates that could otherwise be available for municipalities. I thank PSEG Long Island and LIPA for working together to identify cost savings opportunities and investments into more energy efficient appliances.”
Mike Voltz, PSEG Long Island’s Director of Energy Efficiency, said: “We want to help all of our 1.1 million customers save money and reduce Long Island’s carbon footprint. The SuffolkShare Carbon Reduction Center of Excellence is a great way to streamline the process for Suffolk County’s many shared services partners. We applaud the county for taking action to be greener and save more money.”
Tom Falcone, CEO of Long Island Power Authority, said: “County Executive Steve Bellone continues to find ways to cost-effectively reduce Suffolk County’s electric bills and carbon footprint. With the help of PSEG Long Island, this shared-service programs will help Suffolk County meet Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading climate goals and bring Long Island closer to achieving our mission of a cleaner, more reliable, and affordable electric grid.”
The SuffolkShare Efficiency Partnership will combine a series of initiatives to assist the current total of 105 shared services partners in Suffolk County, including:
- Free energy assessments for local governments
- More direct information and assistance for municipalities and districts in planning efficiency projects that qualify for rebates from PSEG Long Island
- Cooperative procurements for lower-cost pricing of equipment and materials for energy efficiency products, such as LED lighting, HVAC systems, and windows
- Creation of a shared services committee, which will include subject matter experts from Suffolk County and PSEG Long Island, to assist other local governments with information on best practices and opportunities in developing energy efficiency programs
Additionally, the SuffolkShare Efficiency Partnership will provide a partnership to assist local governments with analyzing their energy usage data from PSEG Long Island, including forthcoming data from “smart meters” that will provide transformational levels of data that will assist in reduction of energy consumption.
Smithtown Town Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim said: “Smithtown has been at the forefront of implementing alternative energy solutions. We look forward to sharing our resources and successes with surrounding towns in addition to exploring new energy solutions, ideas and opportunities which Suffolk County has made available to us.”
East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said: “The Town of East Hampton, which has enacted a number of programs to help both the municipality and our businesses and residents reduce energy consumption, is looking forward to partnering with the county and other Long Island municipalities in the SuffolkShare Efficiency program, saving money for taxpayers while working to protect the environment.”
Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said: “In Southampton, we are mindful of the need to be efficient with our energy use as well as taxpayer dollars. This program will be an important resource to local governments in Suffolk County as they strive to reduce both the carbon footprint and energy costs."
Asharoken Deputy Mayor Pamela Pierce said: “The Village of Asharoken is constantly working to reduce taxpayer costs, and reducing what we spend on electricity and energy is consistent with that goal. This program, and the ability to work with other local governments, will only help us and our work on behalf of our residents.”
Kenneth Bossert, Superintendent of the Elwood Union Free School District and Past-President of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association, said: “Any effort to reduce the carbon footprint and help the environment while also delivering cost savings would be a welcomed proposal.”
Dr. Jim Malatras, Chairman of the Rockefeller Institute Board of Advisors and president of SUNY Empire State College, said: “The Suffolk Share Carbon Reduction Center of Excellence is a perfect example of how shared services can save taxpayers money while providing better, and in this case greener, services. The resulting savings can then be directed to other priority needs of Suffolk County communities. County Executive Bellone, PSEG-LI, and LIPA deserve praise for this innovative initiative to reduce carbon emissions on Long Island.”
The heart of the program is based upon the successful energy efficiency programs in Suffolk County government, led by the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and the Suffolk County Department of Public Works. These programs have increased the efficiency of county energy usage and have led to more than $10 million annually in recurring savings, as well as qualifying for hundreds of thousands of dollars in rebates from PSEG Long Island and LIPA.
It is also projected that the SuffolkShare Efficiency Partnership will assist local governments and districts in complying with the New York State Green New Deal legislation, which aims to reduce carbon emissions statewide by 85 percent by 2050. Under this legislation, New York State agencies must review all projects, plans and applications – including applications for state aid and grant funding - that go before them for consistency with the emissions reduction goals.
The Suffolk County Shared Services Initiative, also known as SuffolkShare, includes 105 local governments – towns, villages, school districts, library districts, fire districts and a water district.
The New York State Shared Services Initiative signed into law by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo allows participating municipalities and school districts to be eligible for state matching funds for savings achieved through cooperative efforts. Suffolk County is currently working on a number of programs with towns, villages and school districts through the SuffolkShare, a comprehensive 11-point plan that was approved unanimously by municipal leaders last year.
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