Congratulate Clean Energy Town

Senate Resolution No. 567 BY: Senator MURPHY CONGRATULATING the Town of New Castle upon the occasion of being named a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those towns which implement clean energy actions, save energy costs, create jobs, and improve the environment, while setting the highest level of environmental standards for the state and country; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate the Town of New Castle upon the occasion of being named a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); and WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in acknowledging the impressive achievements of its esteemed municipalities; and WHEREAS, The Town of New Castle recently became the first small town in New York State to be designated a Clean Energy Community; this prestigious designation is part of the Clean Energy Communities initiative, which emphasizes the important role communities play in helping New York State reach its goal of obtaining 50 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030; and WHEREAS, The Town of New Castle was selected for several reasons, including its Community Choice Aggregation, which allows residents and businesses to participate in bulk purchases of renewable electricity; and WHEREAS, The Town of New Castle also established a program for long-term, affordable financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at commercial buildings and not-for-profit organizations, and approved a policy to track energy use in municipal buildings, as well as adopted the New York State Unified Solar Panel Permit to streamline the approval process for solar-power projects; and WHEREAS, This prestigious designation allows the Town of New Castle to apply for up to $100,000 toward additional clean energy projects; and WHEREAS, It took the vision and hard work of many passionate community leaders, such as Supervisor Robert J. Greenstein, and local and national experts to make the Town of New Castle a Clean Energy Community; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate the Town of New Castle upon the occasion of being named a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Robert J. Greenstein, Supervisor, the Town of New Castle.