Welcome to the Town of Greenburgh
News & Information  
  Select News to View

Please select the year.
2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002

Back to Article List

FYI: NYS Renewable Energy Task Force
Release Date: June 29, 2007

Nikki Coddington, energy conservation coordinator for the Town of Greenburgh, has been appointed to the NY State Renewable Energy Task Force. This is an honor not only for Nikki Coddington but also for the town of Greenburgh. Greenburgh was the first local government to hire an energy conservation coordinator. We have taken a number of important action steps promoting energy conservation and alternatives (including placing solar panels at Town Hall). Greenburgh was also the first town in NYS to require new residential construction to meet energy efficient standards. Earlier this year the town sponsored a well attended green fair, promoting renewable energy and alternative fuels.

Congratulations to Nikki Coddington on her prestigious appointment.

PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE NEW YORKSTATE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

                                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
                                                             
June 24, 2007

                                                    CONTACT: Maritere Arce
                                          maritere.arce@chamber.state.ny.us
                                                              212.681.4640
                                                              518.894.3003
                RENEWABLE ENERGY TASK FORCE MEMBERS NAMED
 
Patersonto Lead Effort to Attract Clean Energy Industries to New York

Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson today announced the appointment of
members to
New York's Renewable Energy Task Force.  Under Lieutenant
Governor Paterson's leadership, the goal of the Task Force will be to
identify and recommend ways of expanding the state's use of renewable
energy and alternative fuels.

"Not only is our nation facing an impending energy crisis, we are facing
the most challenging environmental crisis of our time as we struggle to
deal with climate change and curb our greenhouse gas emissions," said
Lieutenant Governor Paterson. "Renewable energy development will not only
lead us towards energy independence, but it will protect our planet and
provide healthier environments for our children and families to live.  The
members of the Renewable Energy Task Force bring a broad range of knowledge
and experience to the effort to dramatically expand our use of renewable
energy and alternative fuels."

The Task Force consists of representatives of the New York State Energy
Research and Development Authority, the Department of Environmental
Conservation, the
Long IslandPower Authority, the New YorkPower
Authority, as well as representatives from the renewable energy and
alternative fuel industries, environmental and agricultural organizations,
academia, local government, energy policy, environmental justice and green
building and industry development sectors.

The Task Force's first report to the Chair will be completed by December 1,
2007.  During its deliberations the Task Force will work closely with a
wide range of state agencies, departments and authorities. In addition to
its recommendations, the report will include benchmarks to measure the
state's progress in implementing any initiatives.

The Renewable Energy Task Force will help in the implementation of the
administration's plans to reduce electricity use by 15 percent from
forecasted levels by the year 2015 through new energy efficiency programs
in industry and government. The plan focuses on energy efficiency,
conservation, and investment in renewable energy sources as the keys to
achieving economic and environmental goals.

The Task Force will meet for the first time on
June 26, 2007in Albany.

Renewable Energy Task Force Members:

Kelly Bennett, Northeast Regional Director and National Policy Director for
Sterling Planet, the nation's largest retailer of renewable energy.  She
also serves as the Chair of the New York State Apollo Alliance.

Majora Carter, Founder and Executive Director of Sustainable
South Bronx,
an organization dedicated to advancing the environmental and economic
rebirth of the
South Bronxand other communities across the nation.

David Carpenter, MD., Director of the Institute for Health and Environment
at the
Universityof Albany, Schoolof Public Health, and Professor of
Environmental Health Sciences.  His research focuses on the study of
environmental causes of human disease.

Nicola Coddington, Energy Conservation Coordinator for the Town of
Greenburgh, the Deputy Mayor of the
villageof Irvington, and a member of
the
WestchesterCountyExecutive's Global Warming Task Force.

Ashok Gupta, Air and Energy Program Director at the Natural Resources
Defense Council, and the NRDC's representative on Mayor Bloomberg's
Sustainability Advisory Board and Energy Policy Task Force.

David Hepinstall, Executive Director of the Association for Energy
Affordability, Inc., and a member of the New York System Benefits Charge
Advisory Group, and the
New York CityEnergy Policy Task Force.

Peter Iwanowicz, Director of the newly created Climate Change Office at the
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and former Vice President of
the American Lung Association.

Roger B. Kelley, incoming President and Chief Executive Officer of the New
YorkPower Authority.

Kevin S. Law, Chief Deputy Suffolk County Executive and Chair of the Long
Island Power Authority.

Cecil Corbin-Mark, Program Director of
West HarlemEnvironmental Action,
Inc., a community-based, environmental justice organization, dedicated to
fighting environmental racism and improving environmental health and policy
in communities of color.

Carol Murphy, Executive Director for the
Alliancefor Clean Energy New
York, a non-profit corporation which promotes clean and renewable energy
and energy efficiency.

Dr. Cornelius Murphy, President of the
StateUniversityof New York,
College of Environmental Science and Forestry.  Dr. Murphy is the director
of several environmental, sciences, and medical boards as well as a member
of several professional affiliations.

Gil Quiniones, Senior Vice President of Energy and Telecommunications of
the New York City Economic Development Corporation, as well as the Chair of
the
New York CityEnergy Policy Task Force.

John Saintcros, Senior Project Manager at the
New YorkStateEnergy
Research & Development Authority and Team Leader for centralized
procurement of renewable resources under the Renewable Portfolio Standard
in
New York.

Jeffrey Williams, Deputy Director of Public Policy for the
New YorkFarm
Bureau, where he is principal lobbyist on environmental and renewable
energy issues, and also acts as a liaison between the agricultural industry
and the renewable energy sector.

Fred Zalcman, Executive Director of the Pace Energy Project, and currently
serves on the New York System Benefits Charge Advisory Group. Mr. Zalcman
also teaches energy law at
PaceLawSchool.

Wednesday June 27, 2007 NEWS 

 State panel to begin renewable energy planning

By CARA MATTHEWS

Gannett News Service

ALBANY -- The failure of the Legislature to agree on new siting regulations for power plants this session is a major impediment to the state's progress in promoting renewable energy, a member of a new state task force said Tuesday.

"Article 10 is definitely something that the Legislature and the governor need to bring to completion," said Carol Murphy, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, referring to a streamlined process for siting power plants that expired at the end of 2002.

Another thing holding New York back is not allowing businesses and public entities to get credit on energy bills for their solar panels, Murphy said. Currently, residential customers can get credits for a small amount of solar energy they generate, but no one else can. New York was one of the first states to allow this, but a number of others have taken it further, she said.

"We definitely have the potential in New York to be a leader. We've got the resources. We've got the wind. We've got the sun. We've got the land to be able to produce this (crops for biofuel), so it's really just a question ... about political will, so I'm very glad to be sitting at the table where you're showing that political will and we're all here to help you do that," Murphy said to Lt. Gov. David Paterson at the first meeting of the Renewable Energy Task Force.

The panel, headed by Paterson, will look at ways the state can curb pollution, save energy and encourage innovation and economic development in the industry. Gov. Eliot Spitzer's administration has called for reducing electric energy megawatt-hour consumption by 15 percent from forecasted levels by 2015 through energy efficiency, conservation and investment in renewable energy sources.

The task force, which includes representatives of state agencies, the private sector, environmental groups, power authorities and others, is charged with:

-- Promoting energy efficiency and conservation.

-- Identifying promising areas for state research and development.

-- Reviewing state policies and regulations affecting development of renewable and alternative energy.

-- Developing incentives to attract clean-energy industries to economically depressed regions.

The panel's first report to the chair is due by Dec. 1.

New York has, in some respects, been a national leader in terms of converting to renewable fuels, Paterson said, but the state "also has to be a national leader in terms of using the conversion to renewable and alternative energy sources as an economic development plank for what is a sagging economy, particularly in our upstate region."

On Article 10, the GOP-controlled Senate and Democrat-dominated Assembly could not reach agreement on a law to set up a new process for approving power plants this session. The two houses disagreed on making coal eligible for fast-track approval, among other issues. The lack of a new law has ensured that only a small amount of power supply has been added to the grid while demand has climbed.

"Even if coal or oil weren't emitting as much (carbon dioxide) as they do, the point is we have to find other sources because they are eventually going to run out," said Paterson, who criticized the Senate's position on coal plants. "But that seems to be a concept lost on some of our colleagues and in the next couple weeks, we're going to try, again, to have real workable, sensible planning in an Article 10 bill that we can all live with."

Gil Quiniones of the New York City Economic Development Corp. said it's important to provide tools to achieve goals, such as tax credits, regulatory action, low-cost financing and legislation, if needed.

Ashok Gupta of the Natural Resources Defense Council said that embracing clean energy solutions like solar, wind and advanced biofuels will create local jobs, lower bills, decrease dependence on oil and reduce pollution.

Nicola Coddington, energy coordinator for the town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, said the panel has the opportunity to help jumpstart the expansion of renewable energy at the rate needed in order to make the kind of difference needed in climate change. Conserving energy is a key part of what the state needs to encourage, she said.

Greenburgh installed solar panels on its town hall a little more than a year ago, she said.

Cornelius Murphy, president of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, said New York "can't allow California to walk away with the mantra of energy state."




Print this page Print this page Print this page Email this page Email this page





Contact Information | Home | Town Supervisor | Town Council | Town Clerk's Office | Tax Department | Departments | Documents & Forms | Town Code | GIS Maps, Tax and Assessment Information | Agendas & Minutes | Watch Live Board Meetings | Public Access TV On Demand | Links | Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | Employment Opportunities | Town Updates by E-Mail | Pay Parking Tickets Online | Pay Water Bill Online | On-Line Tax Payments
Use Mobile Site

Copyright © 2014 Town of Greenburgh, NY. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by Cit-e-Net