County to Study Use of Green Energy at 3 Facilities

Westchester County will study the benefits of using renewable energy at two County facilities to see whether solar and geothermal energy could save the county money while reducing negative environmental impacts.

“Since day one, my administration has sought to protect taxpayers by reducing the size and operating cost of county government,"said Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino in a press release.  "We have also made protecting the environment a priority. By moving toward the use of clean, renewable energy at county buildings, such as solar and geothermal power, we have a terrific opportunity to combine those two important principles.”

A preliminary review of all county owned facilities, conducted last year at no cost to taxpayers, concluded that three buildings—375 Executive Blvd. in Elmsford, the county’s Public Labs Building in Valhalla and the Westchester County Public Safety Headquarters in Hawthorne—would be ideal candidates to explore whether or not solar and geothermal energy could be used effectively.

These buildings met the requirements of having adequate square footage, integrity of existing structure and relation to the ground and sunlight—making them ideal candidates for further study. 

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will conduct the study at no cost to county taxpayers. The NYPA, who currently sells energy to the County, will make recommendations to the county based on their study.

Click here for information other green Westchester County initiatives.