The Villages of Haverstraw, Nyack, South Nyack, and Upper Nyack Promote Community Solar and Unlock Municipal Sustainability Funds

FOUR ROCKLAND COUNTY COMMUNITIES ENDORSE ROCKLAND COMMUNITY POWER SOLAR PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH ELECTRICITY BILL SAVINGS AND PROMOTE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY (January 26, 2021)— The Villages of Haverstraw, Nyack, South Nyack, and Upper Nyack are endorsing Rockland Community Power’s fully vetted community solar program for their residents and small businesses. Community solar provides residents and local businesses the opportunity to save money on electricity while supporting local clean energy generated in New York State and decreasing the State’s carbon footprint.

This community solar program is offered through Rockland Community Power, a renewable energy program that recently launched community choice aggregation (“CCA” or “community choice") programs in six Rockland County communities. The community choice program pools local electricity demand, enabling participants to pay less for renewable energy than they have historically paid for traditional electricity supply. As of December 2020, more than 20,000 households in Rockland County switched to the community choice 100% renewable option. The community solar and community choice programs work together to save residents money and support renewable energy generation. Municipal leaders are encouraging participation in both programs.

By subscribing to a nearby solar farm, residents can save up to 10% on electricity. The community solar program offers guaranteed electricity bill savings in the form of solar bill credits made possible through NY State incentives for clean energy generation. 

The shift to locally sourced renewable energy also unlocks municipal “Sustainability Funds.” Established by Joule Community Power and funded through the Rockland Community Power solar program, the Funds are allocated $50 for each solar enrollment. The municipalities may use these Funds to finance future sustainability projects of their own choosing. 

Haverstraw has chosen to allocate their funds raised through enrollments to BRIDGES, a nonprofit that is providing local COVID-19 relief services. “Community solar is the cherry on the top of the ice cream sundae,” said Haverstraw Mayor Michael Kohut. “We are proud to promote this initiative as an effortless way for our residents and businesses to save money on their utility bills, help protect our environment and support their community through a challenging time.”

 Nyack Mayor Don Hammond stated, “This program shows that supporting positive change can be easy and cost-free. A lot of people can’t have their own solar panels and are concerned about predatory energy contracts. Rockland Community Power’s community solar program enables our residents to save money by supporting renewable energy, and without needing to have solar panels installed on their property or the worry of sign-up or cancellation fees. Additionally, Joule contributes $50 towards a Nyack sustainability fund for each enrollment in community solar through Rockland Community Power, supporting future sustainability efforts.”

“If you have ever wondered what you could do to make a measurable difference in addressing climate change, participating in Rockland Community Power's solar program is a good choice. NY State has set ambitious goals to transition to clean energy and this solar program helps to meet those goals by building solar power capacity in our state,” stated Upper Nyack Mayor Karen Tarapata.

South Nyack Mayor Bonnie Christian said of the program, “The Village of South Nyack is excited to be able to offer the benefits of the Community Solar Program to our residents.” 

Glenn Weinberg, Vice President at Joule Community Power, said, “By promoting our community solar program, these Rockland County communities are providing their residents and small businesses with access to the benefits of solar without requiring the installation of panels on their home or property.”

The Rockland Community Power solar program is offered by Joule Community Power. Joule local partner Hudson Valley Energy offers support for community outreach and education. Ampion, a Joule solar partner in Rockland County, is the program billing and customer care agent for community solar subscribers in the Villages of Havewrstraw, Nyack, South Nyack, and Upper Nyack. The program is open to most homeowners and renters with an Orange & Rockland Utilities account.

Benefits of community solar:

Benefits of community solar with Joule: 

 

Public Information Sessions

Residents in the partnering Villages will receive letters from their municipal leaders with more details about the program. The letter will include an invitation to attend a public information session about the community solar program co-hosted by their municipal leaders and the Rockland Community Power team.

NYACK, SOUTH NYACK, AND UPPER NYACK EVENT DETAILS
Public Info Session: Save with Solar in Nyack, South Nyack, and Upper Nyack
Tuesday, February 16th, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Virtual meeting: http://bit.ly/solar-info-session-02-16 

HAVERSTRAW EVENT DETAILS
Public Info Session: Save with Solar in Haverstraw
Wednesday, February 17th, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Virtual meeting: https://bit.ly/solar-haverstraw

Learn more about the events:www.rocklandcommunitypower.com/events

 

About Rockland Community Power
Rockland Community Power is a community choice aggregation (CCA) program—comprising communities in New York’s Rockland County—that enables participants to pay less for renewable energy than they’ve historically paid for traditional electricity. The program also provides access to electricity bill savings through community solar. The participating towns and villages have banded together to pool local electricity demand in order to leverage the collective buying power of their residents and small businesses in an effort to secure more favorable energy supply rates, protect consumers, and support the generation of clean energy in NY State. The participating communities are the Towns of Clarkstown and Orangetown and the Villages of Haverstraw, Nyack, South Nyack, and Upper Nyack. This program was formed in partnership with Joule Community Power. Learn more at https://rocklandcommunitypower.com/. 

About Joule Community Power
Joule Community Power (Joule) works with municipalities and local partners to empower communities and facilitate their goals of providing residents and businesses with cleaner and cheaper energy. With no upfront cost to a municipality or its residents, Joule’s first-of-kind, integrated Community Power program helps municipalities and consumers (1) save money by gaining leverage to procure less expensive electricity for residents and businesses, (2) make money by creating new revenue opportunities through participation in energy markets, and (3) go green by gaining local control to opt for clean and renewable generation sources. Joule's distinctive expertise in designing and implementing new consumer-protective energy supply contracts was instrumental in the creation of New York State’s first community choice aggregation (CCA) energy program. Joule is the only company in NY State offering CCA administrative services with a Public Service Commission-approved implementation plan that integrates community solar projects; and only Joule has the expertise, relationships, and experience to effectively design, implement, and manage such a program. Joule’s innovative renewable energy strategy is driving new regulation and encouraging the NY State Public Service Commission to rapidly advance innovative solutions. Having created the blueprint to guide communities through a smooth and empowering decision process, Joule aims to scale its Community Power model across NY State and beyond. Joule also offers capacity tag management services to businesses wishing to reduce their electricity costs by strategically managing their energy consumption. Joule Community Power is a division of Joule Assets. To learn more, visit joulecommunitypower.com.