Westchester Action Plan, 2008 - Westchester County Government

• Accelerate use of energy efficient alternatives and renewable energy for state contracts
lists to:
• Allow purchase of renewable energy even when it is not lowest cost.
• Expand New York State Office of General Service’s (OGS) bidding and
procurement processes to include energy efficient and renewable energy
products such as solar panels, and programmable thermostats.
• Support the simplification of the OGS process so as to make it easier to navigate
and purchase energy efficient and renewable energy products.
• Provide NYPA subsidies for purchase of onsite renewables to governments and
schools.
Federal Level
The Task Force recommends all sectors work together to encourage the federal
government to
• Extend and expand tax credits to consumers for purchase of renewable energy.
• Reinstate tax credits to producers of renewable energy so as to maintain their
competitive capabilities in the market.
• Promote in grant programs, such as Community Development block grant programs,
green building, energy efficiency, and renewable energy in new construction and
rebuilding of low- and moderate-income communities.
• Include energy efficiency in the criteria for federal programs for low-income housing.
The State Education Department (SED) sets requirements for building construction for
public schools and can require an energy focus. The Task Force recommends that the
education sector, through the State Education Task Force, works to encourage the SED to
include GHG considerations in SED building construction requirements.
Develop Additional Funding Resources
While sources of funding are available as discussed above, identifying, expanding and
communicating funding mechanisms will be critical. The Task Force recommends the
County Government, municipal governments, and business, together perform outreach to
community on how to apply for funding and evaluate the following additional funding
possibilities as follows:
Identify New Sources. The Task Force recognizes that sources for funding may exist
that have not been identified. The Task Force recommends an ongoing effort to identify
these potential sources.
Attachment 5: Energy
Westchester Action Plan, 2008 5-14