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.