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See email below from Sustainable Westchester… The Westchester Power Electricity Supply offer in Con Edison territory has been on a temporary hiatus during the summer months, following the expiry of the most recent contract on June 30, 2022. We are pleased to announce that the new supply offer will be available as of November 1, 2022.Yesterday we communicated this information to our municipal contacts in the program’s 24 participating municipalities (except Yonkers, which is on a separate contract). We are making you aware of this activity in the event that your offices receive calls from constituents. The New ContractThe new contract has been awarded to Constellation New Energy for a two year term beginning November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2024 with rates as follows: 100% Renewable Supply: 15.128 cents/kWh Standard supply: 13.364 cents/kWh Marketplace conditions, driven by global events (e.g., the war in Ukraine), have resulted in the price of natural gas, the primary driver for the electricity market, more than tripling in just a year and a half. Market volatility and rate uncertainty necessitated a brief pause in the Westchester Power electricity service upon the lapse of the previous contract that expired on June 30, 2022. We went into the bid on 7/20/2022 carrying the collective trepidation of all of our experience with this volatile market over the past year – The first part of the year saw Con Edison utility rates as high as 17 cents and averaging over 11 cents through June. Natural gas prices (the most critical driver for the electricity market) have tripled over the past year, and after taking a tiny breather a couple of weeks back, were starting to push up again. Market rates for renewable energy from the major ESCOs going into bidding day ranged from a low of 16.12 cents to well over 18 cents. In an environment of rising rates, though high by recent historical standards, these contract rates can be considered to be a cap for your residents to protect them from utility rates that many expect to hit unprecedented highs this winter. As always, residents are free to opt-out or rejoin the program at any time. What’s Next This week we are holding the first round of public Westchester Power information sessions about the resumption of the supply offer. You are welcome to attend or contact us with any questions about the program. We will hold a session on 9/2 (previous sessions were held on 8/31 and 9/1). For promotional/organizational purposes these will target regional groupings (Upper Rivertowns, Lower Rivertowns, Sound Shore, Central County), but for participants’ convenience we invite those who can’t make the group sessions associated with their municipality to join any session. Sustainable Westchester has published the zoom links for these sessions on our website and has been posting details today on our social media platforms. Please visit sustainablewestchester.org/wp/conedterritory#events to see the full calendar of sessions.Press outreach is slated for the upcoming week. Further community outreach to continue into September/October during the notification and opt out period, including the receipt of the official notification letter in the mail to eligible participants. We will be in touch further to share more information on these next steps in the coming week. The program rates of 15.128 cents per kWh for 100% NYS renewable supply and 13.364 cents for standard supply will be fixed from November 1, 2022 until meter read dates in November 2024. The program notification letter shall be mailed to participating residents later in September. We recognize that the new rates, reflecting changes in the market, are substantially higher than those of the previous contract. While higher electricity rates will be a challenge for many residents, the Westchester Power program’s fixed rates serve as a price cap in these volatile times. Residents may opt out or back in to the supply at any time, as well as select the standard supply if they choose. Sustainable Westchester’s GridRewards™ program provides an opportunity for Con Edison customers to sign up for the free app, connect to their Con Edison accounts and save energy, money and take simple energy actions during demand response events to earn cash reward payments. We’re pleased that we are back on track with the electricity supply offer. This signals the resumption of this important contribution to greenhouse gas mitigation, and also re-establishes this platform for continued advancement of Westchester’s clean energy transition. It also signals our collective readiness for programming and funds which will start to flow out of the new Federal and State budget allocations in this sector. |
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HIS MESSAGE TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR
TONIGHT
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WHITE PLAINS AND 23 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO RESUME SERVICE WITH SUSTAINABLE NOV 1.
WPCNR THE POWER STORY. From Sustainable Westchester. (EDITED) August 31, 2022:
After a brief pause in providing electricity supply service,
Westchester Power, a program of nonprofit, Sustainable Westchester, is set to resume
services this Fall for the 24* participating municipalities.
The New Contract
After an open bidding process, a contract has been awarded to Constellation New Energy
for a two year term that begins November 1, 2022 and runs until October 31, 2024, with
rates as follows:
100% Renewable Supply: 15.128 cents/kWh (previously was 7.48 CTS/kwh)
Standard Supply: 13.364 cents/kwh
“The goal of the Westchester Power program is to be able to deliver consumer choice, a
positive environmental impact and access to renewable energy at competitive rates,” states
Nina Orville, Executive Director of Sustainable Westchester.
“The extreme and unexpected market volatility this year forced us to delay the solicitation and ultimately to pause the supply service, so we are glad that we will now be able to restore the Westchester Power
option for residents and small businesses. While it has been a challenging process, we are
grateful to the participating municipalities who worked closely with us and continued to show
their support for this important clean energy initiative,” she added.
The six year-old program continues to serve as the New York State model for community energy programs, offering 100% renewable energy, along with a standard supply option, to residents and small businesses in participating cities, towns and villages across Westchester.
Marketplace conditions, driven by global events (e.g., the war in Ukraine), have resulted in
the price of natural gas, the primary driver for the electricity market, more than tripling in just
a year and a half. Market volatility and rate uncertainty necessitated a brief pause in the
Westchester Power electricity service upon the lapse of the previous contract that expired
on June 30, 2022.t
“We went into the bid carrying the collective trepidation of all of our experience with this
volatile market over the past year which saw Con Edison utility rates as high as 17 cents
and averaging over 11 cents through August. Though the new contract rates are much
higher than our last contract, we’re pleased that our bid results are competitive with today’s
rates for renewable energy from the major ESCOs which range from the low 16 cents to
well over 19 cents,” noted Dan Welsh, Sustainable Westchester’s Program Director for
Westchester Power.
“Staying at the lowest end of comparable offerings, as the program has
done consistently in the past, was an important benchmark for us” continues Dan Welsh.
The daily news has not shown any signs that the market pressures from the war in Ukraine,
natural gas exports, and climate change will lessen. In that context, the fixed price format
continues to provide an insurance against this continued market volatility as well as serving
as a price cap. The consumer-friendly nature of the program offers participants the ability to
opt out or in at any time without any fee or penalty.
Program Scope
The program continues to provide electricity supply to residents of the City of Yonkers
(under a separate contract through November 30, 2023) and to residents and small
businesses in participating Northern Westchester municipalities in the NYSEG utility service
area (under a separate contract that also runs through November 30, 2023).
Program Impact & Benefits
● Collective participation in the program has resulted in the reduction of 166,000 metric
tons of CO2 in 2021 which is the equivalent of taking 36,800 cars off the road for one
year.
● This vetted, proven program offers consumer choice without having to navigate the
confusing offers from Energy Services Companies (ESCOs).
● Without any penalties or complicated contracts, the program allows participants to
opt-in or out at any time at no cost.
● The fixed-rate structure provides protection from the variable and volatile electricity
supply pricing typical of the utility and serves as a price cap for participants for the
two years of the current Westchester Power program contract (November 1, 2022 –
October 30, 2024).
● The program offers competitive rates for renewable energy supply (vs. ESCOs)
● Nonprofit Sustainable Westchester provides education, clean energy advocacy, and
customer service. In this program there is no change in the delivery of your
electricity, billing process or emergency response – Con Edison continues to maintain
this function. (Please note that Westchester Power is not involved in the rate
structure for the delivery of electricity via Con Edison).
The Westchester Power program, regulated by the Public Service Commission, has also
laid the groundwork for additional clean energy programs that offer savings including:
● GridRewards™, a residential demand response program, that provides
energy, money savings as well as the opportunity to earn cash rewards for
energy savings action. Residents can find further information and sign-up at
sustainablewestchester.org/gridrewards.
● Community Solar, which provides up to 10% savings through solar credits on
residents electricity bills. Residents can find further information at
sustainablewestchester.org/solar
What’s Next for Residents in the 24 Participating Municipalities?
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WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. August 30, 2022:
The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, Greenburgh Police Department, and the Westchester County Police Department are seeking possible victims in a human trafficking investigation and believes hundreds of women may have been victimized.
Investigators arrested Ysenni Gomez on August 12, 2022, and charged her with sex trafficking in Westchester County, and the Bronx.
An FBI agent details in a federal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York how Gomez posted an online ad searching for waitresses to work at a restaurant in Manhattan.
Gomez interviewed a woman who responded to the ad and said she had the job. On the victim’s first day, Gomez told her there was no waitress position and forced her into having sex with men by threatening to call federal authorities to have her deported.
During the investigation, agents discovered more than 1,600 ads associated with Gomez promoting prostitution, dating back 10 years, using Facebook, Bedpage.com, and MegaPersonals.com.
Gomez is known to go by aliases Carolina and Ysenni Peguero, and could possibly have used the business name “Chicas Express” in the ads she placed.
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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Shoenfeld , White Plains City School District. August 30, 2022:
Among new staffing at the White Plains Public Schools for the opening of schools on
September 6th are seven new administrators to lead the district’s schools.
Valerie Lakestream has been appointed Director of World Languages/ENL Programs, K-12. Previously she worked in similar capacities in the Port Chester and Pelham districts. She has Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Pace University and advanced degrees from Clarkson and Long Island Universities. Ms. Lakestream replaces Lisa Panaro who retired.
The Principal and two Assistant Principals were appointed at the Highlands Middle School.
Michael Eaton, formerly Assistant Principal there, replaces Ernest Spatafore (retired) as Principal.
Mr. Eaton, who served as Acting Principal last year, holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Lehman College.
Tara Daly and Jessica Maracallo will fill Assistant Principal positions at Highlands. Ms. Daly was previously a Social Studies Teacher at the school, before serving as Acting Assistant Principal last year. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Manhattan College and Master’s Degrees from Pace University and Manhattanville College.
Ms. Maracallo comes to White Plains from Assistant Principal positions in Elmsford and Mount Vernon. She has Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the City College of New York. They replace Mr. Eaton and Valerie Cadet Simpkins, who has moved to another district.
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WPCNR ONCE AND FUTURE OF WHITE PLAINS. August 30, 2022:
The One White Plains Comprehensive Plan Committee (CPC), appointed by the Common Council last month will meet for the first time September 21.
CPC MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT PUBLIC HEARINGS. MEETINGS WILL BE RECORDED; AGENDAS, PRESENTATIONS, VIDEOS AND MEETING NOTES WILL BE POSTED FOLLOWING THE MEETINGS.
LEARN MORE AT: ONEWHITEPLAINS.COM/CPC
The city administration describes the duties of the CPC as :
” PARTICIPATE IN REGULAR CPC MEETINGS TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE COMMENTS ON DRAFT PLAN CONTENT, REPRESENT THE COMMITTEE AT PUBLIC EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, AND IN THE COMMUNITY, HOST PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND WILL ULTIMATELY FORWARD A PROPOSED PLANNING DOCUMENT TO THE COMMON COUNCIL FOR THEIR APPROVAL. ONCE ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL, THE PLAN PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE DECISIONS ON DEVELOPMENT AND ZONING, CAPITAL SPENDING, AND GENERAL POLICY DECISIONS.“
WHAT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN COMMITTEE (CPC)?
THE CPC IS A GROUP OF 17 VOLUNTEERS APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL TO ASSIST CITY STAFF AND THE CONSULTANT TEAM THROUGHOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP PROVIDED BELOW:
CECILIA BIKKAL
SIDIA CORTES
KENNETH CREARY
MICHAEL DALTON
MICHAEL DIVNEY
ROSEMARY ELLER
JOHN IORIS
NICOLE JOHNSON
RAINA KADAVIL
JENNIFER LEE
ERIN O’KEEFE
ERWIN ONG
LINDA PUOPLO
REV. GREGORY ROBESON SMITH
DANIEL SALAZAR
BONNIE SILVERMAN
VENNELA YADHATI
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WPCNR ONCE & FUTURE WHITE PLAINS. From the City of White Plains. August 30, 2022:
The City is applying for New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant program to create sustainable and accessible connections between our neighborhoods and downtown by improving bike and pedestrian pathways, connecting and enhancing existing public space, and installation of public art, wayfinding signage.
Planning Department Staff will be present at the September 7th Farmer’s Market for the public to have the opportunity to shape the application.
The public may also participate on September 13, 2022 at the White Plains Public Library Auditorium from 6:30 – 8 PM to share your vision, identify needs and opportunities for potential projects and learn more about the grant. The auditorium is ADA accessible via the elevator.
For more information contact the Planning Department by phone at (914) 422-1300 by email at onewp@whiteplainsny.gov or visit the grant webpage here.
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