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LOWERED GREEN RATE AVAILABLE TO BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS—LOCKED IN FOR 2 YEARS FOR WHITE PLAINS AND 23 OTHER WESTCHESTER CITIES & TOWNS

WPCNR THE POWER STORY & COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. November 5, 2018 UPDATED NOVEMBER 6 IN BOLD).:

Westchester Power/Sustainable Westchester reported to the Common Council Monday night that the consortium comprising 24 towns and cities, including White Plains that the competitive bidding has produced a lower green energy rate than they had anticipated: 7.96 cents per kilowatt hour.

The new green energy rates will be announced to White Plains residents and businesses in the next two weeks, which Mayor of White Plains Tom Roach said cut other offers of green power in half.

White Plains and the 23 towns in the Sustainable Westchester Consortium which pooled their purchasing power, had agreed to proceed with the Memorandum of  Understanding  two months agowhen Westchester Power told them they anticipated a rate of 8.26 cents per kilowatt hour.

Now that has been cut below 8 cents, and guaranteed for two years beginning January 1.

Jasmine Graham spokesperson for Westchester Power/ Sustainable Westchester told the council that savings for the average White Plains consumer the first two years of the program was $238 per residential customer. She said that White Plains alone had (through its participation in the program) had saved the equivalent of hydrocarbon emissions that would be achieved by taking 13,000 cars off the road for two years or the planting of 10,000 seedling trees over 10 years.

The program, Ms. Graham said would be sending out letters to White Plains residents this month currently in the program and as well as  those not participating. Those not wanting to participate automatically in the program simply have to send a card (included in the mailing) to opt out of the program. However, if they should opt out, they give up the security of a fixed electric rate for 24 months.

Ms. Graham said that Constellation New Energy would again be the supplier of the green energy, which would be generated mostly by hydroelectric power generated in New York State by the national supplier, Brookfield.  Graham said towns can still be added in to the consortium ongoing through the length of the contract.

Virginia Steinberg, of Sustainable Westchester told WPCNR (after the initial rates were presented in August), that representatives from two towns in the  Westchester Power consortium and a climate change expert had assisted them in persuading suppliers to lower their bids resulting in the 7.959 cents per kilowatt hour rate for both residential and commercial customers.

She said the bid review team consisted of Town of Bedford Supervisor and Sustainable Westchester Vice Chairman, Chris Burdick, Town of Ossining Supervisor Dana Levenberg,  who expressed concerns and why the suppliers needed to make savings more attractive to smaller towns (in the county) and the Director of the Pace University Climate Center, Karl Rabago. Rabago also holds positions in the energy industry, including Commissioner on the Texas Utility Commission.

“With commercial pricing set at the same rate as residential, this means small businesses in our program will see a 20% cut in their electricity supply costs come January,” Steinberg pointed out, quoting from a news release.

Steinberg noted to WPCNR via phone Tuesday morning that the new rate is equivalent to Con Edison rates from 5 years ago. Steinberg said the new rate is 2 cents lower than the original commercial rate originally estimated in August, and now lowered through negotiations to the present 7.959 cents. She pointed out the new rate is a great stabilizer for small businesses in towns and cities because power expenses can be counted on not to flucuate for two years and they can be using non emissions producing energy.

You may see Ms. Graham’s 7 minute presentation to the council by clicking on this video:

Afterwards, the Mayor entertained questions from the council that raised several key issues. You can see the 5 minute Q & A by clicking on this video.

The Common Council also asked four key questions of Ms. Graham  which you can see by clicking on this video:

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL PREVIEW. November 5, 2018:

The Common Council will is expected to hear Westchester Power’s suggested rate for green-sourced electric power to White Plains tonight at 55 Main Street as the monthly Common Council meeting.

Westchester Power is the organization that created the consortium of 24 cities and towns  including White Plains two years ago, which combined cities’ purchasing power to secure green energy rates that source electricity exclusively  from wind, solar, water technology supplied sources. Westchester Power rates for the green power were lower the last year and a half than Con Edison consumer rates.  The details of the new 2019 rate that White Plains customers may receive should White Plains renew the agreement, may be disclosed tonight.

On the Public Hearing lineup, the council will resume a hearing on the approval of two apartment complexes on Hale Avenue, adding  127 apartment units (rentals) and 170 parking spaces. The city will receive $393,500 in a payment that will be used for creating a park and recreational facilities and acquiring land for same, as part of an city decision to not require the legislated number of parking spances.  The complex is on the agenda for a vote on the approval of the project this evening.

440 HAMILTON PROJECT of 468 APARTMENTS SET TO MOVE AHEAD

On two other development fronts, the Common Council is set  to approve, on the consent agenda, sales and mortgage tax breaks for the development of the 440 Hamilton Avenue on North Broadway into apartments, the tax incentives were approved by the Westchester Industrial Development Agency two weeks ago. The city will be reimbursed by the IDA for a portion of the sales and mortgage payments.

The city will be reimbursed in part by the county 2-1/2% ($995,640)  of total sales tax abatements expected to be $40 Million. The city will be reimbursed for 1/2% of total mortgage taxes, $648,319 out of a total expected mortgage tax of $129 Million., according to the common council agenda details.

However, as part of this agreement the City of White Plains agrees to a 18-year Payment In Lieu of (property)Taxes program to go into effect in three years.

The PILOT equals the PILOT in duration on the City Center project that was built from 2001 to 2003. The City Center pilot is still in effect.

Over the eighteen years of the PILOT, the landowner  (American Equity Partners) will pay the city $31,300,000 in total property taxes.

The Common Council is also poised set to approve tax incentives the Westchester IDA approved for the Westmoreland Lofts project on Westmoreland Avenue.

The Lennar Corporation is being given a one year extension on the site plan for the Broadstone apartment project planned for behind the restaurant row at the corner of East Post Road and Mamaroneck Avenue, due, according to the details on the Common Council agenda due to a change in ownership. (The project was supposed to have started three months ago, but it has not, hence the need for the site plan extension.)

The city is also selling two pieces of city land at auction that have been foreclosed, 8 Rutherford and146 Orawaupum Street. Inquire, if interested to the City Finance Department. The minimum bid for 8 Rutherford Street property is $150,000. The Orawaupum property requires a $140,000 bid.

Targeting Bicyclist scofflaws

In a surprise on the agenda, the city is raising the fine for bicycle violations by bicyclists from $10 to $100.

Just a reminder, according to the city municipal code, bicyclists are required to

1. Obey all traffic control devices, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles
2. Are subject to all of the duties, applicable to the driver of the vehicle
3. No bicyclist shall ride a bicycle upon any public sidewalk within White Plains.
4. Ride on the right On bike routes. Every person operating a bicycle upon the roadway of a public highway shall ride as near to the right-hand side of such roadway as practicable and shall not ride two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. If a usable path has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicyclists shall use such a path and shall not use the roadway.
5. No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions.
6. No person riding upon a bicycle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.
7. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
8. Packages: No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the rider from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars.
9. A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than astride and seated upon a permanent seat attached onto.
10. NO PARKING except upon a roadway against the curb or upon a sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a buiding or at the curb, as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.