Clean Energy Action Coalition Convenes Regional Leaders to Accelerate New York’s Energy Future

On Tuesday, the Business Council of Westchester (BCW) hosted its 2nd Annual Clean Energy Action Conference, bringing together over 150 industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators for a dynamic day of collaboration and forward-thinking dialogue on the future of Westchester’s changing energy landscape.

Held at Windrose on Hudson in Ossining, the conference underscored The BCW’s Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC)’s mission to advance a clean energy future that is affordable, reliable, and sustainable, a priority that continues to drive meaningful conversations across Westchester and beyond.

The program opened with welcome remarks from Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, who set the tone by emphasizing the importance of local leadership and public-private collaboration in achieving energy goals. “If we want to grow our economy and protect our environment at the same time, we have to work together. That means planning ahead, investing in infrastructure and making smart decisions now so we’re not playing catch-up later,” Jenkins said.

Echoing that sentiment, John Ravitz, Vice President & CEO of the Business Council of Westchester, highlighted the importance of convening leaders across sectors. “This conference is about bringing the right people to the table to have honest, solutions-driven conversations about how we move forward together,” said Ravitz. “It is imperative that we do everything possible to build a reliable, affordable and sustainable power system for the businesses and resident of Westchester County.”

Ron Kamen, The Director of CEAC and CEO of EarthKind Energy, underscored the urgency of the work ahead, noting, “Affordability, resiliency and sustainability must go hand in hand as we plan for the future. Events like this move those conversations into action.” Kamen concluded with the top three priorities for CEAC this year: Reduce Peak Demand; Fast-Track Solar & Battery Storage development; and shift to Renewable Fuels for heavy duty transportation and heating oil.

The conference’s featured speaker, Justin E. Driscoll, President & CEO of the New York Power Authority, delivered key insights on New York’s evolving energy landscape, highlighting the critical role of infrastructure investment, grid resilience, and innovation in meeting growing demand while advancing sustainability. “What sets Westchester apart…” said Driscoll, “Is that it has an engaged business community, a strong understanding of the region’s energy needs, and a shared commitment to building a more reliable and resilient system for the communities we serve.”

Anthony Gioffre, Managing Partner, Cuddy & Feder, Presenting Partner and Energy Conference Co-Chair, emphasized the role of innovation and investment, stating, “We’re seeing tremendous opportunity in aligning infrastructure improvements with clean energy solutions that deliver both environmental and economic benefits.”

Miguel Quintanilla, Principal of Collado Engineering and Co-Chair of the Energy Conference, reinforced the conference’s purpose, noting, “Our goal is to ensure that the transition to clean energy is not only environmentally responsible, but also economically viable and inclusive for businesses and communities alike.”

Attendees also heard from an impressive lineup of panelists across two engaging discussions:

“Show Me the Money: Unlocking Incentives That Make Clean Energy Happen” explored the financial tools and partnerships driving clean energy adoption. Moderated by Eon S. Nichols, Esq. (Cuddy & Feder LLP), the panel featured:
• Alana Appenzeller (New York Power Authority)
• Joan McDonald (Westchester County Deputy County Executive)
• Adam Salgado (City of New Rochelle)
• Dimitris Vantzis (Con Edison)

The second panel, “Power Through the Storms: Affordable, Resilient Energy & Stormwater Infrastructure,” focused on building stronger, more resilient communities. Moderated by Frank D’Eufemia (Langan Engineering), panelists included:
• Ravi Bhalla (Dundon Advisors)
• Weronika Ciechowska (NYSERDA)
• Brian Pugh (Mayor of Croton-on-Hudson)
• Yadira Ramos-Herbert (Mayor of New Rochelle)

Dan Singer closed the presentations with a compelling call to action, urging attendees to invest in the infrastructure that will power local businesses for the next 50 years by becoming CEAC sponsors. He emphasized that supporting clean energy initiatives is not only the right thing to do, but also a smart business decision, giving stakeholders a seat at the table as Westchester shapes its energy future. With a forward-looking message, Singer encouraged leaders to step up and demonstrate how Westchester can lead the way for the rest of New York in building a more sustainable and resilient energy landscape.

The conference concluded with breakout sessions covering key topics such as climate-smart communities, workforce development, battery storage and fire risk, renewable fuels, innovative stormwater and clean power financing solutions, and passive house design for multifamily and mixed use buildings, further reinforcing CEAC’s commitment to actionable solutions.

As part of the conference, attendees had the opportunity to tour the Croton-Harmon Train Station, where they explored the facility’s innovative use of solar carports and battery energy storage systems. The tour highlighted how these technologies are helping to reduce energy costs, increase resilience, and support a more sustainable infrastructure. Mayor Brian Pugh of Croton-on-Hudson shared that the Village is receiving $400,000 a year in lease payments from the projects and is reducing energy costs for the community solar subscribers. He urged other communities to recognize the substantial financial, affordability, resiliency, and sustainability benefits that can be achieved with clean power, and to maximize the community benefits by streamlining the development process – instead of forcing developers to pay massive sums defending these critical infrastructure measures.

To learn more about the BCW’s CEAC program, please visit our website: thebcw.org/advocacy/ceac/.