Yonkers Solar Initiative to Use Rooftops of Robert Martin Buildings

http://thebcw.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/sustainable-westchester-for-blog.jpg

From left, Brigitte Griswold, Executive Director, Groundwork Hudson Valley; Julian Ortiz of Groundwork Hudson Valley; Nina Orville, Executive Director, Sustainable Westchester; Council Member John Rubbo; Deanna Robinson, Legislative Aide to Council Member Shanae Williams; Mayor Mike Spano; Council Member Tasha Diaz; County Legislator Ruth Walter; Greg Berger, President, Robert Martin Company; Wilson Kimball, President & CEO, MHACY; Abe Naparstek, COO, G&S Solar; Max Joel, Program Manager, NYSERDA; and Jason Baker, Director, Yonkers Office of Sustainability.

One of the most ambitious Community Solar projects in the area was announced this week when the City of Yonkers launched an outreach initiative in partnership with nonprofits Sustainable Westchester and Groundwork Hudson Valley that will bring the benefits of Community Solar to Yonkers residents.

Five new Community Solar projects – the first of their kind in the city – are being constructed by solar developer, G&S Solar, on buildings owned by BCW Member Robert Martin Company in the South Westchester Executive Park. The initiative will provide benefits for Yonkers residents as Community Solar offers savings of up to 10% off electricity bills while greening the local electricity supply.

Groundwork Hudson Valley is also part of this effort and is engaging its youth conservation employment program to engage and educate residents about the benefits of renewable energy and to offer enrollment opportunities for financial savings. Sustainable Westchester has already enrolled the Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Yonkers (MHACY) in Community Solar.

“Renewable energy sources like solar continue to be on the rise in Yonkers and this Community Solar project leverages the city’s commitment to further greening our energy supply,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the City of Yonkers, the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers and Groundwork Hudson Valley to encourage Yonkers residents to take advantage of the opportunity to save money while supporting local renewable energy,” said Nina Orville, Executive Director of Sustainable Westchester, which is a  BCW Member.

“MHACY is committed to sustainability throughout our portfolio. We feel fortunate that we could join other thought leaders like Sustainable Westchester, Mayor Mike Spano, Groundwork Hudson Valley and Robert Martin in bringing affordable and sustainable energy options to our client-tenants,” said MHACY President & CEO Wilson Kimball.

“Westchester County is a geographically desirable location for this kind of power generation, and with our best-in-class portfolio of flex-industrial buildings, it’s fitting that we are on the leading edge of the Community Solar program,” said Robert Martin Company CEO, Tim Jones. “We foresee having over 10 megawatts of solar-based electricity generated at our buildings in the near term.”