Sustainability Committee Grapples With Con Ed Delays on EV Chargers as Solar Canopies Near Completion

Croton's Sustainability Committee covered EV charger delays, expanding e-bike and food scrap programs, and solar canopy progress at its April 26 meeting, while Mayor Pugh reported on a county clean-energy award.

Apr 26, 2026 · By Matthew Broudy · Meeting Minutes ↗

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▶ Key Actions & Decisions

● Mayor Pugh and Deputy Mayor Simon to ask state legislators to push DEC on extending a $150K EV charger grant past its 9/30/26 deadline

● BESS 2.0 consulting agreement sent to village attorney for review after Bryan Healy's approval

● Committee exploring hiring a part-time intern covered partly by a NYSERDA grant

● Next meeting scheduled for May 31, 2026

The Croton Sustainability Committee's April 26 meeting, held via Zoom, ranged across several fronts — from Con Ed delays threatening an EV charger grant to near-complete solar canopies at the train station and steady growth in the village's food scrap recycling program. Committee chair Lindsay Audin led the session, which was attended by Mayor Brian Pugh, Deputy Mayor Len Simon, and committee members including Ashley Clemente, Dan Columbini, David Goldman, Jon Katz, Carly Shanks, Edwin Adkins, and Corey Cummings. Cheryl Wong, the food scrap program coordinator, and Niall Kelleher, representing community gardens, also attended.

EV Chargers: Racing the Clock

The committee's most pressing concern is a ~$150K state DEC grant for train station EV chargers that expires September 30. Con Ed has given an in-service date of November 25, 2026, for the transformer needed to power the chargers — well past the grant deadline. Audin asked NY DEC in March to extend the grant to September 2027, but no response has come. Pugh and Simon agreed to ask State Sen. Pete Harckham and Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg to press DEC for an answer. In the meantime, work with the contractor PISO is proceeding slowly. An issue has surfaced over the interconnection point to an adjacent 13.2 kV overhead power line: to minimize cost, the connection would need to run underground, potentially consuming a parking spot and possibly eliminating one of the 18 planned charging stations. No decision has been made.

Solar Canopies and DPW Project

The train station solar canopies are close to commissioning. After a dead Canadian goose was removed from the site earlier in April, Con Ed discovered an outdated nameplate on one of the battery energy storage system (BESS) inverters, requiring replacement. Once that is resolved, Con Ed will issue a formal Permission to Operate, and power will begin flowing to the grid. The separate DPW solar canopy project is also moving forward. Rivertown Solar is securing a ~$39K NY-SUN incentive, has performed test borings for foundation work, filed for interconnection with Con Ed, and will soon order the canopy kit. The goal is installation by Labor Day. Jon Katz raised a question about locking in a 30% federal tax credit under IRA Section 48E. Audin explained that securing it through mid-2030 requires proving a 5% expenditure — roughly $16,000 — by July 4. Missing that deadline would instead require finishing the project by June 30, 2027, which Audin said should not be a problem.

E-Bikes Expand

Simon provided an update on the village's e-bike program, which re-launched April 6. Two new hubs are being added at Senasqua Park's entrance and near the North Riverside Drive pedestrian overpass on NYS DOT property, still under negotiation. Since the program launched in 2025, roughly 1,400 rides have been logged on Croton's e-bikes.

Renewable Diesel Recognition

At an April 23 ceremony in Yonkers, Pugh accepted a 2026 EcoAward from the Westchester County Dept. of Environ. Facilities, along with Certificates of Achievement from the County Board of Legislators, recognizing Croton's transition of its heavy-duty truck fleet to renewable diesel. Pugh also participated in a Business Council of Westchester clean energy panel on April 14 in Ossining, where he and Leo Wiegman of Sustainable Westchester later led about 20 attendees on a tour of Croton's solar canopies and BESS installation.

Food Scrap Recycling Grows

The food scrap recycling program expanded to all Croton residents on March 19 and has reached 220 participants as of April 20, up from about 45 when the program launched in 2022. Wong will run a textile recycling collection at Croton's May 2 Earth Day event, featuring a clothing exchange alongside the local Girl Scouts troop's collection table.

BESS 2.0 and Intern Search

A draft consulting agreement related to the Luminace Letter of Intent for a second battery storage installation was approved by Village Manager Bryan Healy and sent to the village attorney for review. The agreement addresses village requirements for a development fee in case the village declines to proceed. The committee is also exploring hiring a part-time intern to assist with project development. Audin met with Simon on April 21 about the role; a small (~$7.4K) NYSERDA grant would cover roughly 60% of first-year wages, with the village covering the remainder. A grant application was filed April 12. The committee's next meeting is set for Sunday, May 31, at 10 a.m. via Zoom.

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Coverage of the Sustainability Committee meeting on 2026-04-26, Village of Croton-on-Hudson, NY. View original document ↗

Written by Matthew Broudy, publisher & responsible editor, croton.news. Read our editorial policy.

Related Sustainability Committee Meetings

Mar 22, 2026 Train Station Solar Canopies Could Power Up in April; EV Chargers Wait Until Late November

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▶ Key Actions & Decisions

● Train station solar canopies: third-party commissioning due by the end of March; Con Ed permission to operate expected in early April

● Train station EV chargers: power will not be available until Nov. 25, 2026, per a Con Ed update included in the minutes; non-utility work can proceed

● DPW solar canopy: roughly $300K project covered by a state grant targets Labor Day completion; a NY-SUN incentive of about $39K still needs to be locked in

● Food scrap recycling formally opened to all Croton residents on March 19

● Committee to pursue one of three $60K Clean Energy Communities grants as the state program returns this spring

● Proposed 5 MW battery storage developer to act first as a consultant under a not-to-exceed fee; chair Lindsay Audin and Village Manager Bryan Healy to convert the letter of intent into a consulting agreement

May 31, 2026 E-Bikes Log 210 Rides in 24 Days Since Restart as Sustainability Committee Tracks Solar, Charger and Battery Projects

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▶ Key Actions & Decisions

● NY DEC granted a one-year extension of the train station EV charger grant, to Sept. 30, 2027; the contract extension was received May 29

● A pole-replacement plan for the chargers would have cost one of 18 parking spots; re-striping and 12-foot charger cables will avoid the loss, an approach Village Manager Bryan Healy approved

● The draft BESS 2.0 consulting agreement was not acceptable, and the village attorney returned the issue to Healy on May 11; chair Lindsay Audin is assembling an RFI and RFP, with Keiko Niccolini assisting

● Carly Shanks resigned from the committee to remain on the Water Control Commission

● The committee set its next meeting for June 28, followed by summer recess until Sept. 20

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▶ Key Actions & Decisions

● Resolutions Passed: None.

● Resolutions Failed: None.

● Applications Reviewed: None.

● Public Comments:

● Corey Cummings, a new Croton resident, participated in the meeting and agreed to research "balcony solar" systems for a report next month.

● Reports:

● Energy Prices: Wholesale power hit ~$900/MWh on 1/28/26 (vs. $320/MWh last year); local natural gas averaged over $2.25/therm in January, briefly spiking above $14/therm on 1/27/26. Officials noted the former Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) fixed pricing would have insulated residents.

● EV/EVSE: Train station EV charger installation (18 ports) continues with Con Ed; completion expected by summer. Croton led per-capita e-bike usage among six participating communities; program returns in spring with added stations.

● Solar Projects: Train station canopy third-party commissioning underway, expected full operation by March. DPW solar canopy (~$300K, fully grant-funded) stalled again due to Rivertown Solar's failure to provide required paperwork; Labor Day installation goal remains.

● Renewable Diesel: All 18 village diesel vehicles now use RD, reducing CO2 by 186 metric tons (12.5%) annually, paid from the sustainability fund (capitalized by DPW community solar revenue).

● Food Scrap Recycling: Two new toters delivered 2/19/26; program opening to all Croton residents. A textile recycling expansion proposal will be reviewed in March.

● BESS 2.0: Luminace provided a modified proposal (1/27/26) accepting easement changes. Officials discussed relocating the salt shed to Westchester County's Croton Point Park site to free Municipal Place space for yard waste and maximize BESS capacity. A Letter of Intent to lock up 5 MW of hosting capacity is being drafted, with a Zoom meeting set before March to finalize terms.

● State Funding: A proposed $1B Sustainable Future Program for low/moderate-income household electrification is not yet in the State Legislature or budget.

● Balcony Solar: Committee discussed emerging plug-in balcony solar systems (limited to 1.2 kW under proposed NYS law); Dan Columbini raised electrical/fire code concerns. Lindsay Audin will draft questions; Corey Cummings will deliver a research report at the March meeting.

● Grid Rewards: Jon Katz reported receiving $0 for minimizing usage due to his solar panels, but got $50 for doing nothing; Dave Goldman received ~$33 in credits after dropping out. Katz called the crediting system "quite flawed."

● Documentary: Archipelago Films filmed portions of the meeting for "The Little Town That Could," a Croton100-sponsored documentary on local sustainability efforts, expected to debut during NYC Climate Week in April and at the County Center on May 9.

● Repair Café: Scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, 11 AM at the Croton Library.

● Announcements: The committee mourned the passing of Keiko Niccolini's teenage daughter (2/15/26); Niccolini was instrumental in launching the food scrap recycling program.

Jun 28, 2026 Solar Delays, EV Incentives, and a Battery Storage Push: Sustainability Committee Wraps Up Before Summer Recess

Minutes ↗ Read →

▶ Key Actions & Decisions

● Con Ed is requiring a CESIR analysis for the DPW solar canopy, delaying the project by several months

● The Village Board approved hiring Keiko Niccolini to seek competitive bids for a second battery energy storage system (BESS 2.0)

● New York State's new budget offers $30,000 per municipal EV replacement, up from $5,000

● E-bike program hit 300 rides/week in May; a new hub is planned at the Route 9 pedestrian overpass

● Sustainability Committee Chair Lindsay Audin won a national award for his journal article on the train station solar project

● The committee's next meeting is September 20, 2026

Jan 18, 2026 Croton scrambles to secure 5 MW battery incentives

Minutes ↗ Read →

▶ Key Actions & Decisions

● Resolutions Passed: None (no formal resolutions were voted on during this meeting).

● Resolutions Failed: None.

● Applications Reviewed: None.

● Public Comments: None (no guests or public attendees).

● Reports:

● EV Charging Station: Contractor PISO has applied for new electric service requiring a 100-300 kVA pole-mounted transformer. Excavation for 18 charge ports is slated for early March, with capacity for future faster chargers.

● Renewable Diesel (RD): Village Trustee Len Simon reported the 3-month pilot was successful. RD will now fuel all 18 municipal diesel vehicles, cutting the Village's carbon footprint by ~12.5%. DPW Supt. Frank Balbi was "upbeat" on results. A Village press release is expected this month.

● Train Station Solar Canopies: Third-party commissioning starts 2/16/26 with power startup by early/mid-March. A New Year's Day breaker trip that caused canopy lights to fail was resolved. The PV and BESS project sale to Altus Power is in progress with no impact on existing rent/leases.

● DPW Solar Canopy: Two new bids were received by the 12/8/25 deadline. Rivertowns' bid is preferred, but additional paperwork is required before awarding.

● State Energy Policy: The committee discussed NY State's new energy plan postponing 2040 fossil-fuel power goals and Gov. Hochul's goal of 5 GW of new nuclear capacity.

● Food Scrap Recycling: Expansion materials (two extra toters) ordered by Frank Balbi are expected next week. Cheryl Wong drafted announcements for email, newsletters, and Facebook.

● BESS 2.0: Luminace dropped its half-sized Municipal Place BESS proposal to focus on acquiring existing projects. The committee discussed issuing a new RFP. To maximize BESS size to the originally proposed 5 MW, the salt shed may be relocated to temporarily hold seasonal yard waste. Len agreed to accelerate discussions with Village officials, as commercial BESS incentives dropped from $175/kWh to $125/kWh and are first-come, first-served.

● Clean Energy Community (CEC) Grants: The NYSERDA program that previously awarded Croton >$700,000 in grants will be restored and funded via RGGI over a 4-year transition merging with the Climate Smart Community program.

● Sustainable Westchester: Announced a 2026 "Opt-In Clean Energy" program to replace the defunct opt-out Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program.

● E-Bike Sharing (Project MOVER): Phase 1 (July-Dec 2025) saw 1,374 trips across Croton hubs. The program restarts in April with two new hubs at Senasqua Park and near the Riverside Ave. overpass. $1,000 e-bike vouchers are available for families earning <$140K/yr.

● HVAC Refrigerants: Jon Katz reported a NY DEC regulatory change giving a variance until 1/1/27 for new residential/small commercial HVAC systems due to equipment rollout delays.

● Repair Café: The CAC's next Repair Café is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28 at 11 AM at the Croton Library.

● 2025 Annual Report: Lindsay Audin submitted the committee's annual summary to Bryan Healy, including budget requests for $6,000 for food scrap expansion and a grant-funded municipal solar contract for the DPW canopy.

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Minutes ↗ Read →

▶ Key Actions & Decisions

● Resolutions Passed: None.

● Resolutions Failed: None.

● Applications Reviewed: None.

● Public Comments: None (noting that invited guest Jessa Mittleman, a recent resident, did not attend).

● Reports:

● EV/EVSE/Renewable Diesel: The contract with Plug-In Stations Online (PISO) to install 18 EV charge ports at the train station was signed 11/18/25; planning is underway for sections D and E (east of canopy #3 along the west side of Veterans Plaza), featuring upgraded theft-resistant cables due to rising copper thefts. The Project MOVER e-Bike program recorded 1,088 rides between July 9 and October 31; it goes into hibernation on December 19 and will restart in early April with 2 new hubs (totaling 8). The NYSERDA grant expires in 2027, with future funding potentially coming from fee changes and hub advertising. The Renewable Diesel pilot test is running smoothly and will conclude in January, transitioning all village diesel trucks to RD.

● Solar Projects: Train station solar canopy and BESS commissioning is expected by the end of December. Sol is installing bollards to protect downspouts from commuter vehicles and adding shrouds to photocells at canopy #2 to block stray light from train yard lamps. The DPW solar canopy was re-bid on 11/20/25 (bids due 12/8/25), drawing two additional vendors to a 12/1 site meeting.

● Building Electrification: Gov. Hochul suspended the state's new all-electric building code on 11/13/25 pending an appeals court decision. If reinstated, it will initially ban fossil-fuel systems in new buildings under 7 stories and less than 100,000 SF, expanding to all new buildings in 2029.

● Food Scrap Recycling: The old shed was moved 11/29/25 to Lot G (far south end of train station parking lot by the salt shed). The new shed arrived 11/10/25; DPW fixed doors and added a ramp. The program plans to expand to more households in January.

● Funding and Budgeting: A revised proposal from Luminace for a smaller BESS behind the Municipal Place facility (halved to accommodate DPW) offers about half the previous leasing rent and is under village review. Exploring the state DOT-owned wooded strip northwest of the facility between Rt. 9 and South Riverside Ave was deemed unlikely to succeed. Moving the salt shed to make room for the original BESS design was scrapped after finding the adjacent power line lacks hosting capacity. After an 18-month effort, NYPA enrolled Croton's streetlight accounts into community solar (11/25/25), applying ~$4,000 in accrued credits to zero out the Nov. Muni Bldg bill, ~$1,000 against the Dec. bill, and yielding ~$3,000 in annual savings.

● Outreach: Croton100's next quilt will feature the EV chargers and e-bike program. Sustainable Westchester pledged at the Clinton Global Initiative to add rooftop solar to 30,000 homes and canopies to 300 parking lots in the county by 2030.

● Administrative: Members must complete annual NYS-mandated Workplace Violence and Sexual Harassment training (contact pdisanto@crotononhudson-ny.gov for password resets). The committee's next meeting is Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM via Zoom following a winter recess.