The Croton Sustainability Committee's May 31 meeting brought a cascade of clean-energy milestones, from newly operational solar canopies at the train station to a state budget that delivers billions for climate initiatives across New York. Committee Chair Lindsay Audin led the Zoom session, with Mayor Brian Pugh and Deputy Mayor Len Simon attending as village liaisons. Members present included Edwin Adkins, Ashley Clemente, Dan Columbini, Corey Cummings, David Goldman, Jon Katz, Niall Kelleher, and Cheryl Wong.

Solar Canopies Go Live at Train Station

Con Edison granted permission to operate the train station solar canopies on May 10, a long-awaited milestone for one of the committee's signature projects. On May 14, the installation was featured in a SUNY Binghamton graduate student's thesis examining the university's own solar options. Progress also advanced on the DPW solar canopy. On April 30, Rivertown Solar filed paperwork to secure the federal 30% IRA tax credit, worth approximately $78K. The village paid an invoice for 5% of the project cost before the July 4 federal deadline. Utility layouts and preliminary structural drawings have been submitted, and paperwork was filed to lock in the project's ~$39K NY-SUN incentive and obtain a building permit. Corey Cummings's report on portable solar power options, known as balcony solar, was posted to the committee's web page on May 18.

EV Charger Grant Extended; E-Bike Ridership Climbs

NY DEC agreed on April 29 to extend the village's EV charger grant by one year, moving the expiration from September 30, 2026 to September 30, 2027. The contract extension was received May 29. According to the minutes, DEC noted that other grantees are experiencing similar delays securing electric service for charger installations. No federal grants are involved in the project. On May 20, PISO submitted a plan to replace a 60-plus-year-old utility pole and install a roughly 1,700-pound, 100-kVA transformer at its top, along with an underground utility service connection — all required by Con Ed. The plan would have cost one of 18 parking spaces, but re-striping the spots and using 12-foot charger cables frees enough room. Village Manager Bryan Healy approved that solution. E-bike ridership continues to grow. Simon reported 210 rides logged in the 24 days since the program restarted on April 6. The Senasqua Park bike station opened May 2, and another site at the base of the overpass on North Riverside Avenue is awaiting NYS DOT approval.

CHPE Power Line Begins Operation

On May 14, the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line began operation, bringing 1,250 megawatts of Canadian hydropower into the Con Edison grid. The project, roughly 15 years in the making, is one of the largest clean energy infrastructure initiatives in New York history.

State Budget Delivers for Clean Energy

The state budget finally passed on May 26, drawing mixed reactions from energy activists. The NY League of Conservation Voters highlighted an additional $1 billion for the Sustainable Future Fund, investments in the NY-Sun program, a new Excelsior Power program for smart thermostats, and interconnection reforms. The budget also includes a $1 billion program providing a $200 electric bill rebate for residential customers with incomes below $150K per year, or $150 for those with higher incomes. Simon agreed to seek clarification on whether the Clean Energy Communities program will be covered under the Sustainable Future Fund.

Battery Storage Effort Moves to RFP

The committee's BESS 2.0 battery storage initiative hit a legal snag. A draft consulting agreement from Luminace was reviewed by Healy and sent to the village attorney, but the draft was not acceptable. On May 11, the attorney returned the issue to Healy. Audin is now assembling a request for information and request for proposals to push the process forward. Keiko Niccolini, a food scrap program volunteer, has agreed to assist with developing the bidders' list.

Earth Day Textile Recycling Sets Record

Cheryl Wong, the Food Scrap Program Coordinator, reported that Croton's May 2 Earth Day event collected 1,386 pounds of textiles — an 8% increase over last year. The materials were recycled and donated to charity through Helpsy. The committee also advanced discussions on recycling food scraps from Croton's schools into compost. Simon attended a meeting at the Center for EcoTechnology, where the Mothers Out Front advocacy group expressed interest in pairing the effort with the state-supported school breakfast and lunch program. A follow-up meeting with Mothers Out Front, Simon, and CET officials is planned for July.

Green My Power Program Considered

Sustainable Westchester's Dan Welsh asked Croton on May 5 to participate in "Green My Power," a voluntary program allowing electricity customers to buy Renewable Energy Certificates that support renewable generation. At a price of $10 per megawatt-hour, RECs covering 100% of Croton's municipal electricity use would cost approximately $16,000 per year. The committee found that the program's carbon avoidance was not quantified, making it difficult to assess the environmental benefit. Welsh is considering options for RECs with greater carbon impact per dollar.

CSC Ranking and Grant Success

Croton holds the number-three spot among roughly 900 municipalities in the state's Climate Smart Communities program, Audin noted. That standing may have helped the village secure its ~$150K NY DEC grant for train station EV chargers. The committee also discussed how its lb/kWh emissions factor — based on a statewide average — works against Croton, since over 90% of the village's power comes from gas-fired plants.

Committee Notes

Carly Shanks resigned from the committee to remain on the Water Control Commission, as village rules prohibit membership on more than one committee. Under new guidance issued May 4 by Healy, committee members need not live in Croton as long as the majority are residents, and subcommittees may include non-members. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 28, at 10 a.m. via Zoom, followed by the usual summer recess with meetings resuming September 20.