Letter to the Editor: Clarkstown Pursues Community Microgrid through NYSERDA NY Prize Program

Dear Editor,

The Town of Clarkstown is a leader in environmental stewardship. Since 2000, the Town has undertaken various environmental initiatives, such as purchasing environmentally sound products and vehicles, preserving the Town’s natural environment, establishing green building codes and installing a solar field on a the Town’s capped landfill.

The Town assumed a leading role in improving the sustainability and reliability of electricity in the greater Rockland County area by recently submitting an application for support in building a community microgrid, a standalone energy system that can operate independently in the event of a power outage.

This application is the first phase of the NY Prize initiative by Governor Andrew Cuomo. If successful, the Town would receive a $100,000 state grant to conduct a microgrid feasibility study in Clarkstown. It would permit the Town to then apply for additional state grants to build our own microgrid system.

A microgrid system would enhance energy resiliency and resistance of critical infrastructure and public services in Clarkstown, such as fire departments, schools, and government buildings that are not only vital to the town’s operations, but also to Rockland County. We would work with other agencies such as the Rockland County Office of Emergency Services on this initiative.

Clarkstown has done much to harden our emergency response. After Hurricane Irene and Sandy, we were successful in receiving grants to purchase a number of generators and upgraded our police department, town hall and three community centers so they could operate during an emergency outage.

I am excited about taking the next steps in creating a microgrid for Clarkstown. A microgrid would complement and enhance our community’s ongoing efforts to promote environmental sustainability, economic growth, and climate resilience.

NY Prize is a first-in-the-nation competition sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Its $40 million fund will support communities’ efforts to build microgrids, which will reduce costs, promote sustainable, reliable energy, and increase resiliency in the commercial electric grid. Clarkstown is hoping to be a part of that effort!

Sincerely,

Alex Gromack

Supervisor

Town of Clarkstown