Ed Day, Rockland County Executive
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2021
Rockland County Ranks No. 21 on EPA’S Top 30 Local Government List of Green Power Users
New City, NY, - Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Purchasing Director Paul Brennan announced today that Rockland County has been listed as No. 21 on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Top 30 Local Government list of the largest green power users from the Green Power Partnership (GPP).
Engie Power & Gas is providing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) based on U.S. generated wind power to the County of Rockland and the Rockland County Sewer District No. 1. along with Rockland Community College and the Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority in separate contracts.
By moving the needle in the voluntary green power market, Rockland County and other Green Power Partners are helping to reduce the negative health impacts of air emissions including those related to ozone, fine particles, acid rain, and regional haze.
“We are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for our green power use,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. “By making the choice to use green power, we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while also sending a message to others that using green power is smart for government and for taxpayers.”
Purchasing Director Paul Brennan stated, “As part of the County’s Shared Service Initiative, the County’s solicitation and contract award allows other local governments to ‘piggyback’ on the County contract pricing, thereby eliminating the need for the local government to issue their own cooperative bid. We encourage other Local Governments to ‘piggyback’ on the contract by contacting the County’s Purchasing Division at purchasing@co.rockland.ny.us.”
“This list of the largest users of green power across the nation is proof that good business practices can also benefit the environment,” said James Critchfield, Program Manager of EPA's Green Power Partnership. “EPA applauds the leading organizations in the Green Power Partnership’s Top Partner Rankings for their notable commitment to expanding their use of green power and protecting the environment.”
According to the U.S. EPA, Rockland County’s green power use of more than 35 million kWh is equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than 3,000 average American homes. This includes the energy use of the County of Rockland and the Rockland County Sewer District No. 1. Annual savings from green power energy use are projected to be $79,257 for the County and $95,118 for the Rockland County Sewer District, No. 1.
About EPA’s Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that helps increase green power use among U.S. organizations to advance the American market for green power and development of those sources as a way to reduce air pollution and other environmental impacts associated with electricity use. In 2020, the Partnership had more than 700 Partners voluntarily using nearly 70 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500® companies; small and medium sized businesses; local, state, and federal governments; and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit www.epa.gov/greenpower.
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