PRESS RELEASE from Stephanie Formas, Communications Director, Office of U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18)
l-r: Chris Burdick, Supervisor, Bedford; Warren Lucas, Supervisor, North Salem; Mike Kaplowitz, Westchester Legislator; Pete Harckham, Westchester Legislator; Sean Patrick Maloney, US Representative; Ellen Conrad, Bedford 2020; Mary Beth Kass, Bedford council; behind her: Mark Thielking, Chair, Energize NY; Kevin Brenner, Healthy Homes; to right: Herb Oringel, founder of the Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium
Somers, NY – As one of three energy bills introduced this week, Rep. Sean Maloney announced the bipartisan Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Assessment Protection Act of 2014 at Healthy Home Energy & Consulting in Somers. The legislation, HR 4285, helps spur local job creation and increase energy efficiency by enabling State and local governments to develop and implement PACE programs through local government financing of residential and nonresidential energy efficiency improvements. PACE programs – currently available in 31 states and the District of Columbia – allow property owners to finance the purchase and installation of energy retrofits to their homes and businesses and then pay for them each year as part of their property tax, and more than a dozen communities in Orange County and Northern Westchester participate in the Energize NY PACE program including Bedford, Lewisboro, North Salem, Pound Ridge and Somers. [see video]
“With my neighbors already facing astronomical energy costs, we need to get rid of needless bureaucracy and start helping our homeowners invest in the technology of the future,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney. “Communities like Bedford, Somers and Pound Ridge are leading the nation to reduce energy consumption through PACE financing, and we need to cut through the red tape to ensure they can continue create jobs and increase energy efficiency by expanding this innovative program.”
“The potential to reduce energy spending is massive and the associated job creation, increased economic activity and reduced pollution is huge. With Energize NY (PACE) Financing expanded to include residential properties, our communities will immediately see hundreds of homes eligible for funding to reduce their energy waste and generate savings that benefit our communities,” said Mark Thielking, Chairman of the Energy Improvement Corporation.
“PACE financing for both commercial and residential property owners will help Energize NY expand energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption in New York State. We support Congressman Maloney’s efforts to make this important sector of our economy more sustainable into the future,” said Tom Bregman, Director of Energize New York.