Latimer hosted the briefing from Hudson Hills Golf Course in Ossining to Tout County’s Efforts to Install EV Charging Stations on Various County Parks & Other Property
Latimer also announced that Westchester County has been designated as a Bronze Certified Climate Smart Community by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in recognition of its exemplary leadership in creating a more sustainable and resilient future for Westchester’s communities and their residents.
At a press briefing earlier today, County Executive George Latimer touted the County’s recent efforts to create a more sustainable Westchester. Joined by advocates, Latimer announced Westchester County has been designated as a Bronze Certified Climate Smart Community by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and discussed plans to place Electric Vehicle charging stations on County properties – including a now operational station at Hudson Hills Golf Course where the briefing took place.
View full press briefing here: https://youtu.be/AtT4z26cXPY
Latimer said: “When we talk about how we are going fight Climate Change, every one of us can do our share. There are things within our power as a County government – those are things we ought to do – and when there are things that fall outside of our authority, we will advocate for them.”
The County was designated a Bronze Certified Climate Smart Community in recognition of its exemplary leadership in creating a more sustainable and resilient future for Westchester’s communities and their residents.
County Director of Energy & Sustainability Peter McCartt said: ““Under County Executive Latimer’s leadership on our new EV Charger Installation Program to the major DEC certification accomplishment – it is further evidence of the actions we are taking toward creating a more sustainable Westchester. Every small step is progress. All of the actions that we do in our own home builds to all of the initiatives that local municipalities undertake, then to the County, State and upward. Small green actions add up to large powerful successes.”
The Climate Smart Communities program supports and spotlights local governments in their efforts to combat the climate crisis. In April of 2019, Latimer created the Climate Smart Communities Task Force to guide the County’s approach to identifying environmental priorities and engage in the rigorous process of certification.
In order to earn Bronze certification, a locality must earn 120 points based on the actions it has completed to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Westchester County surpassed this threshold significantly, submitting and earning a total of 140 points.
In its official release the DEC reported: “Westchester County earned points through its waste management practices and related outreach programs, which include a household materials recovery center and a residential food scraps recycling initiative. The county's transportation initiatives were also key in its certification, and include a complete streets policy, electric vehicle charging stations, incentives to encourage employees to carpool, and enforcing its anti-idling ordinance.”
Westchester joins eight other Counties in achieving the distinction of Bronze certification.
The new EV charging station at Hudson Hills, on which the County has partnered with One EVConnect, includes two Level 2 charger plugs. Users can charge their vehicle through the EVConnect application.
The County plans to install EV charging stations in other locations Countywide including at Maple Moor Golf Course, Mohansic Golf Course and Sprain Lake Golf Course before the end of the summer. Nearly all of the County’s courses have restaurants that the public can visit and charge their car while dining or golfing.
Planning has begun to include other County Parks such as Ward Pound Ridge, Croton Point Park and Playland – among others.
The Westchester County Covid-19 Dashboard can be viewed here: https://arcg.is/10naWv0
The Mobile Friendly Version of the Westchester County Covid-19 Dashboard can be viewed here: https://arcg.is/qHDS9