Legislation is enthusiastically supported by Students for Climate Action
Albany, NY – New York State Sen. Pete Harckham and his Senate colleagues have approved a bill (S.6307) he has reintroduced that extends the time period for the guaranteed recovery of energy performance contract costs from energy savings incurred by school districts. The time extension—from 18 years to 25 years—falls in line with federal standards, and will benefit school districts interested in installing solar energy systems in schools.
“It’s time to help school districts that are ready to commit to renewable energy projects like solar for their buildings, and that’s what this legislation does,” said Harckham. “Along with reducing the schools’ carbon emissions and assisting in the fight against climate change, these renewables will end up saving taxpayer dollars year after year. I am proud of the wide support this bill has received, especially among students concerned about their environment.”
Harckham met earlier this month via video conferencing with high schoolers in a group called Students for Climate Action that supported the legislation. Last year, Harckham’s bill was approved by the Senate as well.
Last week, Harckham spoke on the Senate floor in support of his bill; to see a video of his speech, click here.
Energy performance contracts have been a successful way for municipalities and school districts to lower their costs while improving efficiency. Energy performance contracts use the projected savings from the performance contract to pay for the project, which is often significantly cheaper than the previous energy costs.
Current state law, though, requires that energy performance contracts must guarantee the recovery of contract costs from recovery savings during the term of the contract, which cannot not exceed 18 years. Harckham’s legislation will allow contracts to not exceed more than 25 years, the same as the federal government.
“I am beyond proud of this group of dedicated students who persevered to make this Bill have legs, they knew they needed to help make it easier for school districts to purchase solar and use less fossil fuels,” said Melissa Parrott, executive director of Students for Climate Action (S4CA). “Thank you to Senator Harckham for hearing their passionate pleas and helping get this bill passed in the Senate. He is their champion. This is their legacy and what a legacy to have!”
Alex Polaris, a member of S4CA’s Sachem East High School Chapter, said, “To see the goals of our organization come to fruition with the passing of this bill in the Senate confirms to me that our vision of a brighter future can be a reality, and that persistence has its paybacks and there is power behind the voices of youth. I cannot personally thank Senator Harckham and all the senators within the State Senate enough.”
Juan-Carlos Delgado, a member of S4CA’s Brentwood High School Chapter, said, “I’m so happy that Students For Climate Action is finally getting the recognition it needs! Can’t wait for what we can accomplish for New York State!”
State Senator Harckham represents New York's 40th District, which includes the towns of Beekman, Pawling and the village of Pawling in Dutchess County; the towns of Carmel, Patterson and Southeast, and the village of Brewster in Putnam County; and the city of Peekskill, the towns of Cortlandt, Lewisboro, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers and Yorktown, the town/village of Mount Kisco, and the villages of Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan, Croton-on-Hudson, Pleasantville and Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County.