A the September 22nd Yorktown Town Board meeting, the Board adopted new laws regulating solar panel arrays and solar power storage devices.
The new laws establish orderly rules for property owners who want to install solar panel arrays and solar power storage devices. The laws took effect immediately.
“We are moving Yorktown to the frontlines of renewable energy by facilitating the installation of carbon-reducing energy devices in an intelligent and orderly fashion,” said Supervisor Matt Slater. “Reducing Yorktown’s carbon footprint is critical as we face increasingly violent storms that scientists tell us are caused by global warming. We all have a role to play in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.”
Yorktown’s actions align with the 2015 New York State Energy Plan, whose goals include a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels and 50% energy generation from renewable sources.
“This really goes into the whole climate change issue,” Councilwoman Alice Roker said after the vote.
Yorktown also becomes the first community in Westchester County to provide a regulatory framework for energy storage systems.
"Yorktown is leading the way on renewable energy and storage systems,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “As we head towards Climate Week, we need more communities like Yorktown to implement policies like these that reduce their carbon footprint and slash emissions. NYLCV commends Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater for his leadership."
Both renewable energy and energy storage systems are viewed as cornerstones for microgrids. New York State began investing in microgrids in 2015 by launching the state’s $40 million energy competition, NY Prize, which focused on proposals.
Prior to the laws’ adoption, the Town of Yorktown’s code did not provide a method of approving or disapproving of solar projects other than roof mounted solar panels. The Town Board has been presented with several solar projects that required the new solar laws, including IBM’s Solar Carport, and a similar proposal at the Granite Knolls Sports Complex, which could potentially generate revenue for the Town.
Town Board members noted that all of Yorktown’s environmental and land-use ordinances still apply to proposed solar array projects.
“This is not anybody can do whatever they want,” said councilman Vishnu Patel. “We are going through the same process.”
The new solar laws complement Yorktown’s new partnership with Sustainable Westchester to bring affordable solar power to residents. Sustainable Westchester is a nonprofit organization that works with local governments on a variety of environmental efforts.
The nonprofit will help Yorktown evaluate enrolling its electricity accounts in community solar projects for financial savings and positive environmental impact. A community solar project is an array of panels installed in a sunny location. Anyone can access the clean energy produced by these solar panels and get credits toward their electricity bills.