Rockland Community Power: An opportunity to reduce energy costs and fight climate change locally
Close to a decade later, Rockland residents remember the impacts of Hurricane Sandy. The storm caused major and costly damages to more than 470 properties, resulting in extensive power outages, and numbers of downed power lines and trees across the county.
The electric energy sector’s significant share of national carbon emissions (CO2) contributes to driving climate-related risks and extreme weather events. This has been a persistent reality for several decades causing record-breaking temperatures. In response, NY continues to expand its ambitious climate policies to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy and bring about more equitable consumer access to renewables.
A timely question is how this transition can be carried out effectively while balancing economic growth and environmental goals. And is it a balance or can sustainability programs feed economic growth? We are seeing that it can cause growth. One good example, Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), emerged as an environmental and economic solution for communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). By joining hundreds of municipalities across the nation, Rockland communities launched its own CCA program giving residents and small businesses the opportunity to take climate action by opting for more affordable and sustainable energy.
What is Rockland’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)?
As of December 2020, more than 24,000 households in Rockland County have been switched to the new 100% renewable supply without the hassle of contracts or penalties through Rockland Community Power.
Rockland Community Power (RCP) is a community choice (CCA) program – comprising of communities in New York’s Rockland County – that enables participants to pay less for 100% renewable electricity, than they’ve historically paid for “standard” electricity, which is largely based on fossil fuels. The participating communities are the towns of Clarkstown and Orangetown and the villages of Haverstraw, Nyack, South Nyack, and Upper Nyack.
This municipal energy procurement model puts energy decision-making authority in the hands of the community rather than the state. Under this program, Rockland communities are given more control over their energy choices, expanding the use of clean energy sources.
In 2016, Community Choice Aggregation was approved statewide by the Public Service Commission to secure more favorable energy supply rates, protect consumers, and support the generation of clean energy in NY. In essence, this program makes renewable energy accessible to all at a lower rate.
While eligible residents are automatically enrolled in the program, anyone can opt out prior to launch or at any time during the contract term without any penalty.
How does it work?
A program administrator works with participating municipalities to identify community priorities and solicit proposals from qualified energy supply companies on behalf of community’s residents and small businesses. A community choice program will only launch when an energy supply proposal meets the cost-saving, consumer protection and other requirements identified by your community.
Community choice benefits the environment and the economy together
As a Rockland resident or business owner, participation in a municipal buying group enables you to combine your home’s energy usage with that of your neighbors. As such, your participation creates economies of scale that generate enormous buying power for all participants.
Most importantly, you are offered the following benefits:
Choice: The community chooses the mix of renewable versus standard supply.
Clean energy: The program makes 100% renewable energy affordable to everyone.
Low rates: Competitive bids from energy suppliers.
Price stability: Fixed and lower rates with no monthly price fluctuations.
Consumer protection: No contract for consumers and no exit fees. Supplier agreements are fully vetted and implementation plans are reviewed and approved by the NY State Department of Public Service.
You can also increase your savings with community solar and support local sustainability efforts
Almost 50% of homes are unable to host solar panels. Community solar enables you to enjoy the benefits of solar without installing panels on your roof or property and without any upfront fees.
As an Orange & Rockland Utilities residential or small business customer, you have the opportunity to participate in a second program through Rockland Community Power, called community solar. The program enables you to support the development of local renewable energy generation. Regardless of whether you participate in the community choice program (CCA), your enrollment in community solar allows you to save up to 10% off your electric bill annually. The goal of both community choice and community solar programs is to give your entire community a unique opportunity to share the benefits of renewable energy locally, and to support access to affordable clean energy.
You are not only saving money on your electric bill, but you are also serving the sustainable growth of Rockland County.
We’ve designed this program with the purpose of not only supporting you individually, but also collectively as a group of residents and businesses who aim to engage in local sustainability efforts at your community level. We do so through our “Giving Back” program, which allocates money towards your municipality’s sustainability fund for each subscriber enrolled in our solar program. Your municipality can then decide on how to use those funds to finance future sustainability projects of its own choosing.
For instance, the Towns of Clarkstown and Orangetown and the Village of Haverstraw, have decided to donate their “Giving Back” funds to local COVID-19 relief efforts. An initiative that we continue to support under our community solar program.
You can also join these efforts while sustainably lowering your electric bill. And there are no maintenance costs, sign-up or cancellation fees.
To sum it up, in a complex and changing energy world, Rockland communities are playing a key role in accelerating the clean energy transition and limiting some of the adverse effects of climate change felt close to home. Rockland Community Power is a tangible way for communities, residents, and businesses to take action and help create a more environmentally and economically sustainable energy future.