Clean Energy Program

Posted on 10/02/2020

CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM

Clarkstown is proud to participate in the Rockland Community Power clean energy program (RCP), a collaborative municipal program. This program will help lower energy costs for most residents, provides 100% renewable energy at affordable rates, and provides much stronger consumer protection. This collaborative program includes Orangetown, Nyack, South Nyack, Upper Nyack, and the Village of Haverstraw.

Our community as a leader on clean energy: With this program, we join communities leading the way in New York State on renewable energy. In response to the urgency of climate action, New York State has set ambitious goals to transition to clean energy as quickly as possible. This innovative new program helps all of us meet those goals well ahead of the state timeline. This program is also part of our larger sustainability efforts as a community.

To date, 15,539 Clarkstown households have switched over to 100% renewable energy at much lower costs. That’s the equivalent of taking 7,752 cars off the road for one year.

The program gives each of us a way to make a measurable difference in our carbon footprint. If you did not sign up for the renewable energy option with this program and would like to do so now, you can always enroll at 845 859-9099 option 1.

Your Energy Choice: By now, each of you should have the energy option of your choice, whether it’s participation in the program or opting out. If you were switched over, you should see Constellation NewEnergy CCA, the supplier for the RCP program, listed on the third page of your bill. If the option of your choice is not listed on your bill, please give us a call at 845 859-9099 option 1 or email info@RocklandCommunityPower.com. You can always opt into the program or out at any time and with no participation or exit fees.

Alternative Energy Companies: We want to let our residents and small businesses know that some ESCOs (Energy Service Companies) are targeting our community with solicitations. Letters from the town program will come only on our letterhead and signed by the Town Supervisor. We do not knock on doors or make unsolicited calls. You can always check with our office at (845) 639-2000.

Consumer Protection: Collectively our six communities have been able to provide a program that truly protects constituents from predatory practices and provides transparency, as well as advancing sustainability. There are no exit fees for any aspect of our program.

Customer Assistance & Outreach: The helpline will continue for the life of the program, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. The Rockland Community Power Coordinator will also continue to be available for presentations to your community group. Please get in touch at Peggy@JouleCommunityPower.com or call 845 859-9099 option 1.

We can all be proud of our accomplishments through this new program. This is our community program. You can always get in touch with questions or ideas with the RCP Community Coordinator at Peggy@JouleCommunityPower.com.

Rockland Community Power is a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, a buying group through which Clarkstown residents and small businesses can purchase electricity sourced by clean energy. New York State promotes CCA in order to foster the growth of clean energy, lower costs, and strengthen consumer protection.

Rockland Community Power will include six communities: Clarkstown, Orangetown, and the villages of Haverstraw, Nyack, South Nyack, and Upper Nyack. This program offers the opportunity to transition to clean energy, helping to ensure cleaner air and a safer environment for our families, while also reducing costs.

Clarkstown has long been an environmental leader among communities in Rockland County. Now, along with five other municipalities, our community is leading the way to a greener and cheaper energy future. New York State has set ambitious goals to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) helps us take one big step toward meeting those goals and reducing our carbon footprint as a community, while also reducing costs.

The benefits of CCA include:

• Cost savings
• 100% renewable energy
• Consumer protection from predatory suppliers
• More community choice and more choice for individual consumers

Yes, you can always opt out of the program easily and at any time and with no penalty. If you are a current Orange & Rockland (O & R) customer, you should receive an official letter from your mayor early in October, welcoming you to the program. This letter will explain the program and will list your options. If you do nothing, you will be automatically transferred to the default community renewable energy program, which will start in November.

If you purchase your electricity supply from an alternative energy supplier and wish to participate in the CCA program, you will not get the mailing and will need to take a few simple steps to enroll. We recommend that you first check your supply contract or contact your supplier to determine whether you'll be subject to an exit fee. If you would like to participate in the Rockland Community Power program, you will need to contact your current supplier to cancel your account – and then call the program hotline to enroll at (845) 859-9099.

You can expect a mailing this week from the town if you are an O & R supply customer. If not, you may call the number below if you want to participate. The program will launch in November.

For more information about Rockland Community Power or CCA, please visit www.RocklandCommunityPower.com or call (845) 859-9099. You can also contact your Community Coordinator at Peggy@JouleCommunityPower.com.

ROCKLAND COMMUNITY POWER UPDATE

Six Rockland municipalities - Clarkstown, Orangetown, and the Villages of Haverstraw, Nyack, South Nyack, and Upper Nyack - have founded a collaborative municipal energy program called Rockland Community Power. This program will make 100% renewable energy available to our community at lower cost, while also strengthening consumer protection.

In the midst of the pandemic and economic hard times, it’s good to have some ‘good news’ to share with our communities.

• We have created a program that makes renewable energy affordable to everyone.
• We project that together we will reduce our collective carbon footprint for all six communities by approximately 57,578 metric tons over two years. That's the equivalent of taking 12,439 cars off the road for one year.
• Together we are providing much stronger consumer protection through the program. By negotiating as a collaborative group, we are able to provide low fixed rates and help constituents avoid predatory contracts.

Click HERE for News 12 coverage from October 14.

Program launch: Residents who did not opt out by October 28 will be moved into the program in November. Anyone can leave the program any time with no exit fee, but it will now take one billing cycle to move back to Orange & Rockland.

‘Switch letters’ from O&R in November: If you received a letter about the program from the town and did not opt out, you can expect to receive a ‘switch letter’ from Orange & Rockland over the next few weeks. The ‘switch letter’ notifies you that you are being switched to Rockland Community Power. We hope that you will take advantage of this town program. To learn more, please visit www.RocklandCommunityPower.com or call 845 859-9099.

Rockland Community Power virtual “office hours”: Please “drop by” online or call to discuss your questions and concerns. We’re here to help you understand your electric bill and your new options through your town program.

Virtual Office Hours for November
Monday mornings, 11 am to 12 pm and Wednesdays evenings, 7 to 8:00 pm
Join online: https://jouleassetsinc.my.webex.com/meet/info
Join by phone: 1-415-655-0001
Access code: 126 801 1932

Helpline: The Rockland Community Power program helpline is also available to answer your questions and to help you better understand your options. You can reach helpline staff at 845 859-9099, Monday to Friday 9 to 5, or at info@RocklandCommunityPower.com. The helpline will remain active for the life of the program.

We are proud of what we’ve achieved so far and look forward to adding on more initiatives through this program. We'll continue to keep you updated.

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