Ulster County, NY Purchase And Use Of Renewable Wind Energy
Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 5/12/05
Vote: In Favor - 27 Opposed - 0 Absent - 3
Source File: http://www.co.ulster.ny.us/resolution-archives/2005/177-05.pdf
Text:
Resolution No. 177
Purchase And Use Of Renewable Wind Energy For Ulster County
WHEREAS, Ulster County recognizes the benefits of supporting renewable energy and conservation, such as reduced levels of air pollution, reducing our national reliance on foreign sources of oil and lessening trends and impacts that lead to environmental degradation, and
WHEREAS, Ulster County is committed to exploring renewable energy and conservation through its partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) as a designated “Energy Smart Community,” and
WHEREAS, New York State adopted the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program on September 24, 2004, thereby establishing New York State as a leader in the field of renewable energy, stimulating investment in renewable energy and ensuring that by 2013 New York citizens receive 25% of their electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind power, and
WHEREAS, the higher price per kilowatt hour (kwh) for renewable energy should be weighed against the unknown costs of public health and safety, environmental clean-up, governmental subsidies to support conventional energy sources and the impact on foreign relations for producing electricity from burning coal, nuclear power or natural gas and importing oil, and
WHEREAS, Ulster County intends to offset these additional costs and premiums by implementing recommendations from the January 30, 2004 energy efficiency audit on County owned properties and through initiation of further audits on County owned or leased buildings, and
WHEREAS, the Environmental and Consumer Affairs Committee has met and reviewed said request with a majority of the members voting approval.
RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature does hereby adopt policy that Ulster County purchase a minimum of 10 % of its total annual projected electricity needs, in the form of a seven year contract [with Community Energy, Inc., the wind-power provider, for wind energy,] and moves its adoption.