Southern and Northern Westchester Green Agencies to Form Single Alliance
Westchester municipalities originally organized by environmental and green concerns based on location up or down county are organizing under one umbrella consortium to be called Sustainable Westchester.
The new consortium is the result of combining parallel efforts of the Northern Westchester Energy Action Consortium (NWEAC) and the Southern Westchester Energy Action Consortium (SWEAC) and will result in the sharing of tools, resources and green incentives across the entire county by municipalities with ambitious sustainability goals but severe budgetary constraints.
According to proponents of the new consortium, it will help participating municipalities to better address challenges by better leveraging resources as well as outside funding and expertise related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste reduction, transportation and food security.
A recent publication explaining the intent of the new organization said that to enable the merger NWEAC, a 501(c)(3) organization is in the process of amending its certificate of incorporation to become Sustainable Westchester. The change in the charter will allow any local government in Westchester to join the new organization.
NWEAC, which began operating in 2009, and SWEAC in 2010 have been advocating for intermunicipal collaboration. Over 80 percent, 786,000 residents, of Westchester live in municipalities that have already joined NWEAC or SWEAC.
A survey prepared by SWEAC and NWEAC in cooperation with the Westchester Municipal Officials Association was distributed to the chief elected officials and managers of all 45 cities, towns, villages and cities in Westchester in November 2013, according to the Sustainable Westchester Information sheet. Of the 67 percent responding, which represent 75 percent of the population of the county, 91 percent said they have a designated staff member or committee addressing sustainability concerns; 100 percent say the energy efficiency of municipal buildings is important or critically important; 97 percent say that energy of outdoor lighting and street lights is important or critically important; and a majority indicated that lowering energy costs for residents and business owners, reducing solid waste and implementing a complete streets policy where pedestrians and bicycles are considered along with automobile traffic in city planning are also important.
Sustainable Westchester expects to hold its first members meeting this fall and will elect a board of directors at that time.
According to the accompanying map provided by NWEAC and SWEAC, municipalities within the readership area for The White Plains Examiner – Greenburgh, White Plains, Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, Rye, New Rochelle, Tarrytown, Irvington, Dobbs Ferry, and Hastings are already members of SWEAC. Harrison and Port Chester are not members.
