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Sustainable Westchester previews Westchester Power opt-out program; Rye Brook trustees to decide at next meeting
Summary
Sustainable Westchester presented the Westchester Power community choice aggregation (CCA) program to the Rye Brook Board, explaining it is an opt-out supply contract that offers renewable supply options. The board took the presentation for consideration and said it would form a position and vote at the next meeting.
Sustainable Westchester representatives briefed the Rye Brook Board of Trustees on the Westchester Power Community Choice Aggregation program Tuesday and urged the village to reauthorize participation so the consortium can procure a renewable-energy supply in the next contracting round.
"The program is for the supply part of the bill, which we're talking about when we consider the Westchester Power program," said Dan Walsh of Sustainable Westchester, describing the CCA's role in securing electricity supply (as distinct from the delivery charges on customers' bills). Walsh said the program offers fixed-rate supply options at different renewable content levels and operates on an opt-out basis when a municipal legislative body adopts the CCA.
Walsh told trustees the program now serves about 30,000 accounts across 26 Westchester municipalities and that Rye Brook had nearly 2,000 participating accounts through February 2025. He said the CCA had mitigated roughly 300,000 tons of carbon since its start, using EPA and grid carbon factors to convert renewable supply purchases into avoided emissions.
Walsh and colleagues outlined the mechanics: the program can offer a 50% renewable supply (the minimum now viable under new state procurement rules) or higher percentages for municipalities that choose to default to a greater renewable share. He cautioned the board that short-term market conditions can push supplier prices above Con Edison's default supply rate and there is no guaranteed net savings, but argued the CCA increases local access to renewable supply and price stability through fixed-rate contracts.
Village Manager Chris Bradbury and trustees raised rate-history and program-cost questions. Trustees also noted a $0.00175-per-kilowatt-hour administrative fee that funds Sustainable Westchester's community programs. Walsh said the timing for signing the municipal memorandum of understanding is compressed to allow the consortium flexibility on procurement; he asked the board for a sentiment by April 19 so the group can prepare for the next round and noted final board action would be required to join.
Trustees did not vote at the meeting. Mayor Jason A. Klein said the board would discuss and attempt to give a sentiment before Walsh's April 19 procurement window and that any formal authorization or reauthorization would occur at Rye Brook's April 22 meeting.
Walsh also described related programs that Sustainable Westchester operates, including community solar enrollment, grid-demand response (GridRewards), bilingual customer support and home energy-efficiency outreach. The presentation described a possible future regulatory change to enable "opt-out" community solar credits, which Walsh said would require approval by the New York Public Service Commission.
The board will take the presentation under advisement and consider the MOU and participation level at its next meeting.
