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Tompkins County Energy Costs Rise; Waterloo Hydropower Delivered Notable Savings in 2025
Summary
County energy brief: electricity and natural gas costs rose about 8.3% year‑over‑year to 2025; the Waterloo hydroelectric PPA produced lower volume but delivered roughly $242,000 in savings because wholesale prices rose. County staff previewed solar, battery storage and district geothermal plans.
Tompkins County officials on May 19 presented a year‑end energy and sustainability briefing that traced rising costs, variable renewable production and near‑term infrastructure plans.
Terry Carroll told legislators the county’s combined electricity and natural gas spend rose about 8.3% from 2024 to 2025, citing rate increases and weather variability as the main drivers. Carroll said that while hydroelectric production from the contracted Waterloo facility was low in 2025, the facility produced about $242,000 in net savings because higher electric prices increased the value of each kilowatt‑hour fed into the grid.
Carroll described how the county’s PPA model works: a remote hydro plant in Waterloo injects power into the grid, NYSEG issues production statements and the county receives monetary credits that lower county electricity bills month to month. He noted variability — some months the hydro plant supplies a large share of county demand and other months much less — and said the hydro contract has been a long‑term asset for the county.
Other highlights from the briefing:
- Fleet electrification: about 27.5% of the county vehicle fleet is electrified or plug‑in hybrid, a share that edged down slightly owing to addition of non‑EV vehicles. The county is testing electrified police vehicles and watching charging‑infrastructure needs for public‑safety facilities.
- Green facilities: new boilers are operational at the Human Services Building; solar at the Health Department is expected to interconnect later in the year (projected September), though some rooftop solar leases on county buildings are nearing contract end and require decisions.
- Projects under evaluation: a potential 5‑megawatt solar plus battery project at county facilities (site and financing still uncertain), battery‑energy storage pilots, and a district geothermal schematic for the center of government and the old jail. An airport EV fast‑charger project is not proceeding because of site constraints.
Carroll said the county will use a recently completed greenhouse‑gas inventory to shape a climate action plan and anticipates further outreach this year. He also flagged grant opportunities and training events (a battery‑storage workshop drew 56 participants) as part of a push to build local capacity for clean energy and resilience.
Why it matters: Rising utility rates and contract timing are shaping county budgeting and capital planning; the Waterloo hydro arrangement continues to provide financial value even in low‑production years, and the county is preparing investments (storage, solar, district energy) that could moderate future exposure to wholesale price swings.
