White Plains CitizeNetReporter - <i>King Komments:</i> Paul Feiner's Energy Plans Good for White Plains

WPCNR KING KOMMENTS. By White Plains Councilperson William King. November 27, 2002: On the eve of Greenburgh's passage of energy conservation encouragement legislation, created by Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor, the White Plains Councilman urges White Plains to consider similar measures:

I just want to say loud enough for everybody in White Plains and beyond to hear that I think your (Paul Feiner's) initiatives in the energy conservation area are what we should also be doing in White Plains. You and I spoke about this when we first were discussing Indian Point and you are a man of action.

I never heard whether White Plains was represented at your energy conservation conference ,which we were invited to, but if not that was an opportunity missed. Your (Mr. Feiner's) new ordinance requiring energy conserving appliances, etc. in new home construction is also exemplary. And I like the idea of a new energy conservation coordinator. I would like to discuss with you 2 more ideas, one of which I have previously discussed with you:

1. I heard that in New Jersey, PSE&G, their electric utility, will reimburse homeowners for a large percentage of the purchase and installation cost of solar energy (maybe also wind energy) units, maybe as high as 60%.

I was wondering if Con Ed does something similar and, if not, shouldn't they? And if this has been discussed with them already and they don't, could any local, county and state pressure be put to bear on this? I heard (recent info) that with PSE&G paying 60% of the cost of solar units that they pay for themselves in 5 years.

This saves PSE&G from having to build new power plants (at least it prolongs the time before they have to build new ones) as the population grows and people buy more and more energy-sapping appliances and build bigger and bigger homes.

2. The 2nd point I'd like to discuss with you again, and on the county and state levels, is the idea of some kind of $ for $ tax rebates for homeowners and apartment building owners who install their own solar energy systems, etc.

I know this can put a dent in local tax coffers but, to date, state income tax deductions, etc., have not been enough of an incentive to persuade very many people to do anything in this area. It sure isn't publicized very well. I think there needs to be more of an incentive.

There are a lot of ways citizens can and should be incentivized to do things that are good for their towns - for example, paying for sidewalks in front of their homes and then deducting the whole cost of what they paid from their property taxes, $ for $.

Again, great work, Paul Feiner, on finding ways to encourage energy conservation. It's not just the right thing to do, it's patriotic at the same time, to help us reduce American dependence on foreign oil. All the best and have a happy Thanksgiving.

Councilman William King


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