This fall a collaborative municipal clean energy program launched in Rockland County, transitioning close to one fourth of Rockland’s population onto renewable energy.  

Rockland Community Power, a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, provides 100% renewable energy at affordable, guaranteed rates and protects consumers from predatory suppliers.  This innovative program is the kind of big, transformative action needed to move us from fossil fuels to the clean energy that will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change.

And most consumers see a reduction in their utility bill!  A KRB member who subscribes to the program was delighted to find that she will cut the supply portion of her electric bill by more than half! 

We are facing a profound climate crisis.  Scientists are warning that we must cut emissions by 45% worldwide by 2030 in order to avoid runaway climate change.  It’s clear we will need sweeping and systemic change to avoid the worst-case scenarios.  New York State has set ambitious climate goals, including 70% renewable energy for electricity by 2030.  The question is, how do we meet those urgently needed climate goals?

Currently, six Rockland communities having taken a major step toward meeting those goals on the local level by participating in Rockland Community Power. They are: Clarkstown, Orangetown, and the Villages of Haverstraw, Nyack, South Nyack, and Upper Nyack.  These communities have chosen 100% renewable energy as the default option to replace “standard” energy transmitted through Orange & Rockland.  

If you live in one of the six Rockland Community Power communities and you are an Orange & Rockland customer, you should be getting an official welcome letter to the program (on municipal letterhead and signed by your mayor or town supervisor).  If you do nothing, you will be moved seamlessly onto renewable energy when the program launches.  

In fact, the power of CCA is the “opt out” feature, which gives the community leverage as a buying group – and makes all the difference in reducing our carbon footprint as a community.  Customers can ‘opt out’ at any time and without any financial penalty.  

Orange and Rockland will continue as your utility, delivering the energy, maintaining the power lines, and billing customers.

If your energy comes from an alternative supplier (not standard) and you would like to participate in the program, you can easily ‘opt in’ by calling (845) 859-9099, or going online to www.rocklandcommunitypower.com. 

You can also add on Community Solar, which supports a more local renewable energy source and provides a guaranteed discount of up to 10%! 

If your community is not yet participating in Rockland Community Power and you would like to bring this impactful program to your community, reach out to Community Coordinator, Peggy Kurtz, at Peggy@JouleCommunityPower.com or call 845 859-9099.