In 2013 East Hampton, a municipality of approximately 22,000 residents, committed to becoming “a leader in sustainable energy policies and practices by substantially reducing energy consumption through conservation and energy efficiency while significantly increasing the use of renewable energy technologies.” By 2015, they added an Energy Sustainability Committee with the task of advising the Town on reaching the renewable energy goals spelled out in a newly created Climate Action Plan.
By 2021, under the leadership of Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, a number of the extraordinary actions have moved forward, often recommended by the committee, and passed by the town with much important support coming from the Town’s Natural Resource Department:
- The Accabonac Solar Farm, the first megawatt solar farm on the South Fork, was completed.
- A collaboration with the New York Power Authority resulted in the installation of solar energy systems at municipal buildings.
- A utility battery storage facility was completed in Montauk – the second such facility on Long Island.
- Legislation was authorized for Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) allowing the Town to explore the potential for procuring renewable power from an alternative supplier. FYI: LIPA is currently holding this up.
- Gas and diesel powered leaf blowers have been banned –from May 20 to September 20.
- Solar powered, off-grid lighting has been installed in the Amagansett Village parking lot.
- A Fleet Efficiency Policy was established to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles for the municipal fleet.
- Electric charging stations have been installed, from 12 fast chargers in Montauk (at no cost to the Town) to Level-2 stations at Town Hall and the Amagansett Village parking lot.
- A Climate Emergency Declaration was unanimously adopted in 2021 with the goal of viewing all Town decisions through the lens of climate change.
- Also in 2021, an easement agreement with the South Fork Wind Farm was signed and a resolution to approve the Host Community Agreement between the Town and the South Fork Wind Farm was passed, which, when the final approvals come through from the NYSPSC and BOEM, will yield $29 million in payments over 25 years to the Town and the Trustees.
BOEM's review of the South Fork Wind Farm, a 15-turbine, 132 MW project, with a cable landing in Wainscott, a hamlet within the Town of East Hampton, was complete and approved in January, 2022 and construction began immediately. Orsid operations are scheduled to begin at the end of 2023 powering 70,000 New York homes.
Francesca Rheannon, Host of Sustainable East End, opens this video on coastal erosion interviewing Kevin McAllister. It continues as Alec Baldwin and Cate Rogers join Kevin in the discussion. For more information, visit DefendH20.org
PLANS TO ACCELERATE RENEWABLES
10/01/15
Accelerating climate change continues to escalate the need for communities and municipalities to develop strategies combating current challenges to local infrastructure and the projected intensity of impacts on community assets, natural resources and public health. The…
10/01/13
Accelerating climate change continues to escalate the need for communities and municipalities to develop strategies combating current challenges to local infrastructure and the projected intensity of impacts on community assets, natural resources and public health. The…
05/09/22
HomeGovernmentTown ProjectsCoastal Assessment Resiliency Plan
04/21/22
A simple guide to what can and can't be recycled
05/17/21
Isaac Mizrahi Goes Organic: Kicks the Lawn Chemical Habit
02/15/21
BOEM has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the South Fork Wind Farm and South Fork Export Cable Project. The following documents are available for your viewing.
02/03/21
South Fork Wind brings unparalleled experience to Long Island. This offshore wind farm will be the first to connect in New York State and help the Town of East Hampton meet its 100% renewable energy…
02/03/21
Drawdown East End is a grass roots, non-partisan organization that inspires and supports our communities to actively engage in solutions to reach drawdown.* Our vision is to achieve drawdown and reverse global warming by 2050…
11/10/20
We are private citizens of the South Fork of Long Island who believe that becoming the first communities in New York State to be powered by offshore wind is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity that should…
07/10/19
The Town of East Hampton’s 100% renewable energy goals require a diversified portfolio of energy technologies and approaches.
12/06/18
The men and women who work in the recycling industry describe it these days in bleak terms. From a business standpoint, recent market changes have made it much harder for recycling vendors or any entity…
12/04/18
It was the early 2000s, and single-stream recycling was the newest, hottest trend in the recycling market. Waste Management, the garbage disposal and recycling behemoth, was pushing the trend, touting the convenience of allowing a…
11/27/18
A steady parade of plastic water bottles, tin cans, empty yogurt containers and countless other “recyclable” items, either fully or partially obscured by the thick stew of garbage—and perhaps even still imprisoned inside unopened garbage…
10/02/19
Renewable Energy Long Island (reLI), established in 2003, is a membership-based, 501-c-3 not-for-profit organization promoting clean, sustainable energy use and generation on Long Island. reLI is committed to transitioning Long Island to a 100% renewable…
10/02/19
The Accabonac Solar Farm (ASF) in Springs is the first megawatt scale solar farm on Long Island’s South Fork.
10/02/19
Town of East Hampton is named a New York State Clean Energy Community for completing 4 high impact action items, becoming eligible for a $100,000 grant.
10/02/19
The Energy Sustainability Committee (ESC) was appointed in 2013 by the East Hampton Town Board to assist the Town in its participation in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Climate Smart Communities Program.
