We both care deeply about our constituents in Rockland County, and we hear from you every day — particularly regarding your rising energy bills. While we may not agree on every political issue, we stand firmly together on this: these bills are far too high, and the state must do more to protect working families. We believe one practical solution to lowering costs is improving our infrastructure to deliver real savings to ratepayers. That is why we strongly support increased investment in thermal energy networks, or TENs, in this year’s state budget.
Thermal energy networks are a smarter, more efficient way to heat and cool our communities. By connecting multiple buildings through shared underground water systems that transfer thermal energy, TENs significantly reduce the amount of power required to keep homes and businesses comfortable year-round. Lower energy use translates directly into lower utility bills— a goal every New Yorker can support.
What can we learn from Haverstraw?
Here in Rockland County, we are already seeing what this future looks like. In Haverstraw, Orange & Rockland is advancing a first-of-its-kind thermal energy network pilot that will serve as a model for the entire state. When completed, this project will install two neighborhood-scale thermal loops — one near the Hudson River and another near the Village Hall. These loops will serve multiple blocks of residential, commercial and municipal buildings, delivering highly efficient heating and cooling for everyone. This includes the 450 new units of housing at the Haverstraw Chair Factory Redevelopment Project on Liberty Street.
Most importantly, the Haverstraw pilot is designed with affordability in mind. Participating customers would receive new, efficient heating and cooling equipment at no upfront cost, along with access to lower-maintenance systems and more stable energy pricing over time. This is exactly the kind of investment we should be making: it lowers costs for working families while modernizing our infrastructure.
Across the river, SUNY Purchase is advancing its own geothermal TEN as part of a broader effort to deploy these systems across SUNY campuses. Campuses are ideal for TENs; for example, as classes wind down, lecture halls can send their excess heat to dorm rooms, lowering costs for taxpayers without sacrificing comfort.
These projects are not theoretical — they are happening now. Across New York, multiple TENs pilots have already advanced through key development stages and are currently awaiting Public Service Commission approval. The question before us is whether we will build on this momentum.
In this year’s budget, we seek a $200 million investment to support TENs across the state, including the SUNY campuses and in communities that need help in adopting innovative technology. This funding would help bring proven, cost-saving methods to more communities while ensuring that disadvantaged areas are not let behind.
As the final budget agreement comes together, we urge our colleagues and Gov. Kathy Hochul to include this critical funding. It is an investment in lower utility bills, stronger communities and a stronger New York.
Bill Weber represents New York’s 38th State Senate District. Pat Carroll represents New York’s 96th State Assembly District. Both represent portions of Rockland County.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland County needs common-sense energy solutions | Opinion
Reporting by Bill Weber and Pat Carroll, Special to the USA TODAY Network / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
