McDonough Introduces Legislation to Help Make Nassau County Green

Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I – Merrick) recently introduced legislation aimed at allowing Nassau County to create a loan program which would help Nassau County residents afford green energy technologies.

This bill, A.10333, also was introduced in the senate by Senator Charles Fuschillo (R-Merrick) and would reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions while also making energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements more affordable to homeowners and businesses within Nassau County.

"According to 2008 census data, there are 1,351,625 people living in Nassau County in 447,387 households," McDonough said. "If Nassau County, with the support of New York State, created an incentive for even ten percent of these households to install green energy technologies, we could be a leader nationwide in renewable energy sources. It is my hope that this legislation will see quick approval in both the Assembly and the Senate for the benefit of all Nassau County."

This legislation authorizes the County of Nassau to offer, in its discretion, sustainable energy loans with monies made available for the program from federal and state grants as well as county-issued bonds to help its homeowners and businesses finance the installation of distributed generation renewable energy sources and/or energy efficiency improvements. 

Renewable energy source improvements would include solar, wind, photovoltaics, tidal, geothermal, fuel cell technologies and low-impact, run-of-river hydroelectric electric generating equipment with capacity up to 30 megawatts with no new storage impoundment. Energy efficiency improvements would include caulking, weather stripping, air sealing, insulation, heating and cooling systems upgrades, solar 9 thermal systems and conservation measures.