Yonkers Insider: Yonkers City Hall Beat: ***NEWS RELEASE***: YONKERS MAYOR SPANO ANNOUNCES FEDERAL FUNDING TO CREATE GREEN BUILDING STANDARD.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

YONKERS MAYOR SPANO ANNOUNCES FEDERAL FUNDING TO CREATE GREEN BUILDING STANDARD.

 

City of Yonkers to Partner with Three Westchester County Cities to Reduce Emissions.

YONKERS, NY – April 12, 2024 – Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano announced today the City of Yonkers will be sharing nearly $500,000 in federal grant money from the U.S. Department of Energy with the cities of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and White Plains to create a green building standard for residential and commercial buildings.

 

“This is part of our overarching goal of reducing our carbon footprint,” said Mayor Spano. “The outcome of creating this standard will be leveraged across all existing buildings and create a benchmark for our new buildings. We want Yonkers to lead the way to meet our climate goals and reduce the energy burden on our most vulnerable residents. Thank you to our federal partners for sharing our vision and commitment to the health and sustainability of our communities.”

 

By partnering with other cities as well as the Hudson Valley Regional Council (HVRC), Groundwork Hudson Valley, the Energy Justice Law and Policy Center, community nonprofit organizations, and Hudson Valley regional planning organizations in neighboring counties, the goal of the policy and plan created from this grant will benefit disadvantaged communities and reduce building emissions significantly.

 

Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, William Serratore said, “With all of us working together, this project has the potential to accelerate the passage of a statewide mandate. It will create a better quality of life for the future of Yonkers and New York State.”

 

During the first year, the money will aid in creating a survey of building owners in participating municipalities, draft policies, and implement a working plan.

 

About the City of Yonkers

The City of Yonkers is the third largest city in New York State and Westchester County’s largest city. Yonkers serves as the gateway to the Hudson Valley with more than 40 vibrant and diverse suburban neighborhoods. First settled as a small farm town in 1646 settled by Dutchman Adriaen Van Der Donck, Yonkers evolved into a major trading and industrial center. Today, Yonkers hosts the largest film production studios in the Northeast, claiming the title Hollywood on Hudson. Yonkers is one of the safest cities of its size in the nation and is home to a vibrant arts district along with more than 80 local parks.