Dive Brief:
- Nassau, New York, a town of less than 5,000 residents in the eastern portion of the state, is considering ditching National Grid to provide energy for municipal services through renewable energy the town would generate itself, the Albany Times Union reports.
- The Nassau Town Board is expected to create a committee next week to explore power options, with a goal of being independent from the utility by 2020.
- The plan would not include residential or commercial accounts, and just focuses on the town's municipal load.
Dive Insight:
The Albany Times Union reports that a small town in New York will try and leave National Grid's service as it generates power on its own. The proposal is just getting underway, with a study committee expected to be formed next week.
Nassau Supervisor David Fleming told the Albany Times Union "we have a crumbling energy infrastructure," as one reason the town wants to produce its own power. There are also potential energy savings should solar panels be installed on a highway garage roof and a wind farm be constructed on a capped landfill. He estimated adding solar panels to the city's highway garage could save up to $24,000 annually.
The town's plans appear to have taken National Grid by surprise. Spokesman Patrick Stella told the newspaper that it was unaware of the proposal.
"We will be reaching out to the town to find out exactly what their needs are and how we can best meet them," he said.
While many towns have considered forming their own utilities, taking over incumbent territories to serve residents, the Nassau proposal appears different; initial reports indicate the town simply wants to disconnect from the grid.
"We're willing to be a guinea pig for this model," Fleming said.
