January 18, 2019

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RyeCity REVIEW THE

January 18, 2019 | Vol. 7, Number 3 | www.ryecityreview.com

Latimer signs North 60 bio-tech lease

ArtsWestchester is launching its first stand-up comedy performances beginning in February. For more, see page 6.

County enters sustainability programs; hopes to earn millions Westchester County has entered into a five-year agreement with NuEnergen, LLC., to provide the county with “Demand Response” program services that may earn Westchester millions of dollars over the life of the contract as well as provide an opportunity to further enhance its sustainability efforts. Demand response is used as a resource for balancing energy supply and demand and helps protect against unplanned power outages. Demand response programs offer financial incentives to owners of facilities, in this case the county, which can reduce the need for kilowatts (kW) during times of high stress on the region’s electric grid. The contract with NuEnergen was approved by the county Board of Acquisition and Contract and commenced on Sept. 1, 2018. With multiple sites eligible for demand

response participation, Westchester County can potentially earn new recurring revenue of an estimated $2 million annually. As part of this program, the county remains on “stand-by” to lower energy usage during times of stress—like days with sweltering heat. On these “high stress” days, the county would be notified 24 hours in advance of a demand response event beginning and would reduce energy usage at some of its non-essential facilities—i.e. reduce lighting or shift kW (kilowatt) load to on-site generators. The site-specific protocols proposed by NuEnergen will keep each facility fully operational while reducing stress on the power grid. Only a few short hours later, the event would end, and normal operations would resume. The more kW load—or number of facilities—that are enrolled in

the program, the higher the earnings for the county would be. Nearly all facilities have backup generators or power sources in cases where facility operation needs to be in continued use. Similar demand response programs managed by NuEnergen have already proven successful with the city of New York, the NY/NJ Port Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Authority who have collectively earned millions of dollars since its inception. “This program is a win-win for Westchester residents,” County Executive George Latimer said. “It provides revenue through creative solutions to help our well-documented budget gap in the short-term while also reducing the county’s reliance on traditional energy solutions—which is good for our region in the longterm. This is just one example of

the inventive fixes my administration is working on to help us move Westchester forward.” While the county anticipates a summer 2019 start, there are a few sites that can be readily enrolled for the current winter period. This will allow the county to experience the enrollment, notification and load shed process firsthand with a select number of sites in preparation for a much larger enrollment. “Participation in Demand Response programs will guarantee Westchester County recurring revenue that will lend itself as critical aid to the county budget,” Kevin Hamilton, NuEnergen president and CEO. “kW load reduction will also support grid reliability and the avoidance of a blackout, allowing the county to be a good neighbor and contribute to greater cause for the community.” (Submitted)

In a move cementing Westchester County as a leader in the growing bio-tech field, County Executive George Latimer and Fareri Associates President John Fareri officially signed the 99-year lease of the North 60 property on the dais during the county executive’s address at the Westchester County Association Breakfast. “As I learned in my business life, there is a risk for everything, things don’t always turn out as you plan, but if you don’t take risk—prudent risk—you don’t succeed,” Latimer said. “In this case, the 60 acres here will be a bio-tech center that can attract people to our area where they will see Westchester as a central place.” North 60 comprises 60 acres of undeveloped land in Valhalla on the Grasslands Reservation. The deal with the county calls for Fareri, a developer who was instrumental in creating the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, and Fareri Associates to develop an innovative hub with a focus on biotech and medical technology research and development—a rapidly expanding field—together with retail and hotel space. “At long last, we can move forward with what we are confident will be a major economic engine for Westchester County and the region,” Fareri said. “The concept for The North 60 has been in the works for a decade, and now we are ready to see our vision come to life. Over the next several months, we will be preparing the necessary documents to commence the environmental review by the town of Mount Pleasant.” While this project passed the Board of Legislators unanimously in 2017, the lease remained unsigned. While the Latimer

Administration was doing its due diligence and reviewing the terms and conditions of the lease, the developer proposed adding new uses of the property which were not previously included in the lease, including residential use, arts and cultural use. This amendment to the terms of the lease would have required further Board of Legislators’ approval. After further discussions with the Latimer Administration, and in an effort to get to work on this forward-thinking economic development project, the developer agreed to withdraw these proposed uses. “This project will go a long way to solidifying our region’s brand as a hub of innovation in healthcare and life sciences,” Bill Mooney Jr., Westchester County Association president and CEO. “The WCA has long supported the development of the North 60 as a means to bring together academia, healthcare, life sciences and technology. It will provide meaningful opportunities for economic development, innovation and collaboration.” President of Pace University Marvin Krislov added, “Pace University knows how important it is to encourage scientific innovation in Westchester, bolster the local economy, and provide internships, research opportunities, and jobs for our ambitious students and alumni. We’re thrilled by [the] announcement that the county will be moving forward with the Westchester BioScience and Technology Center.” The 99-year lease provides for the development of the property in accordance with a Master Development Plan in phases: • The first phase requires the LEASE continued on page 8

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