Hiatt:  "great expectations"

MONTICELLO – Sullivan County now has an Office of Sustainable Energy at the County Government Center in Monticello.               

The operation is funded by a $50,000 county grant to the Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development under contract with the county.

The new office, to be open Tuesdays and Thursdays and by appointment, will advise the County Legislature on sustainable business and operation practices, as well as provide guidance for emerging sustainable energy policy.

This is a positive step forward, said Legislator Ronald Hiatt. “It’s fully in line with the legislature’s green vision and I just have great expectations for these people; they know about grants, they know where the money is, they know about energy efficiency – photovoltaic or wind, so on and so forth – it’s basically an open door to them to show us the way and we will just follow suit,” he said.

The office, which will be under the county manager’s guidance, will also be available to municipalities, not-for-profits and local residents who are interested in sustainable energy for their homes or offices, as well as renewable energy and local energy generation opportunities.

Hiatt singled out Dick Riseling, Tom Burnham and the SASD Board for their vision.

Ruth Thorsen will act as administrator of the new office and Steve Byers will be a research associate.