KINGSTON, N.Y. — The city of Kingston is partnering with the Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET) to educate and assist homeowners and businesses with renewable energy. 

Kingston Mayor Steve Noble said the goal is to encourage hundreds of eligible Kingstonians to apply for either the Mid-Hudson Community Solar or the Kingston Solar program.

Noble is working with nonprofit experts at MHET to increase affordability and decrease the amount of harmful chemicals throughout homes and the environment. 

“This is a program that we believe can help some of our most vulnerable residents,” Noble said. “We know that these costs really make an impact. Every, extra dollar that they have to spend on electricity, is an extra dollar that they don’t have for food for their family or being able to help pay their rent or their mortgage.”

Noble said applicants who qualify for the Kingston Community Solar program can save up to 20% annually on utility bills. Jeanne Vitale, a Kingston homeowner, said she knows first-hand how difficult paying utilities can be, especially living on a fixed income.

“[I] probably [spend] about $2,500 a year for gas and electricity,” Vitale said. “When they switched over the streets to gas, I switched over…I had an oil burner before that and [the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority] came and tested my house…They were like good news bad news…I was like, ‘What’s the bad news?’ [They told me] ‘Your oil burner is only working at 70% and the carbon monoxide is off the charts.”

Vitale said when she purchased her two-bedroom home nearly 14 years ago, she was not aware of the toxic emissions she and her daughter were exposed to. And, despite switching from oil to gas-powered appliances, she still relies on a Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) to help keep up with her rising utility bills.

“Right now, I keep the heat usually at 62 [degrees],” Vitale said. “It would be really amazing to have a warm room and have my energy costs go down.”

Eligible homeowners interested in energy efficient appliances and reduced utility bills are encouraged to apply on the MHET website.