Harckham Funds Installation of Climate Friendly LED Lighting in New Castle

Chappaqua, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham secured $100,000 in Senate grant funding for the Town of New Castle to install 198 new LED fixtures throughout the Chappaqua hamlet as part of the Town’s ongoing efforts to make environmentally sustainable upgrades in its public facilities. The funding is part of the Senate’s Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability and Technology (CREST) program.

Harckham announced the funding today at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, where most of the lighting improvements are centered around. The center’s 425-seat auditorium, which the town took ownership of 30 years ago, has been the focus of consistent renovations since then. This new auditorium upgrade goes beyond simply replacing its 55 incandescent bulbs; it includes installing new fixtures for each light and a new dimming system compatible with LED lights.

“As chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee, I am always looking for ways to help communities advance environmentally friendly projects,” said Harckham. “Upgrades like this are a great way to incrementally improve the energy efficiency of municipalities and reduce energy costs while helping to reduce the burden on taxpayers. Former town supervisor Lisa Katz deserves recognition and thanks for initiating this forward-thinking project.”

In addition to the lighting improvements at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, the local upgrades include bulb and fixture replacements in the New Castle Town Hall building and the Town Hall / South Commuter parking lot. The low-energy requirements and longer lifespan of LED lights are projected to save the town on bulb replacements and energy costs, as well as reduce maintenance requirements.

“We are tremendously grateful to Senator Harckham for his unwavering support of the Town of New Castle and his work to improve the lives of all New Yorkers,” said New Castle Town Supervisor Victoria Bayard Tipp. “This special grant allowed us to retrofit the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center with a new, efficient and environmentally responsible LED lighting system. This aligns with our town’s goals as a New York State Climate Smart Community by significantly reducing the town facility’s energy consumption and carbon footprint. By enhancing our wonderful community theater, this was a fantastic way to support both local arts and the environment.”

The awarded CREST grant funding is among the State Senate grant programs administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to support community and economic development. Harckham has delivered more than $20 million of state grant funding to municipalities and nonprofits in the 40th Senate District since taking office in 2019.