Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined today by John W. Danforth Company President & COO Patrick W. McParlane to receive a check for $637,673 representing the associated utility rebates Erie County has realized through the first phase of a multi-year Energy Performance Contract, which began in late 2019. In addition to the utility rebates, the energy upgrades included in the project generate $417,177 in annual energy savings through improved operational efficiency.

The Erie County Department of Public Works approved the Energy Performance Contract in November 2019. The County identified several Facility Improvement Measures at County facilities that will pay for themselves through energy savings in under 15 years, while also reducing the amount of CO2 the County produces by 8 million pounds. In the initial phase, Danforth completed over $7 million in energy upgrades and improvements at several County facilities, including: the Rath Building, Old County Hall, Family Court, Law Library, and Erie County Court Annex; the Erie County Sheriff’s offices, Holding Center, Correctional Facility, and Youth Detention Facility; the Public Safety Campus and Fire Training Academy; the Health Mall and Jesse Nash Health Center; the Chestnut Ridge campus; and the County’s highway barns.

Danforth is currently working with Erie County on Phase II of the Energy Performance Contract, which will include an additional $10.5 million in upgrades and improvements, generating additional annual energy savings of $196,589. Together, the two phases of the Energy Performance Contract represent a county investment of more than $17.6 million, with annual savings to the County of $613,766 over the life of the contract.

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