News and Updates
Climate Mayors Steering Committee Member Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson‑Howard testifies before Senate Roundtable on Energy Affordability on how mayors advance clean energy and cut utility costs
WASHINGTON, DC—Yesterday, during her testimony to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Mayor Patterson-Howard spoke to the importance of delivering predictable and affordable energy and shared stories of people in her city who are having to make difficult decisions between staying warm, putting food on the table, or maintaining their homes. She also spoke about her recent trip with the Climate Mayors and America Is All delegation to Brazil, where American Mayors took to the world stage to pledge their resolve to reduce the use of fossil fuels and protect the health of people everywhere, and their economies.
Good Morning,
My name is Shawyn Patterson Howard, and I am the Mayor of Mount Vernon, New York. Mount Vernon is a first-tier suburb nestled between the Bronx, Pelham and Yonkers. We are the second most densely populated city in New York State. Whether on a fixed income or a working family, our resident deserve predictable, affordable energy.
Energy costs are devastating families.
Electricity and gas prices in Westchester are among the highest in the nation.
Ms. Pettiford, a longtime resident, recently faced a $1,100 utility bill—her actual usage charges were under $350, but delivery charges exceeded $775.
Families like hers are forced to make impossible choices between staying warm, putting food on the table, or maintaining their homes. This is not just a household challenge, it is a community-wide crisis.
This crisis affects municipal budgets as well.
When energy costs are unpredictable, we must hold back funds for youth, seniors, education and public safety initiatives.
I recently joined a consortium of 40 municipalities across Westchester to challenge Con Edison’s proposed rate increases of up to 13% for electricity and 18% for gas over three years.
We were able to negotiate a settlement at 2.8% and 2% annual increases, still above inflation but revenue must now be reinvested in Westchester infrastructure and operations, not diverted to New York City.
Mount Vernon is taking bold action locally.
We are partnering with ICE AIR, a local manufacturer, to expand energy-efficient heat pump installations and train a local workforce to support these projects.
We are collaborating with Con Edison to create a geothermal network that delivers efficient heating and cooling to thousands of homes and businesses, not just one customer at a time.
Working with BERT and Royal Power Energy, we are advancing plug-level electricity management and cleaner energy generation. Together, these programs create a full-stack energy efficiency model, from the grid to the plug.
We are reducing waste, cutting costs, and protecting the environment. Unfortunately, spiking energy costs force impossible choices. Every dollar saved on stable energy costs is a dollar that keeps food on the table, supports local businesses, saves for a child’s education, or invests in a home. Energy price stability isn’t just a utility issue, it ripples throughout our local economy and strengthens families.
I urge Congress to act. Support common-sense, clean energy solutions that protect families, strengthen communities, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. By backing these initiatives, you can help families not just cover utilities but feed their children, invest locally, and plan for the future, all while promoting affordable energy and reducing harmful emissions. Energy stability isn’t just a utility issue, it is an economic, public health, and moral imperative.
Thank you for your time and your leadership on this critical issue.