Summer 2017
Summer 2017
Embedded Files
Clean Energy Community News
Clean Energy Community News
Moving our communities toward sustainability.
Director's Corner
Director's Corner
Director of Sustainability, CDRPC, todd@cdrpc.org
Welcome to the fourth edition of the Eastern NY Territory's Clean Energy Communities (CEC) quarterly newsletter. We have just completed the first year of the CEC program and we are excited to report that with the support of NYSERDA and our Team, communities across the Territory have been actively completing "High Impact Actions" in their pursuit of CEC Designation. Communities must complete four actions to become designated. As of this writing, 82 communities have submitted completed actions within the Territory, 32 communities have become officially designated and are advancing projects to be funded through the program, and numerous others are nearing the designation finish line.
The CEC program, which is funded by NYSERDA, is being delivered within the Eastern Upstate NY Territory by the Capital District Regional Planning Commission through a unique partnership of regional agencies, which includes the Adirondack North Country Association, the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District and the Hudson Valley Regional Council. The Team is also being supported by Climate Action Associates, LLC and Courtney Strong Inc.
Read on to learn about some of the exemplary actions local governments are taking to become sustainable and energy efficient. And please contact your regional outreach coordinator if your community is interested in becoming a Clean Energy Community.
ANCA Hosts LED Street Lights Workshop - Procurement, Technology and Regulatory Issues for Municipalities
The Adirondack-North Country Association (ANCA) will host an August 9 workshop for municipalities interested in conversion to money- and energy-saving LED street lights. The afternoon session in Plattsburgh will tackle:
the economics of owning vs. renting municipal street lights - how to prepare for conversion
finance methods
opportunities for aggregated purchase of LED street lights
and more.
The event will be preceded by a morning training session for Clean Energy Communities coordinators. Presenters will include George Woodbury, Light Smart Consulting LLC and Jen Metzger, Town of Rosendale councilwoman and director of Citizens for Local Power. Woodbury and Metzger are lead members of the Mid-Hudson Street Light Consortium, a NYSERDA-funded project to help municipalities convert to LED street lights.
For further information and to register, click here.
The Tally: 32 Clean Energy Communities to Date
The Tally: 32 Clean Energy Communities to Date
Congratulations to the 32 municipalities that have been designated as Clean Energy Communities in Upstate Eastern NY. Each has completed at least four of 10 "high impact actions" that save energy and money and contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions - activities such as tracking energy use in municipal buildings, training for improved energy code enforcement, and enactment of policies to support solar energy.
Under the program, grants are available to 18 communities in each region of the state. All city, town, village, and county governments, Indian tribes and nations may apply. The grants range in size from $50,000 to $250,000 depending on the community's population. No local match is required.
The municipalities being recognized by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)'s Clean Energy Communities Program
are:
CAPITAL REGION: Albany County, Town of Bethlehem, Schenectady County, City of Cohoes, Town of Niskayuna, Town of Knox, City of Albany
HUDSON VALLEY: Ulster County, Town of New Castle, Village of Dobbs Ferry, City of Kingston, Town of Red Hook, Town of Rosendale, Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, Village of Croton- on-Hudson, City of White Plains, City of Yonkers, Town of Ossining, Town of Somers, Town of Marbletown, City of New Rochelle, City of Beacon, Town of Mamaroneck, City of Peekskill, Village of Goshen
MOHAWK VALLEY: City of Gloversville, Village of Ilion, City of Rome, Village of Boonville
NORTH COUNTRY: Lewis County, Town of Franklin, Village of Canton
Construction on Lewis County's solar project will take about one month less than initially expected.and will begin operation in November.
Lewis County Solar Project Kicks Off in July
Lewis County Solar Project Kicks Off in July
Lewis County is the first municipality in the North Country region to gain Clean Energy Community designation from NYSERDA. The County has completed the required four out of 10 "high impact actions" - including developing an energy benchmarking policy and deploying an electric vehicle - required for the designation, which will allow the county to apply for up to $100,000 in funding.
And in early July, Lewis County kicks off a major solar project. County officials have signed a power purchase agreement with Greenskies Renewable Energy, LLC that would offer guaranteed savings of $2.86 million over 20 years for Lewis County and its municipal hospital.
Under the deal, Greenskies is to construct a 2-megawatt solar array on 19 acres of county property, then sell relatively low-cost power for 20 years. The company is to charge 7.9 cents per kilowatt hour, well under the 12.3 cents per kilowatt hour the county is now paying, with a guarantee that actual production would be at least 90 percent of the company estimate each year. The array is expected to meet about half the electricity needs of the county and Lewis County General Hospital.
(Watertown Daily Times)
Village of Boonville Gains NYSERDA Clean Energy Community Status - One of First in Mohawk Valley
From left: Village Trustee Dick Satterly, Village Treasurer Lisa Kaiding, retired Municipal Commisssion Superintendent Ken Stabb, Environmental Council Chair Barb Freeman, MVEDD staffer and NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Coordinator Dan Sullivan, and Climate Action Associates, LLC, Planner Greg Mumby in the Boonville Village Chambers at the Clean Energy Community Celebration.
The Village of Boonville has completed four High Impact Energy Actions (HIAs) and has been named a Clean Energy Community by NYSERDA. Local governments must complete four of 10 High Impact Actions to earn a Clean Energy Community designation and qualify to apply for grant funding. At least two actions must have been completed after August 1, 2016.
The four HIAs completed by the Village were:
Benchmarking (a way to document and report village-owned buildings' energy usage annually).
In addition, the Village has nearly completed documenting Clean Energy Upgrades of 10% or more.
Local governments in New York State can use the Clean Energy Communities program to implement clean energy actions, save energy costs, create jobs, and improve the environment. In addition to providing tools, resources, and technical assistance, the program recognizes and rewards leadership for the completion of clean energy projects. As a Clean Energy Community, Boonville is eligible to apply for and receive grants to fund additional clean energy projects.
Clean Energy Community Coordinators can provide free technical assistance and consulting services to local governments participating in the Clean Energy Communities program. Contact the Coordinator in your region for more information or to get started.
Buying Power 101 Workshop: Presentations Available
Building a more energy resilient New York starts with creating clean energy opportunities in communities. Local governments can encourage smart and cost-effective energy choices in their communities, not only in government operations but in homes, businesses and community institutions.
New York State municipalities can help decrease the cost of government operations through municipal solar, solar-friendly legislation, group purchasing, and locally-organized community education and outreach.
On May 9, 52 municipal officials gathered in Cold Spring to learn about municipal and large-scale solar and community choice aggregation. They learned how to access resources such as templates for legislation, procurement, and contracts.
Municipal officials gathered at the Buying Power 101 Workshop hosted by the Eastern NY Clean Energy Communities Coordinators
Tom Kacandes, President, Inside Track Solar, Inc. provided a case study on Community Distributed Solar
View Presentations:
Download Presentations:
NY-Sun Overview: Houtan Moaveni, NY-Sun
Basics of Community Solar : Tom Kacandes, Inside Track Solar, Inc.
Community Choice Aggregation: Jen Metzger, Citizens for Local Power
New York's Value of Distributed Energy Resources Order: Miles Farmer, NRDC
Knox Volunteers Help Implement High Impact Actions
The Town of Knox proves that no community is too small to be awarded the title of a NYSERDA Clean Energy Community. When Town Board Member Amy Pokorny learned about the program, she mobilized a group of local volunteers and neighbors to help them achieve the Clean Energy Communities (CEC) designation. The Town has limited staff capacity and a population of fewer than 3,000 residents.
The group of volunteers ranged in terms of energy literacy, and several were experts in engineering, building science and renewable energy policy. Each volunteer took the time to learn about the NYSERDA High Impact Actions (HIAs) and organized on the best way to present them to the local leadership and move forward with implementation. NYSERDA has developed toolkits for each HIA and has contracted with local coordinators to assist communities interested in the program. Amy credits the help of the Eastern NY Clean Energy Communities team:
"Robyn Reynolds (CEC Coordinator) made it all possible for us with her guidance, enthusiasm and encouragement, and Greg Mumby is expertly coaching us through the next steps," said Ms. Pokorny. "It is a very satisfying experience to be accomplishing such useful work and achieve such important goals at the local level where we can really make meaningful changes. "
Through a creative and collaborative process that proved to be fun and productive, the group was able to win the Town's designation by taking on Benchmarking, researching and meeting the requirements of the Unified Solar Permit, helping to promote local Solarize Campaigns, attending the Energy Code Enforcement Training and coordinating on energy issues with other towns and the City of Albany.
The Town of Knox completed five of 10 High Impact Action Items:
Benchmarking - Adopt a policy to report the energy use of buildings
LED Street Lights - Convert street lights to energy efficient LED technology
Solarize - Undertake a local solarize campaign to increase the number of solar rooftops
Unified Solar Permit - Streamline the approvals process for solar
Energy Code Enforcement Training - Train compliance officers in energy code best practices
Amy Pokorny at the Altamont Fair
Where there is passion, there is success. Congratulations to the Town of Knox and the volunteers that made it possible: Dee Woessner, Betty Ketcham, Laure-Jeanne Davignon, Robert Price, Rich Weltzin, Debra Nelson, Tara Murphy, Dan Sherman, Vasilios Lefkaditis and Dennis Barber.
Energize NY, BlueFlame Join to Fund Clean Energy
Energize NY and BlueFlame Energy Finance have begun working together to bring streamlined project development services and PACE financing to commercial and not-for-profit building owners in NY State for solar photovoltaic, combined heat and power (CHP), LED Lighting and Cool Roof projects.
BlueFlame offers financing options in the Commercial and Industrial energy project sector. BlueFlame's HyperQual, an end-to-end lead generation, underwriting and financing solution, helps to originate and fund small and middle market projects efficiently and at scale. BlueFlame will be using Energize NY's innovative PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing to structure 10- and 20-year service contracts with their customers.
Energize NY Finance is a Clean Energy Communities High Impact Action Item. Energize NY Finance, also known as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing, is a program adopted by an eligible local government that allows property owners to pay back the cost of clean energy upgrades to their commercial or non-profit property through a special charge on their property tax bill.
Energize NY Finance enables eligible commercially-owned buildings in New York State to secure funds to tackle significant energy upgrades and renewable energy projects. This financing structure is available through the Energy Improvement Corporation (EIC) for projects that aim to install permanent improvements that reduce energy costs in existing buildings. EIC is a local development corporation and a New York State nonprofit established specifically to assist local government and property owners achieve long-term energy savings and/or generate renewable power for use on site.
Recommendations:
If you are interested in establishing a PACE Financing program, please contact the Energy Improvement Corporation at (914) 302-7300 or by email at info@energizeny.org
If your local government has been allocated Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs), consider using them in support of your Energize NY Finance program
Read the Energize New York toolkit for templates, fact sheets, and other resources
CEC in the News
CEC in the News
A selection of news stories from around the Eastern New York Territory that demonstrate the great work that communities are doing, as they learn about and join the Clean Energy Communities Program:
Mid-Hudson
Red Hook Considering Way to Encourage Conversion to Electric Vehicles
Mohawk Valley
Boonville earns Clean Energy Community status from state
North Country
Lewis solar project schedule compressed, early-July start now planned
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Webinar: Maximizing Energy Efficiency in Municipal Buildings
10:30 am, September 7, 2017 Register here: http://bit.ly/2ttyvDz
________________
Clean Energy Economy Conference
October 25 & 26, 2017
The Queensbury Hotel, Glens Falls, NY
The CEEC is the premier forum in northern New York for connecting around clean energy issues and opportunities.
Sponsored by Adirondack North County Association (ANCA) and Capital District Regional Planning Council (CDRPC), the event is aimed at individuals, businesses, educators, state and local government representatives, community leaders, industry professionals and others who want to share information about cleaner, greener energy opportunities across the region. More information: https://adirondack.org/ceec
Please also see the NYSERDA Calendar for sustainability events around New York State.
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