Clean Energy Community News

NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Leadership Round Helps Reduce Energy Costs and Offers Support for Projects in Underserved Communities

• Program Summary

• How To Apply

• Community Coordinators Are Here To Assist

State funding of $17 million is available for expanded high-impact actions under the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities program to help drive stronger community leadership to reduce harmful carbon emissions, expand assistance for disadvantaged areas and foster further investments in the growing clean energy economy. The program's Leadership Round increases the options communities can choose from to lower their carbon footprint, recognizes their leadership through a point rewards system, provides access to additional grant opportunities for actions taken and supports Governor Kathy Hochul's nation-leading climate agenda, which includes a goal to direct 40 percent of the benefits from clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities. MORE...

In this newsletter:

SHAPE A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE – REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS – RFQL 4922

Play an active role in helping NYSERDA advance the transition to a just, clean energy future in New York State.

NYSERDA is working to fulfill the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act by helping overburdened and underserved communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis benefit from the transition to a clean energy economy - but we can’t do it without the lived experiences and knowledge of the communities that are most affected.

NYSERDA is announcing the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQL) to establish a Disadvantaged Communities Stakeholder Services Pool as a way for organizations that represent historically marginalized communities to be compensated for their time and expertise when engaging with the Authority around energy issues that matter to our communities.

Once selected, organizations with expertise in various communities may provide input on NYSERDA programs including identifying community barriers to participation, collaborative design of new programs, providing facilitation and translation services, serving on advisory groups or steering committees, and more.

By working with organizations that reflect the diversity of New York State communities, NYSERDA can better understand and address the challenges faced by historically marginalized communities and create solutions for an inclusive clean energy economy. We encourage you to review the RFQL 4922 and apply and/or share it with other organizations in your network.

We Hear You!

Thank you to all of those who submitted public comments in response to our Request for Information (RFI) 5082. We received some incredibly insightful feedback and suggestions, some of which have been incorporated into this solicitation. View all comments and NYSERDA’s responses on our webpage (see Associated Documents at bottom of page).

REGIONAL ROUNDUP:

Clean Energy Communities Success Stories

Southern Tier / Town of Middletown / Delaware County

High Impact Actions Completed (800 points earned): 

Benchmarking, Clean Fleets, Community Campaigns, Energy Code Enforcement Training, Unified Solar Permit

Energy Champions include:

Deputy Supervisor Brian Sweeney

For the Town of Middletown (population 3,759), Clean Energy Communities has been a means to demonstrate leadership. "We have no intention of stopping," says Deputy Supervisor Brian Sweeney. "We are saving our taxpayers money and doing our part to reduce emissions and provide clean energy."

The Town Board as a whole has been very supportive of Sweeney's work to secure state grants to enable their energy work. "The most challenging part has been all the steps that are involved that require follow up and updating over the course of a campaign," Sweeney says.

Southern Tier Clean Energy Communities Coordinators: 

Todd Knobbe, tk656@cornell.edu

Gina Cassidy,  rcc268@cornell.edu

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County

615 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850

(607) 272-2292 x 284  www.ccetompkins.org/

Southern Tier West / Town of Randolph / Cattaraugus County

High Impact Actions Completed (1,000 points earned): 

Benchmarking, Energy Code Enforcement Training, LED Street Lights, Unified Solar Permit

Energy Champions include:

Town Clerk Gretchen Hind, Highway Superintendent Cody Uhl

For the Town of Randolph (population 2,602), the focus has been on modern, energy efficient street lights. "As a small municipality, the most challenging thing about participating in the Clean Energy Communities has been the upfront cost of transitioning our old lighting to LED lighting. The benefit has been that by doing this, we have been able to pay for the project through electric savings within the first year of installation," says Town Clerk Gretchen Hind..

"Our Town was able to recoup all upfront costs within the first year of transitioning our street lighting to LED. A large savings to our residents!" says Clerk Hind.

Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board

Clean Energy Communities Coordinator:

Jon Mayr, GISP   jmayr@southerntierwest.org

4039 Route 219, Suite 200, Salamanca, NY 14779

(716)-945-5301 ext. 2232

Western New York / North Tonawanda / Niagara County

High Impact Actions Completed (1200 points earned)

Benchmarking, LED Street Lights, PACE Financing

Energy Champions:

In addition to Mayor Austin Tylec, the City’s energy champions include members of the Climate Smart Task Force: Deborah Gondek (Vice President), Tim Pieper, Emily Root, Brian Wudyka, Mike Tuzzo, and Jim Berry.

The City of North Tonawanda (population 30,338) became a CEC about 18 months ago, when the pandemic was making work challenging for communities everywhere. Mayor Tylec says it is a way to “Bring brilliant communities together that are passionate about clean energy initiatives and making an impact within North Tonawanda.” 

Most challenging to date has been the task of coordinating information on the City’s clean energy initiatives in order to earn Bronze Certification under the Climate Smart Communities program.

Western New York Clean Energy Communities Coordinator: 

Jason Kulaszewski   jasonkul@buffalo.edu

University at Buffalo Regional Institute

77 Goodell Street, Suite 302, Buffalo, NY 14203

(716) 878-2441  

Finger Lakes / Town of Henrietta / Monroe County

High Impact Actions Completed (1,100 points earned):

Clean Heating and Cooling Demo, Energy Code Enforcement Training, Unified Solar Permit

Energy Champions:

Supervisor Steve Shultz, Deputy Town Supervisor Craig Eckert, and Sustainability Coordinator Pat Wartinger

Henrietta is a town in Monroe County, New York, and a suburb of Rochester. With a population of 47,096, Henrietta is home to the Rochester Institute of Technology. 

Henrietta kicked off its energy saving efforts with the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system in the Town library. Most recently, it was one of the first 10 communities to complete the Clean Energy Communities Clean Heating & Cooling Demonstration High Impact Action in New York State

Finger Lakes Clean Energy Communities Coordinator: 

Rob Richardson, rrichardson@gflrpc.org

Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council 

50 West Main Street, Suite 8107  Rochester, New York 14614 

(585) 454-0190 x21

Capital District / Town of Austerlitz / Columbia County

High Impact Actions (3,000 points earned): 

Benchmarking, Clean Fleets, Climate Smart Communities Certification, Clean Heating and Cooling Demonstration, Community Campaigns, Energy Code Enforcement Training, LED Street Lights, Unified Solar Permit

Energy Champions include:

Deputy Supervisor and Climate Committee Chair Greg Vogler; Page Ruane; Cara Humphries, Community Solar; Kathryn Bielke, Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Task Force Coordinator; and Tim Stalker, the Chair of the Comprehensive Plan Oversight Committee

The Town of Austerlitz (population 1,591) recently completed its Climate Smart Communities Bronze certification as well as its Clean Heating and Cooling air source heat pump demonstration project. It was never about earning points or qualifying for the grants, says Climate Committee Chairman Greg Vogler. “It’s about doing the right thing,” Vogler says. The Town recently reached 3,000 points. Next up? “Getting the Town residents more engaged on this issue,” says Vogler. See www.AusterlitzClimateAction.org  for news of the Town’s progress on climate.

Capital District Clean Energy Communities Coordinators:

Tara Donadio       Tara.Donadio@cdrpc.org

Haley Balcanoff   Haley.Balcanoff@cdrpc.org

Josh Dranoff        Josh.Dranoff@cdrpc.org

Capital District Regional Planning Commission

One Park Place,

Suite 102, Albany, NY 12203-2626

(518) 453-0850

Mid-Hudson / Town of Red Hook / Dutchess County

High Impact Actions Completed (3,200 points earned):

Benchmarking, Clean Fleets, Climate Smart Communities Certification, Community Campaigns, Community Choice Aggregation, LED Street Lights, Energy Code Enforcement Training, Unified Solar Permit

Energy Champions Include:

Supervisor Robert McKeon, Energy Committee Chairman Denis Collet, and Sustainability Coordinator Laurie Husted.

The Town of Red Hook (population 9,953) continues to make energy and environmental strides. The Town recently wrapped up a community education project for building electrification, installed EV charging stations and installed a 75kW solar system on the Town Highway garage. “We heat the garage with propane now but the solar savings will save enough money so we can install heat pumps,” says Supervisor Robert McKeon.

Additionally, 280 households signed up for the Town’s solar community distributed generation (CDG) project. Next up? A Clean Heating and Cooling Demonstration project, says McKeon.

“The goal is to transform local government into more than an implementer of policy,” says Denis Collet, Chair, Town of Red Hook Energy Committee. “We want to be even more proactive in decarbonizing the environment and engaging local volunteers to help with this work.” 

Mid-Hudson Clean Energy Communities Coordinators:

Carla Castillo, ccastillo@hudsonvalleyrc.org

Eleanor Peck, epeck@hudsonvalleyrc.org

Kat Carroll, kcarroll@hudsonvalleyrc.org

Hudson Valley Regional Council

3 Washington Center, Newburgh, NY 12550

(845) 564-4075

Mohawk Valley / Town of Roseboom / Otsego County

High Impact Actions Completed (1,600 points earned):

Benchmarking, Climate Smart Communities Certification, Energy Code Enforcement Training, LED Street Lights, Unified Solar Permit  

Energy Champions include:

Roseboom Town Supervisor Patti Gustafson, Town Councilwoman Allegra Schecter (who chairs the Climate Smart Communities committee), Highway Superintendent Dan Gageand, and Town Board members Curtis VanDewerker, Charlie Diamond and Steven Gridley.

Roseboom is a town of many “firsts.”  With a population of just 673 people, it was the first Climate Smart Community in the Mohawk Valley, the first community to establish a Community Choice Aggregation program through CEC and is actively looking at municipal installation of solar and heat pumps. 

"Our town is small, but we have always been at the forefront of environmental issues,” says Ms. Schecter. “We all have to do our part to save the planet, and we hope our environmental achievements will inspire other towns to do the same.”

The best part to date, says Councilwoman Schecter, has been getting certification and acknowledgement for the Town’s LED street lighting project–which they began in 2016 before National Grid even had a tariff. The Town also enacted a unified solar permit before joining CEC.

Mohawk Valley Clean Energy Communities Coordinators:

Amanda Kaier   akaier@mvedd.org

Amy Wyant        awyant@mvedd.org

Mohawk Valley Economic Development District

26 W Main St, Mohawk, NY 13407

(315) 866-4671, (315) 525-1312

North Country / Village of Deferiet / Jefferson County

High Impact Actions Completed (1,000 points earned):

Benchmarking, LED Street Lights

Energy Champions Include:

Mayor Janet Zando, (Retired) Treasurer Jim Yuhas, Village Trustees Joe Cook, Anna Peck, Steve Smith, Nancy Dutton. 

This village near Fort Drum was founded as a mill town in 1900 following the establishment of the St. Regis Paper Company in 1899. Deferiet is located on an island in the Black River. Village Mayor Janet Zando also has served as the village historian and so brings a rich perspective to her duties.

"We have changed out all our indoor lights to LEDs and our street lights as well," says the forward-thinking Mayor. The Village used a National Grid program for interior lighting and the New York Power Authority for its 114 street lights. "There really have been no challenges as a Clean Energy Community," she notes, "because we're saving the taxpayers money. That's the only reason we've done it."

Upcoming work includes energy efficiency upgrades at the waste water treatment plant and two EV charging stations.

North Country Clean Energy Communities Coordinators:

Nancy Bernstein   nbernstein@adirondack.org

Matt Price   mprice@adirondack.org

Adirondack North Country Association

67 Main Street, Suite 201, Saranac Lake, NY 12983

(518) 891-6200

Long Island / Suffolk County

High Impact Actions Completed (2,200 points earned): 

Benchmarking, Clean Energy Upgrades, Clean Fleets, Climate Smart Communities Certification, PACE Financing

Energy Champions Include:

Lisa Broughton, Energy Director and Climate Smart Coordinator, as well as members of the Planning Division and Department of Public Works, particularly Chief Engineer for Building and Design Michael Monaghan. 

With just under 1.5 million residents, Suffolk  is the fourth largest county in New York State. The County joined Clean Energy Communities in 2018, and Energy Director Lisa Boughton has worked on a myriad of energy initiatives during that time. The County’s energy champions include the Planning Division and the Department of Public Works, especially Chief Engineer for Building and Design Michael Monaghan, who has been instrumental in moving projects forward. 

“What’s been most meaningful is sharing with municipalities the initiatives that have worked for us. We have a capital project dedicated to energy efficiency, for example, and we invest in it each year. And we’ve also learned a great deal from other municipalities,” says Ms. Broughton.

The County would like to see the CEC program expand to include more initiatives that counties are eligible for, says Ms. Broughton, who also serves as the Climate Smart Communities coordinator for the County.

Long Island Clean Energy Communities Coordinator:

Sarah Oral PE, LEED AP BD+C     SOral@cameronengineering.com

Associate, Civil Engineering and Planning

Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP

177 Crossways Park Drive  Woodbury, NY 11797

(516) 224-5237

Central New York / Village of Homer / Cortland County

High Impact Actions Completed (2,800 points earned): 

Benchmarking, Clean Energy Upgrades, Clean Fleets, Climate Smart Communities Certification, Energy Code Enforcement Training, LED Street Lights, Unified Solar Permit.

Energy Champion:

Mayor Hal McCabe

The Village of Homer (population 6,216) has been a Clean Energy Community (CEC) since 2017.  Mayor Hal McCabe reports that CEC has been a “fairly significant time commitment for a small municipality with few staff who can tackle this work,” but fortunately, the Village has many volunteers willing to help. 

In addition to the mayor, energy champions include Andrew Fagerheim and Shenequa Perry (college students who began their activism as members of the Homer High School Environmental Club) and Sean Vormwald, Onondaga Community College’s  Director of Sustainability and Environmental Health and Safety.

“It’s been worth it because we know we are reducing the Village’s carbon footprint,” says Mayor McCabe, who also serves as executive director for the  Legislative Commission on Rural Resources in the New York State Senate.

Central NY Clean Energy Communities Coordinator:

Amanda Mazzoni, Principal Planner   amazzoni@cnyrpdb.org

Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board

126 North Salina Street, Suite 200, Syracuse, NY 13202

(315) 422-8276