Spring 2018
Clean Energy Community News
Moving our communities toward sustainability.
Director's Corner
Director of Sustainability, CDRPC, todd@cdrpc.org
Welcome to the seventh edition of the Eastern Upstate NY Territory's Clean Energy Communities (CEC) quarterly newsletter. The CEC program , funded by NYSERDA, is delivered within the 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 supported by Climate Action Associates, LLC and Courtney Strong Inc.
Communities across the Territory are receiving technical support and actively completing "High Impact Actions" in their pursuit of CEC Designation. Communities must complete four actions to achieve CEC designation. Currently, 146 communities within the Territory completed a total of 431 actions, 72 communities have become officially designated and are advancing program funded projects, and numerous others are nearing the designation finish line.
Continue reading to learn about some of the exemplary actions local governments are taking to become sustainable and energy efficient. Contact your regional outreach coordinator if your community is interested in becoming a Clean Energy Community.
Mohawk Valley Communities Exploring LED Street Light Conversions
The Mohawk Valley Economic Development District (MVEDD) and Courtney Strong, Inc. co-hosted the LED Street Lights workshop on April 11, 2018 . The event was a big success for the region. There were 39 municipal officials in attendance. It was the largest attendance MVEDD has ever had in its 52-year history!
Undertaking a LED street light conversion can help communities reduce street light energy use by as much as 65 percent, generating cost savings and emission reductions. In addition, street light projects can contribute to creating a well-lit, safer, and more attractive community. LED street lights last up to 100,000 hours and require much less maintenance than conventional ones. The opportunity to incorporate smart, connected technology such as dimming functions, enhanced law enforcement response, and parking management offers a world of possibilities. Even those communities that do not own their streetlights have options for converting those in their jurisdiction to LED.
Converting street lights to energy efficient LED technology is one of the 10 High Impact Actions to help your community earn a Clean Energy Community designation.
Casey Mastro, Energy Manager- CNY for the New York Power Authority, speaks to attendees about NYPA's street lighting program.
The workshop provided an overview of the Clean Energy Communities program by the Mohawk Valley CEC coordinator, Dan Sullivan and presenters covered a variety of topics:
Overview of the Mid-Hudson Street Light Consortium by Project Lead, Pat Courtney Strong
Economics of Owning vs. Renting LED Street Lights by Jen Metzger, Council Member, Town of Rosendale (Ulster County), and Regulatory Lead, Mid-Hudson Street Light Consortium (MHSC)
Procurement, Technology and Design Best Practices by George Woodbury, MHSC Technical Lead and President, LightSmart Consulting LLC
The New York Power Authority Street Light Project by Casey Mastro, New York Power Authority
Case Studies from communities that converted to LEDs: Village of Ilion and Village of Cherry Valley
Financing Considerations by Nina Orville, MHSC Finance Lead and Principal, Abundant Efficiency LLC
The Key Steps in Any LED Street Light Conversion
Communities have already begun exploring LED conversion opportunities. Within a week of the event, Dan Sullivan heard of communities beginning to collaborate. Todd Schwendeman from the Town of Berne Planning Board said, "the w orkshop provided me with lots of details to help me pursue energy and cost savings for my Town.
If you are interested in learning more about LED street light conversions, take a look at the slides below and contact your local Clean Energy Community Coordinator . They provide free technical assistance and consulting services to local governments participating in the Clean Energy Communities program .
See agenda for contact information and bios
Orange County Recognized for Reducing Energy Use, Cutting Costs and Driving Clean Energy
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.
Orange County, in the Mid-Hudson region, was recently designated a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Work on this initiative was led by the County Planning Department with key support from County Executive Neuhaus, the County Legislature and Department of Public Works.
"We are pleased to receive this recognition from NYSERDA," Neuhaus said. "The CEC program provides a wonderful example of what we can do to foster local climate and clean energy action, while saving local governments and residents money on their energy bills, creating local jobs and realizing the tremendous opportunities provided by expanding the green economy."
The County received the designation for completing the following high-impact clean energy actions:
Benchmarking. Adopting a Legislative Policy and Initiating Benchmarking of energy use of County buildings.
Climate Smart Communities Certification. Earning Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification through actions reducing the community's impact on the environment. Orange County was the first County in New York to earn CSC certification.
Energize NY Finance. Establishing an Energize NY Finance Program that enables long-term, affordable Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at commercial buildings and not-for-profits.
Solarize. Undertaking two community-based Solarize campaigns (in Warwick- Goshen and Countywide) to reduce solar installation project costs through joint purchasing.
After NYSERDA approves a community's four actions, the community can submit a grant application online for additional clean energy project funding. Orange County received a Block 3 award. They plan on using the funding to support the work of the Mid-Hudson Sustainability Coalition.
"NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities program helps further the County's goals of reducing energy consumption and encouraging clean energy use in our community," said David Church, Orange County's Commissioner of Planning. "This initiative builds upon, and complements, the County's DEC Climate Smart Community Certification, the first in New York and received in 2013 and is consistent with the goals of the County's Comprehensive and Mid -Hudson Sustainability Plans."
The solar panels at 5 Spoke Creamery on Pulaski Highway in Goshen. This was the first Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financed energy project in New York State. Photo provided by Energize NY.
Register for Today's Webinar:
Energize Your Community with Community Solar
Community solar (also called shared solar, solar farms, or community distributed generation) has brought solar access to more consumers than ever before. Local community solar projects enable renters, homeowners, including low-income residents, schools, and businesses to benefit from solar if they can't (or don't want to) install panels on their properties.
Participants in community solar projects receive solar credits toward their electricity bill by subscribing to a local clean energy project.
Join NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities (CEC) team for a webinar to take a look at community solar projects and opportunities in your region.
Round Three to Invest in 10 Additional Downtown Neighborhoods Across New York
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo launched the third round of the transformative Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), investing $100 million into 10 additional downtown neighborhoods across the state.
Participating communities are nominated by the state's ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs) based on the downtown's potential for transformation, and each community is awarded $10 million to develop a downtown strategic investment plan and implement key catalytic projects that advance the community's vision for revitalization.
The DRI is chaired by New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, and supported by private sector experts funded by Empire State Development, and a state agency team from the Department of State and the NYS Homes and Community Renewal. Other agencies are also involved in reviewing and implementing projects.
More information about the Downtown Revitalization Initiative may be found at www.ny.gov/dri .
New Energy Efficiency 2025 Target is Equivalent to Energy Used by 1.8 Million Homes
On April 20th, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced an ambitious acceleration of energy efficiency in New York, including a comprehensive plan to achieve a new target for significant greenhouse gas emission reductions, decrease consumer energy costs and create job opportunities. Meeting the new energy efficiency target will deliver nearly one third of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions needed to meet New York's climate goal of 40 percent reduction by 2030. This announcement is part of the Governor's State of the State proposal to develop a milestone Earth Day energy efficiency target and comprehensive strategy.
In the April announcement, the Governor said that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way for New Yorkers to lower utility bills, curb harmful emissions and battle climate change. And as the federal government abdicates its responsibility to safeguard our environment, New Yorkers must continue bold action to reduce emissions and protect all New Yorkers, today and in the future, from the devastating effects of climate change.
Designated Eastern NY Clean Energy Communities
A total of 72 communities have been named Clean Energy Communities in the Eastern NY Region.
The following communities demonstrated their commitment to clean energy by participating in the Clean Energy Communities Program. These communities completed at least four High Impact Actions to earn the Clean Energy Communities designation.
Mid-Hudson
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
Sullivan County
Town of Bethel
Town of New Paltz
Village of New Paltz
Town of Warwick
Village of Wappingers Falls
Town of Bedford
Orange County
Village of Mount Kisco
Capital Region
Albany County
Town of Bethlehem
Schenectady County
City of Cohoes
Town of Niskayuna
Town of Knox
City of Albany
Town of Clifton Park
City of Glens Falls
Town of Hillsdale
Town of Ancram
City of Saratoga Springs
City of Watervliet
City of Troy
Village of Voorheesville
Town of Queensbury
Town of Edinburg
Town of Catskill
Town of New Scotland
North Country
Lewis County
Town of Franklin
Village of Canton
Town of Plattsburgh
Village of Champlain
Village of Saranac Lake
Town of Keene
Town of Black Brook
Town of Malone
Town of Colton
Town of Westport
Village of Champlain
Mohawk Valley
City of Gloversville
Village of Ilion
City of Rome
Village of Boonville
Town of Charleston
Village of West Winfield
City of Amsterdam
Village of Canajoharie
City of Utica
Town of Winfield
Town of Northampton
Village of Northville
City of Sherrill
Village of Waterville
Village of Sharon Springs
For a full list of communities throughout New York State, visit the NYSERDA website.
