During Climate Week, DEC Announces 29 Certified Climate Smart Communities Demonstrating Leadership in Local Climate Action and Emissions Reduction

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced today a total of 29 communities now certified under New York State’s Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification program. Local governments certified under the program are taking actions to help save energy, reduce flood risk, and address extreme heat.

“Hundreds of Climate Smart Communities across the state are helping advance Governor Kathy Hochul’s climate priorities by implementing actions and projects at the local level to ensure New Yorkers have clean air and water, reduce environmental injustice, and achieve climate adaptation and mitigation goals,” said Commissioner Lefton. “As New York and other states face more severe weather, costly damage, and health-related impacts due to climate change, our community partners are working collectively to reduce emissions, save costs for consumers, and strive for a cleaner and safer future.”

Communities certified under the CSC Certification Program earn points for planning and implementing actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changes in climate, with an overarching goal to improve community resilience. In this round, eight communities achieved silver certification, the highest level of the program. In addition, 21 communities were certified bronze. The total number of certified Climate Smart Communities across the state is now 198, with 30 at the silver level and 168 at the bronze level.

Silver certified communities include the following:

Village of Ardsley, Westchester County - new silver
Town of Canaan, Columbia County - new silver
Town of Gardiner, Ulster County - new silver
Town of Ghent, Columbia County - new silver
Village of Irvington, Westchester County - recertified silver
Town of Mamaroneck, Westchester County - recertified silver
City of New Rochelle, Westchester County - new silver
Ulster County - recertified silver

Bronze certified communities include the following:

Village of Cazenovia, Madison County - recertified bronze
Chemung County - recertified bronze
Town of Fenton, Broome County - new bronze
Town of Grand Island, Erie County - recertified bronze
Town of Greenburgh, Westchester County - new bronze
Town of Guilderland, Albany County - new bronze
Town of Hartwick, Otsego County - new bronze
Town of Hempstead, Nassau County - recertified bronze
City of Hudson, Columbia County - recertified bronze
Town of Kirkland, Oneida County - new bronze
Village of Larchmont, Westchester County - recertified bronze
Town of Newfane, Niagara Conty - new bronze
Onondaga County - new bronze
City of Peekskill, Westchester County - recertified bronze
Town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County - recertified bronze
Town of Queensbury, Warren County - recertified bronze
Town of Rochester, Ulster County - new bronze
Town of Rye, Westchester County - new bronze
City of Troy, Rensselaer County - new bronze
Town of Victor, Ontario County - new bronze
Town of Woodstock, Ulster County - recertified bronze

CSC Program 

Established in 2009, the interagency CSC program provides guidance and support to local governments pursuing climate action. The program is led by DEC with support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of State (DOS), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Public Service (DPS), Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), and New York Power Authority (NYPA).  

Launched in 2014, the CSC Certification program recognizes the leadership and accomplishments of communities advancing climate projects. The first step to becoming a certified Climate Smart Community is to register by pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. To date, 478 local governments representing nearly 18 million New Yorkers have adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge. 

To achieve certification, communities must demonstrate an active task force of residents and municipal representatives advancing local climate action. Most certified communities complete greenhouse gas inventories that calculate emissions at the local level and identify actions to help New York State achieve its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

For a full list of actions completed by these and other certified communities, visit the online certification reports found on the Climate Smart Communities website. 

Through NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program, which recognizes and rewards community leadership by providing technical resources, tools, and financial support for the completion of clean energy projects, DEC and NYSERDA work together to provide additional support to towns, cities, villages, and county governments in New York State that play a vital role in achieving the State’s clean energy and climate initiatives. Of the 29 certified Climate Smart Communities being recognized today, 24 have been designated as Clean Energy Communities.

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Local governments are essential to adopting clean energy solutions in ways that directly benefit New Yorkers. Through NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program and DEC’s Climate Smart Communities program, we are proud to support municipalities across the state with the resources and tools needed to advance projects that save energy, strengthen resilience and improve quality of life for resident and visitors alike.”

DEC CSC Funding Opportunities

In 2016, DEC launched the CSC Grant program. This funding supports municipalities in completing a subset of certification actions and implementing projects that reduce emissions and build resilience to extreme weather. 

In June, DEC announced $18 million available in grants for municipalities. Eligible projects include municipal initiatives that reduce flood risk by relocating or retrofitting critical infrastructure, reduce emissions from food waste, or implement engineering feasibility studies, among other projects that mitigate and adapt to climate change at the local level. Applications are currently under review.

Funding for the CSC Grant program is supported by the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Since the program's inception in 2016, DEC has awarded more than $109 million to municipalities in support of local climate mitigation and adaptation projects.

DEC also manages the Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program, which offers grants to install electric vehicle charging stations for public use and rebates toward the purchase or lease of electric vehicles for municipal fleets.  

In August, DEC awarded $4 million in grants to municipalities to transition to electric vehicles, with awards to 14 municipalities to support the purchase or lease of 55 battery electric vehicles totaling more than $400,000, and 36 grants totaling more than $3.6 million for 74 level 2 electric vehicle charging ports and 24 fast chargers to 23 municipalities across the State.

DEC recently expanded the number of entities eligible to receive grants, including local public authorities, local public benefit corporations, and Indian Nations, consistent with the Environmental Conservation Law. Expanded eligibility enables additional entities to apply for funding and helps to ensure increased participation among disadvantaged communities. Visit DEC’s website for more information.

Regional CSC Coordinators 

Last year, DEC announced the extension of an initiative to accelerate local climate action by providing direct support to municipalities working to reduce harmful emissions, adapt to climate change, and improve health and quality of life for residents. DEC is contracting with regional partners to serve as regional CSC coordinators to provide free technical assistance to any local government that seeks to develop and implement successful local climate initiatives across New York State.  

These coordinators use the CSC Certification program as a roadmap for local climate mitigation and adaptation. Coordinators provide outreach and support for climate action engagement, as well as capacity building, education, and training. They also help facilitate local planning for climate mitigation and adaptation, support the implementation of local climate projects, and convene engagement sessions about State climate policy. Visit the CSC website for more information.  

New York State's Climate Agenda
New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 40 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors. The State is also working to disburse the historic $2 billion Sustainable Future Program, which will deliver targeted funding to lower emissions, reduce household energy costs, and spur green job growth.

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