DEC names Cazenovia, Kirkland as New York State’s Climate Smart Communities – Oneida Dispatch

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

These communities include the village of Cazenovia, Madison County: recertified bronze; the town of Kirkland, Oneida County: new bronze and Onondaga County: new bronze.

“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,” Lefton said in a news release.

“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,” Lefton continued.

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, DEC certified 21 communities on the bronze level. 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.

DEC established CSC Program in 2009. The interagency CSC program provides guidance and support to local governments pursuing climate action.

Since 2014 the CSC Certification program has recognized 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.

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.

“Local governments are essential to adopting clean energy solutions in ways that directly benefit New Yorkers,” NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said.

“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,” Harris continued.

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. These projects 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. 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 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 including 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: https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/climate-change.