It is a busy winter season in the Hudson Valley, and here at HVRC we look forward to continuing to offer a regional perspective and provide education, outreach, and advocacy services to the communities we serve.
HVRC continues to provide technical support and educational resources to Hudson Valley communities through several state and federal programs. HVRC also offers water quality and stormwater management educational resources, funded by NYSDEC, and is continuing to support municipalities and counties as they pursue cost-saving projects and actions that reduce energy use and GHG emissions through NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities Program.
2019 HIGHLIGHTS NYS CONSOLIDATED FUNDING APPLICATION AWARDS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED!
HVRC is pleased to announce the next phase of its "Climate Action Planning Institute" (CAPI)! In our coordinator role for the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, HVRC developed a group learning model that shepherded seven largely Ulster County municipalities through the development of greenhouse gas emissions inventories (GHGI) and draft climate action plans (CAP) in 2018-19. The first round was completed with technical support from and in partnership with Climate Action Associates. Ulster County Department of the Environment was also an important resource and partner.
For the next CAPI round, the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program will support two separate CAPIs for lead applicants Westchester and Dutchess counties. HVRC will deliver its collaborative, group learning CAPI model with technical support from and in partnership with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
HVRC is very excited to partner with Dutchess County Department of Planning & Development and Westchester County Department of Energy Conservation & Sustainability as well as with up to 9 municipalities from each county. Together, this mixture of counties, cities, towns, and villages will complete individualized GHGIs and CAPs for their respective communities, using them to guide implementation of climate-friendly actions for the next 5-10 years and beyond.
HVRC
HVRC has launched its new website, adding several sections that have compiled various key data and resources for your convenience!
We have also published the new five-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), available on our website here.
The Clean Heating & Cooling for Putnam County program has been announced! WestCOP, in partnership with Bright Energy Services, Atlantic Westchester, and HVRC, will embark on a series of four NYSERDA-funded CH&C campaigns over the next two years! This program will provide beneficial, long-term cost savings to Putnam County homeowners and businesses.
Checkout the program website here, and keep an eye out for the first campaign kickoff event in the Philipstown/Cold Spring area in the first quarter of 2020!
COMMUNITY CORNER
Municipalities in the Mid-Hudson Region continue to demonstrate state-wide leadership through various initiatives:
In September, NYSDEC announced 16 new certified Climate Smart Communities (CSCs), including many from the Mid-Hudson Region. These include Dutchess and Orange Counties; the Towns of Bedford, Red Hook, and Saugerties; and the Villages of Piermont and Pleasantville. Congratulations to all for this significant achievement!
All participating communities state-wide may be viewed on the CSC certification portal map. The documentation submitted by all certified CSCs is viewable and searchable there as well.
Many communities continue to explore the benefits of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) and the opportunity to switch the default electricity supply of residents and small businesses to 100% NYS-generated renewable power. Most recently the Town/Village of New Paltz and the Town of Red Hook have elected to join the six communities currently participating in the Hudson Valley Community Power CCA.
Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority continues multiple innovative waste reduction strategies, including recycling of bio-solids from wastewater treatment plants located in-county, concrete and asphalt crushing for reuse, and a broad range of educational offerings on the importance of waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, hazardous waste disposal, and conservation for residents, businesses, schools, and in-county municipalities.
Through Westchester County’s e-communications, The Catalyst and Green Business Partnership, the County keeps local businesses and entrepreneurs in the know about beneficial County initiatives and programming as well as connects them with tools to integrate sustainable business practices that help businesses increase efficiency and save money.
Putnam County passed the Climate Smart Communities Pledge and became a registered CSC, and several communities within the County are interested in or are currently participating in the program (see Philipstown's Climate Smart Task Force webpage!).
Sullivan County achieved SolSmart Silver designation and hosted a workshop in October, entitled "Local Governments Leading the Clean Energy Transition".
Orange County was part of the first group of communities to achieve Climate Smart Communities Certification in 2014, and in September they were recertified at the bronze-level. The County is also a SolSmart Gold designee.
HVRC continues to provide significant technical assistance to municipalities in their pursuit of the 10 High Impact Actions that they can benefit from under the CEC Program, as well as related funding opportunities. CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
This NYSDEC-administered program is one of the ten High Impact Actions under the CEC program. Dozens of communities in our region are gearing up to become certified Climate Smart Communities (CSCs), in part by appointing local CSC Coordinators andTask Forces! HVRC is also available to provide guidance on the CSC Program. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES & RESOURCES
The minimum award amount is $10,500 and the maximum award is $986,000.
For projects that restore free-flowing waters to benefit water quality, conserve and restore habitat, and increase flood resiliency for communities in the Hudson River estuary watershed.
To be eligible, projects must conserve and restore aquatic habitat connectivity for American eel and/or river herring found in the tributary streams of the Hudson River estuary watershed. Primary priority will be given to dam removal projects that are in close proximity to the Hudson.
Vouchers are currently available to fleets across New York State interested in purchasing medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (weight class 3 through 8) in one or more of the following diesel-alternative categories:
Propane (liquefied petroleum gas or LPG)
Compressed natural gas (CNG)
Conventional hybrid electric (HEV)
Plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV)
All-electric (BEV)
Vouchers cover a percentage of the incremental cost of the vehicle, the difference in cost between the alternative fuel vehicle and a comparable diesel vehicle.
Version 1.0 (NYStretch) is now available. NYSERDA developed NYStretch as a statewide model code for New York jurisdictions to use to meet their energy and climate goals by accelerating the savings obtained through their local building energy codes. For jurisdictions that adopt it, NYStretch will provide savings of roughly 11% over the 2020 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (2020 ECCCNYS) when that energy code is released by New York State Department of State.
NYStretch is a code that:
Is readily adoptable with minimal changes by local governments.
Is in enforceable language.
Is coordinated with the New York State Uniform and Energy Codes.
Is about one cycle ahead of the next New York State Energy Code in its requirements.
Lowers energy use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with new and existing buildings.
Completing an energy study of your building can help you identify and evaluate opportunities to reduce energy costs and incorporate clean energy into your capital planning. The FlexTech program shares the cost to produce an objective, site-specific, and targeted study on how best to implement clean energy and/or energy efficiency technologies. A NYSERDA FlexTechConsultant will work with you to complete the energy study.
Customers, Service Providers, or FlexTech Consultants with Program questions should contact FlexTech@nyserda.ny.gov.
For most studies, NYSERDA will contribute fifty percent (50%) of the eligible study costs.
CHILD CARE SURVEY FOR EMPLOYERS
Mid-Hudson Economic Development Partners;
The Mid-Hudson’s six child care resource and referral agencies (CCR&Rs) are conducting a survey of employers in the region on the benefits and resources they currently offer to help their employees meet their child care needs.
To help us all have a better understanding of what child care resources employers are offering in our region, we ask that you distribute this survey to your employer partners (businesses, not-for-profits, and local government agencies).
The survey can be found here: http://bit.ly/2DZCRYZ.The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, January 10, 2020
The participating CCR&Rs include:
Child Care Council of Dutchess and Putnam, Inc.
Child Care Council of Orange County, Inc.
Child Care Resources of Rockland, Inc.
Sullivan County Child Care Council, Inc.
Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc.
Family of Woodstock, Inc.
Contact us: Hudson Valley Regional Council
3 Washington Center #2
Newburgh, NY 12550
(845) 564-4075
hvrc@hudsonvalleyrc.org
