DEC Announces $7.3 Million Awarded to ‘Climate Smart’ Municipalities |
Supports Governor Cuomo’s Goal to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions 40 percent by 2030Climate Smart Grants Part of State’s REDC AwardsNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that DEC’s Climate Smart Communities Grants Program has awarded $7.3 million to municipalities across the state as part of the $763 million in Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) Awards announced on Dec. 18. Established in 2016, this 50/50 matching grant program for municipalities supports climate change adaptation and the local reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The grants also provide support for communities seeking to become State-certified Climate Smart Communities. The Climate Smart Community Grant Program is one of 21 programs included in the REDC awards. Commissioner Seggos said, “Thanks to Governor Cuomo, New York’s $300 million Environmental Protection Fund is providing much-needed resources to local governments across the state to accelerate actions to combat climate change. These Climate Smart Community awards empower municipalities to become more resilient and adapt to the potentially devastating effects of climate change.” Two-hundred-and-forty-five New York State municipalities have adopted the Climate Smart Communities Pledge to become registered Climate Smart Communities and engage in programs to increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote renewable energy and a green economy. These registered Climate Smart Communities can also work toward Climate Smart Community Certification by documenting completion of specific, local actions. Each registered Climate Smart Community may choose to undertake those actions most appropriate for its particular objectives, capacity, and other circumstances. Completion of these actions allows the community to earn points toward designation as a Certified Climate Smart Community. The Climate Smart Community Certification Grants support communities undertaking certification actions. Beyond supporting Climate Smart Community certification, the Climate Smart Community grants support projects that advance Governor Cuomo’s climate change and clean energy goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating flood risk, and preparing for extreme heat and weather events. Information on the Climate Smart Communities program is available on their website. The 2018 Climate Smart Community Awards are listed on the Office of Climate Change funding page; the 2018 REDC Awards Booklet is posted on the REDC site. 2018 Climate Smart Communities Awards Western New York
Southern Tier
Mohawk Valley
Mid-Hudson
Long Island
Finger Lakes
Central New York
Capital District
Under Governor Cuomo, New York State is leading the nation in the transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy through innovative strategies including the Green New Deal, a goal to generate 100 percent of the state’s electricity from carbon-free sources. These efforts are developing new economic opportunities and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and by 80 percent by 2050. New York has long been a national leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a partner in the nation’s first carbon dioxide trading program for power plants, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a model for the federal Clean Power Plan, as well as ongoing energy initiatives such as NY Green Bank, NY-Sun, Charge NY, NY Prize, and BuildSmart NY. |