Town earns Clean Energy Community designation

NASSAU, N.Y. >> The Town of Nassau recently announced it has been designated a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, recognizing its leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy locally.

“Thanks to the hard work of Deputy Supervisor Lani Richards, along with the strong support of the Nassau Town Board, the community has reached this important benchmark in energy reduction and cost savings,” said Nassau Town Supervisor David Fleming in a news release. “We look forward to even greater taxpayer savings through grants and projects as we continue our efforts to reduce cost and energy consumption,” stated Fleming.

Announced by Governor Cuomo in August 2016, the release said the $16 million Clean Energy Communities initiative supports local government leaders across the state by providing grants to eligible municipalities to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable development projects in their communities. Clean Energy Communities advances the Governor’s Reforming the Energy (REV) strategy by demonstrating the importance of communi- ties in helping New York reach its Clean Energy Standard mandate of having half of the state’s electricity coming from renewable energy resources by 2030.

Town officials said the town received the designation for completing high-impact clean energy actions identified by NYSERDA as part of the Clean Energy Communities initiative.

Fleming said in addition, the designation gives the Town of Nassau an opportunity to apply for additional state funding toward additional clean energy projects, with no local cost share.

To earn the Clean Energy Community designation, Fleming said Nassau completed the following high-impact clean energy actions:

• Benchmarking - tracking and reporting energy use on an annual basis

• Clean Energy Upgrades – Completing upgrades throughout Town buildings that achieved at least a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from municipal buildings through energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy

• Unified Solar Permit – The Town passed a resolution to adopt the NYS Unified Solar Permit to reduce costs and delays for solar projects within the jurisdiction

• Energy Code Enforcement Training – Nassau’s Code Enforcement Officer was trained in best practices in energy code enforcement.

Officials said cities, counties, towns, and villages that complete at least four of 10 high-impact clean energy actions are designated Clean Energy Communities and are eligible to apply for funding of up to $250,000 with no local cost share and the option of receiving up to 25 percent paid in advance to support additional clean energy projects.

At least two of the four actions must have been completed after August 1, 2016. NYSERDA is accepting applications for funding on a rolling basis through September 30, 2019, or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. Funds are being provided through the Clean Energy Fund and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

According to the release, once all funding is exhausted for large or small/ medium categories in a region, local governments designated a Clean Energy Community are eligible to apply for a $5,000 grant, on a first-come, first-serve basis until such funds are exhausted.

Officials said Clean Energy Community Coordinators are also available at no charge to help communities to develop and prioritize clean energy goals, access easy-to-use resources such as guidance documents and case studies and take advantage of available funding and technical assistance opportunities.

For more information on Clean Energy Communities, visit www.nyserda.ny.gov/ cec.