NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities
On August 3, 2016, Governor Cuomo announced the launch of the Clean Energy Communities program, a $16-million initiative to help local governments across the state reduce energy consumption and drive clean energy use in their communities. The Clean Energy Communities Program (CEC) provides grants, direct technical support to communities, and recognition to local governments that demonstrate leadership in the area of clean energy.
NYSERDA has identified ten high-impact actions that local governments can take to save money, foster a vibrant economy, and improve the environment. By completing four of the ten high-impact actions, the applying jurisdiction can earn the Clean Energy Community designation as well as become eligible for a first-come-first-served grant, with no local cost share, to support additional clean energy projects. To earn the Clean Energy Community designation, at least two of the high-impact actions must be completed after August 1, 2016.
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Remaining grants for CNY municipalities are as follows:
*All Block 3 grants have been reserved at this time.
Municipalities in CNY that have completed four action items and been designated Clean Energy Communities are noted below in order of designation, along with grant amounts reserved.
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Small/Medium Municipalities:
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Minoa Village - $100,000
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DeWitt Town - $100,000
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Canastota Village - $100,000
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Marcellus Village - $100,000
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Pulaski Village - $50,000
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Cazenovia Town - $50,000
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Cazenovia Village - $50,000
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Richland Town - $50,000
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Skaneateles Town - $50,000
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Cortland City - $50,000
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Fayetteville Village - $50,000
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Hamilton Town - $50,000
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Fair Haven Village - $50,000
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Auburn City - $50,000
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Oneida City - $5,000
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Homer Village - $5,000
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Oswego Town - $5,000
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Granby Town - $5,000
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East Syracuse Village - $5,000
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Cleveland Village - $5,000
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Hannibal Village - $5,000
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Baldwinsville Village - $5,000
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Jordan Village - $5,000
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Hannibal Town - $5,000
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Manlius Village - $5,000
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Camillus Town - $5,000
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North Syracuse Village - $5,000
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Tully Village - $5,000
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Solvay Village - $5,000
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Fabius Town - $5,000
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Port Byron Village - $5,000
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Geddes Town - $5,000
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Sterling Town - $5,000
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Phoenix Village - $5,000
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Owasco Town - $5,000
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Camillus Village - $5,000
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Marcellus Town - $5,000
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Nelson Town - $5,000
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Weedsport Village - $5,000
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Cayuga Village - $5,000
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Fulton City - $5,000
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Brutus Town - $5,000
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Elbridge Town - $5,000
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Eaton Town - $5,000
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Oswego City - $5,000
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Manlius Town - $5,000
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Large Municipalities:
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Madison County - $250,000
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Cayuga County - $250,000
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Clay Town - $150,000
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Syracuse City - $150,000
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Dedicated and knowledgeable local Clean Energy Coordinators, including the CNY RPDB, are available to applicants to provide on-demand technical assistance, step-by-step guidance, case studies, model ordinances, project development support and other tools and resources. To access this support in CNY, please contact Chris Carrick at ccarrick@cnyrpdb.org. For municipalities outside of CNY, please send an email to cec@nyserda.ny.gov or visit www.nyserda.ny.gov/cec for more information.
Designated Clean Energy Communities and participating communities in CNY
Indoor LED lighting in the Marcellus Village Hall.
The Village received credit for the Clean Energy Upgrades High Impact Action by converting indoor lighting to LED and achieving a 10% emissions reduction in municipal buildings.
High-Impact Actions include:
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1. Benchmarking energy use​​: Pass a resolution to make available to the public on the internet on an annual basis energy use information for municipal buildings over 1,000 square feet OR pass legislation requiring benchmarking by owners of commercial and multifamily buildings 25,000 square feet or larger. Utilize Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager tool online to collect and analyze data.
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2. Clean Energy Upgrades: Reduce municipal building emissions by 10% through clean energy upgrades or renewable energy projects completed since January 1, 2014.
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3. LED Street Lights: Convert at least 50% of cobra-head luminaires to LED.​
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4. Clean Fleets: Install at least one CNG fueling station or EV charging station with two or more Level 2 charging ports, OR deploy at least one EV or CNG vehicle in the municipal fleet.
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5. Solarize, Clean Heating and Cooling, or Solar for All campaign: Directly participate in a Solarize, Clean Heating and Cooling, or Solar for All campaign(s) since 1/1/2014 and meet the minimum requirement of customers for the type of campaign as per NYSERDA’s Guidance Document.
Crews converting streetlights to LED in the Village of Minoa
City of Auburn charging station installed at Lincoln Street Parking Garage. The City received credit for the Clean Fleets High Impact Action by installing a dual head level 2 charging station.
6. Unified Solar Permit: Adopt the revised NYS Unified Solar Permit (released in October 2016), a streamlined building and electrical permit for rooftop solar PV systems of 25 kW or smaller.
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7. Energy Code Enforcement Training: Participate in NYSERDA’s approved Code Enforcement Training program. For large municipalities, this includes two plan reviews and two onsite inspection of current building projects. The local Code Enforcement Officer and at least two other municipal staff must participate in the preliminary and close-out meetings. For small/medium municipalities, the Code Enforcement Officer must participate in a day-long training series including both residential and commercial workshops.
8. Climate Smart Communities Certification: Become a Certified Climate Smart Community at the certified bronze, silver, or gold level.
9. Community Choice Aggregation: Adopt legislation authorizing an opt-out CCA program and execute an electric service agreement between the applying jurisdiction and an Energy Services Company (ESCO) that is a default 100% renewable clean energy product mix.
10. Energize NY PACE Financing: Adopt Energize NY PACE financing (for municipalities with tax lien authority only).​