NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities
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Launched in August 2016, the Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program provides grants, coordinator support, and a clear path forward to local governments that demonstrate leadership by completing NYSERDA-selected high-impact actions. Since the program launch, hundreds of local governments – large, small, urban, rural, and suburban - have completed high-impact actions through the program and earned Clean Energy Community designations by completing high-impact actions. In every region of New York State, communities are implementing an exciting array of clean energy projects supported by grant awards. Although the action submissions and grant funding is temporarily paused, CEC coordinators are still available to help implement energy efficient upgrades and identify funding opportunities for clean energy projects.
The Village of Pulaski purchased electric vehicles and installed charging stations through support provided by the CEC program
The Town of Richland installed a solar PV array at their water building which was later expanded with support from the CEC program
​​High Impact Actions
Regional CEC Coordinators are currently available to assist in implementing energy projects related to energy benchmarking, NYSERDA's Build Ready program, efficiency upgrades to municipal buildings, heat pumps, electrifying municipal vehicle fleets and installing EV charging stations, electric landscaping equipment, connecting with green financing, community campaigns for solar, heat pumps, and/or EVs, thermal energy networks, and more!​​​
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CEC Over the Years
Since the program's initial launch in 2016, 135 municipalities in Central NY have completed 679 clean energy actions and have been awarded over $3.6 million in grants. CEC grants have helped fund a range of additional clean energy projects, with the most common projects converting indoor lighting or street lighting to LEDs. making buildings more energy efficient, implementing electric vehicles and charging stations, and/or installing heat pumps or solar energy.
Most Common CEC Projects in CNY
CEC Case Studies
Town of Cazenovia recently purchased an electric Chevrolet Silverado using a grant they earned with assistance from the CNY RPDB.
The vehicle is used at the Highway Department, primarily by the Highway Superintendent, for monitoring road conditions, inspecting upcoming, current, and completed municipal jobs, gathering and delivering supplies, and other necessary tasks throughout the town. The Town charges the vehicle using a level 2 charging station on site.
“All the feedback I've received and that I have is that it’s a very nice pickup with excellent power and an extremely nice ride,” says Highway Superintendent Bryan Smith.
