Newsletter

Spencer Greenfield is a recent graduate of Yale University, having studied earth science and climate change solutions.  He is most passionate about integrating science with policy to support climate adaptation and resilience on local and regional scales, and he is excited to be continuing this work during his internship with HVRC.   Spencer’s responsibilities at…

The New York State (NYS) Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), has launched the Private Well Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program.  This program provides financial assistance to owners with eligible private water supply wells or transient, non-community public water supply wells to assess and…

Governor Kathy Hochul’s comprehensive cybersecurity initiative to strengthen and protect water infrastructure statewide comes with two recent announcements for New York State.   1)  Cybersecurity Reporting  On March 11, 2026, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) published a Notice of Adoption with the New York State Department of State (DOS) to amend 6 NYCRR Part 616, 650, and 750, which add cybersecurity regulations for wastewater…

The Closed Landfills Are Still Breathing.  Here is What We Do About It. A Local Answer to a Long-Term Problem: Methane Meets Microbes By Dr. Sehrish Asghar, Environmental Scientist, HVRC Mid-Hudson Landfill Biofilters Project | March 2026   Why a Closed Landfill Is Not Really “Closed” Imagine you finish baking a loaf of bread and…

On March 20, Scenic Hudson hosted Here Comes the Sun:  Make Solar Work for You!  in partnership with the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation.  This event provided space for dialogue between solar industry professionals and energy policy networks, with a focus on getting the most out of federal incentives before they are gone.  The event also included a tour of The Hub at Scenic…

HVRC would like to feature the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Task Force of the Town of Rochester.  The Town of Rochester’s Climate Smart Coordinator Julie Goldscheld and Task Force Member Nicole Ortiz have been hard at work preparing for Bronze Recertification in May.  HVRC’s CSC Coordinator Evelyn always looks forward to their emails and getting to review their progress each week.  Some of the actions they have worked…

HVRC is under contract with Ulster County on an innovative initiative – Ulster County Municipal Energy Technical Assistance, or UC META.  As the first designated Clean Energy Community by NYSERDA, and a Silver Climate Smart Community, Ulster County is dedicated to environmental leadership.  The UC META Program showcases the County’s commitment to organizing a significant portion of…

On March 18, HVRC staff attended the Local Government Leadership Summit hosted by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) in Hoboken, NJ.  This event brought together local government leadership, contractors, and regional organizations to discuss sustainability for buildings and communities.  UCGBC offers a specific LEED certification for local governments which goes beyond their green building rating system and provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating sustainability initiatives in the entire jurisdiction across a range of categories.  LEED for…

Evelyn Laferriere (La-ferry-err) joined HVRC in January 2026. She works on the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, as well as the NYSDEC Climate Smart Communities Program.  She provides support and technical assistance to communities working to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.  Evelyn recently earned her MS in Environmental Policy from Clarkson University, where…

Brandon Toye joined HVRC in December 2025.  He works on the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, providing support as a Clean Energy Communities Coordinator to communities working to reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of cost-saving clean energy projects.  Brandon recently earned his MS in Sustainable Systems from the Rochester Institute…