Newsletter

The Hudson Valley Regional Council has a new Environmental Scientist! In August, Katie Hall joined HVRC as an environmental scientist.  She grew up in Rhinebeck, NY, within Dutchess County, where she developed a love for science, community work, and the environment.  She moved to Rochester, NY to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental science. …

By Evelyn Laferriere & Brandon Toye Energy affordability is a high-priority issue facing elected officials, utility companies, and the residents they both serve.  Installing solar seems to be a straightforward solution to this problem — if residents can rely on their own electricity generation, they can worry less about grid electricity prices.  However, upfront costs…

The Rockland County Conservation & Service Corps(opens in new tab) recently concluded their summer internship for young professionals interested in carrying out environmental service projects in the Rockland County region.  This year’s Stormwater Tech Teams, under the mentorship of Jen Zunino-Smith and Anna Hickey of Cornell Cooperative Extension Rockland County(opens in new tab), partnered with…

To better assist Sullivan County communities regarding their water and sewer systems, the Sullivan County Division of Planning, Community Development & Environmental Management, in collaboration with Delaware Engineering, DPC, has released the Sullivan County Assessment of Potable & Wastewater Infrastructure (CAPWI) Report.  An extensive data collection exercise was conducted, that involved interviews with municipal officials,…

By Pem Dorji Tamang, HVRC Resilience & Adaptation Intern When I tell people I worked on climate adaptation in Bhutan before joining the Hudson Valley Regional Council, the first question is usually about the mountains.  The second is whether the work is anything alike.  It is, and it isn’t, and the differences have taught me more about resilience…

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…

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…