Clean Energy & Sustainability

HVRC offers support to local governments as they pursue cost-saving and energy and GHG emission-reducing actions through NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities Program (CEC). Our CEC Coordinators are available to provide technical assistance related to the High Impact Actions that communities benefit from under the CEC Program, one of which is NYS Climate Smart Communities Program. Technical assistance is available at no cost to local governments.

Clean Energy Communities

Clean Energy Communities Institute (CECI)

As the Mid-Hudson representative for the NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities Program, the Hudson Valley Regional Council is pleased to introduce the Clean Energy Communities Institute (CECI). Our goal for this Institute is to walk you step-by-step through the CEC High-Impact Actions and how to accomplish them. Over the next year, we will be focusing on a single High Impact Action each month, providing action-oriented webinars, testimonials, in-person cohort-style workshops, and useful content.

View CECI content

Leadership Round Resources

CEC Leadership Round Guidance Document

CEC HIA Toolkits

Leadership Round Grants Overview

Disadvantaged Communities Lookup Map

CEC HIA Submission Portal

Videos of NYS local governments implementing the CEC program

Climate Smart Communities

HVRC provides no-cost technical support to communities interested in NYS Climate Smart Communities Program. This program is aimed at GHG reductions and savings increases through specific Certification Actions. Communities that complete enough Actions can then become Certified as a CSC and qualify for funding made available through various DEC grant programs. Some CSC Actions overlap with High Impact Actions under NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities Program (CEC), making the points aggregating process that much easier.

CSC Coordinator Program

The CSC Coordinator Program provides additional technical support to communities that are completing the following priority actions: Government Operations greenhouse gas (GHG) Inventory, Government Operations Climate Action Plan, Community GHG Inventory and Community Action Plan. HVRC is running this program in a cohort model where communities will have the chance to work together and share experiences, challenges, and tips as they go through process. The first stage of this program will be completing the Government Operations GHG Inventory, in which 14 communities are participating in our Fall Cohort. For more information and how you can participate in future cohorts email Melanie at mpatapis@hudsonvalleyrc.org

CSC Resources

CSC Fact Sheet

Mandatory & Priority Actions

CSC-CEC Crosswalk

CSC Checklist

Model Resolution

Certification Application Cycle

The Team

Eleanor Peck, CEC Mid-Hudson Program Manager & CEC Coordinator

Technical support to all municipalities except County seats, the Town of Ramapo, and the Cities of Kingston, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Yonkers. Eleanor's Calendly or email.

Carla Castillo, Executive Director & CEC Coordinator

Technical support to all County seats, the Town of Ramapo, and the Cities of Kingston, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Yonkers. Carla's Calendly or email.