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

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.

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Clean Energy Communities Institute (CECI)

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In 2021 and 2022, the Hudson Valley Regional Council created the Clean Energy Communities Institute (CECI). Our goal for this Institute was to walk communities through the CEC High-Impact Actions and how to accomplish them. Focus was 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.

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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 Patapis.

CSC Resources

Climate Action Planning Institute

The Climate Action Planning Institute (CAPI) is a facilitated, collaborative working group through which a select group of local governments develop individual government operations greenhouse gas emissions inventories and government operations climate action plans.

HVRC, in partnership with ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, is leading the Dutchess and Westchester CAPI cohorts. Eight municipalities from each County are working together with the Counties to take a collaborative approach to climate mitigation and helping to bring NY State funding to the region for important projects. See our CAPI FAQ for more information on CAPI, or email Mary Lambert.

CAPI is funded by the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program, Title 15 of the Environmental Projection Fund through the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Team

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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.

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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.

Mary Lambert Headshot

Mary Lambert, CAPI Coordinator

Technical support for the Climate Action Planning Institute in Dutchess and Westchester Counties. Mary's Calendly or email.

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Liz Sun, CEC Coordinator

Technical support for the Clean Energy Communities Program. Liz's Calendly or email.

Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability Friday, October 8, 2001, in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. [Photo by Karl Rabe]

Melanie Patapis, CSC Coordinator

Technical support for all municipalities participating in the Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Program cohorts. Melanie's Calendly or email.