Clean Energy & Sustainability

HVRC offers support to local governments through NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Program and DEC's Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Program. Technical assistance is available at no cost to local governments.

Clean Energy Communities

HVRC provides technical assistance related to the High Impact Actions under the CEC Program. Our CEC Coordinators are available to local governments as they pursue cost- and energy-saving actions through the Program.

Our CEC Page

Clean Energy & Sustainability Resources

The Hudson Valley Regional Council has hosted numerous webinars over the years, and has created helpful resources for municipalities pursuing clean energy projects. Please find webinar recordings and clean energy resources on our CES Resources page.

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.

Our CES Resources Page

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Climate Smart Communities

HVRC provides 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.

Our CSC Page

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Climate Action Planning Institute

The Climate Action Planning Institute (CAPI) is a facilitated, collaborative working group through which a select group of local governments work collaboratively to complete actions under the DEC Climate Smart Communities Program. Past CAPI cohort programs have included the development of Government Operations GHG Emissions Inventories and Government Operations Climate Action Plans, as well as Climate Vulnerability Assessments and Climate Adaptation Plans.

Our CAPI Page

CAPI is funded by the CSC Grant Program, Title 15 of the Environmental Protection Fund through the NYS DEC. CAPI Adapt was funded by the Hudson River Estuary Program (HREP), NYS DEC, with support from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC).

Our CAPI Adapt Page

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Landfills Biofilters Project

HVRC’s Landfill Biofilters Project aims to reduce methane emissions at 14 closed municipal landfills in the Mid-Hudson region through the installation of biofilters. The project also includes an optional solar and battery storage feasibility study component, as well as pollinator plantings. Biofilters provide a natural and cost-effective method for mitigating methane emissions from landfills. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they help improve air quality and contribute to overall waste management sustainability.

See HVRC’s Landfill Biofilters Project Page for more information.

Landfill Biofilters Project Page

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Mid-Hudson CEDS Climate, Sustainability, Clean Energy Companion Document

Hudson Valley Regional Council (HVRC) prepared this Climate, Sustainability, Clean Energy document as a companion piece to the Mid-Hudson Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for July 2025 – June 2030 through our work funded by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Program. It is intended to complement the content in the CEDS. As with the CEDS, the content included in this document reflects input received from the HVRC Board of Directors as well as key stakeholders and public input. HVRC is grateful for the contributions made by its seven member counties – Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester.

CEDS Companion Document

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Mid-Hudson Regional Inventory

In 2023, HVRC updated the 2010 Mid-Hudson Regional Inventory. This Inventory provides community-level data for each municipality in the Region. Municipalities can use this Inventory to complete the CSC Community GHG Inventory action. Visit our Mid-Hudson Regional Inventory Update FAQ to download the Inventory, a template report, the methodology, and access other resources.

This update was funded under the Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Program through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Inventory Resources

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The Team

Sehrish Asghar, Principal Environmental Scientist / Manager

Management of HVRC's Mid-Hudson Landfill Biofilters Project.

Sehrish's email.

Liz Sun, Senior CEC & CSC Coordinator

Technical support for all municipalities in Putnam and Westchester Counties, the Cities of Kingston, Mount Vernon, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Yonkers, and all County seats.

Liz's Calendly or email.