Westchester CAPI Meetings
Meeting #1: Kick-off (2/2/23)
Location: Westchester Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas St., 2nf fl., White Plains, NY
This in-person Kick-off meeting covered the basics of a government operations greenhouse gas inventory and government operations climate action plan, as well as an overview of the CAPI process, timeline, and benefits. It was an opportunity to meet the other cohort participants and engage with and ask questions to your CAPI leaders. Project management and match tracking were covered.
Homework for next meeting
- Finalize team and roles (see cohort capabilities guide above)
- Decide who will be your Team’s key data resource(s)
- Review (electricity and natural gas) data in Sharepoint
- Track your time in your time tracker in Sharepoint
- Meet with your team prior to next cohort meeting
- Watch ICLEI video on ClearPath Tool (2 minutes)
Additional homework for data resource(s)
- Reach out to Kale (cc Mary) for ICLEI ClearPath access
- Familiarize yourself with ClearPath tool and data request templates (see below)
- Follow up on remaining electricity and natural gas data
- Begin to customize and issue data requests by sectors (see below)
Resources
- Video: City-University Collaborations on Sustainability and Climate
- Video: Governance Structures for Effective Climate Action [Global Covenant of Mayors]
Meeting #2: Data Gathering (3/3/23)
Location: Virtual
This meeting covered Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventories (GOGHGI) including emissions factors, emission scopes, global warming potentials, and data sectors. The main focus was the data gathering process by sector, including a more detailed review of how to collect data for each sector and the sample data request templates. Climate Smart Communities (CSC) requirements and outreach and engagement planning were also covered.
- Presentation #2 Emissions and Data Gathering: Kale Roberts, ICLEI
- Presentation #2 CSC Requirements: Mary Lambert, HVRC
Homework for 3rd meeting:
- Help data resource identify key contacts for emissions data requests.
- Review the shared resources on the CAPI web site, including ICLEI’s GHG inventory report template.
- Research and review other reports and the CSC portal.
- Document and publicize the project.
Additional homework for data resource(s)
- Identify key contacts who will provide emissions data.
- Customize and send out remaining data request templates.
- Ensure all accounts are included with the electricity and natural gas data (from Central Hudson or NYSEG).
- Familiarize yourself with the Excel Data Workbook and input data into Workbook as it is received.
Meeting #3: Making Sense of Data (4/6/23)
Location: Virtual
This meeting covered a sector-by-sector deep dive into ICLEI's excel workbook and a synopsis of data related questions and answers that have come up to date. Also covered: an overview of climate communications, i.e. effective ways to package and communicate climate-related data for broader audiences. Lastly, the municipalities shared experiences, challenges, and lessons learned in small group cohort breakout rooms.
- Data Collection and Communication Presentation, Kale Roberts, ICLEI Sr. Program Manager
- Data Questions and Answers Presentation, Mary Lambert, CAPI Coordinator
Homework for 4th meeting:
- Research and review data visualization examples in recommended resources, or in other GHG inventory reports
- Brainstorm GHG inventory report communications goals and desired outcomes.
- Begin to populate the GHG inventory report template with high level information.
- Continue to document and publicize this project.
Additional homework for data resources:
- Customize and send out remaining data request templates.
- Input data into the Excel Data Workbook as it is received
- Cross-check accounts with bills/invoices to ensure all accounts are included in the electricity and natural gas data from NYPA / Con Ed
- Identify the buildings, facilities, and/or department associated with each utility account, and begin to consolidate/group data as desired.
Meeting #4: ClearPath Deep Dive (5/4/23)
Location: Virtual
This meeting focused on understanding ICLEI's Clear Path tool for creating a municipal greenhouse gas inventory. The Town of North East and the City of Beacon also presented on their Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventories and how they informed their Government Operations Climate Action Plans. The meeting also included small group breakout sessions and a review of recent frequently asked questions and answers.
- Presentation from the Town of North East: How the Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventory helped inform their Climate Action Plan, Kathy Chow and Andrew Stayman, Town of North East
- City of Beacon GHGI presentation, Eleanor Peck and Ben Swanson
- Data Questions and Answers Presentation, Mary Lambert, CAPI Coordinator
Homework for data resources:
- Customize and send out all remaining data request templates (for propane, gas and diesel, wastewater, etc.).
- Input data into Excel Workbook, and then into ClearPath. (Or directly into ClearPath if you prefer.)
- Check-in with ICLEI/HVRC on progress or roadblocks
Homework for communications and research resources:
- Download and begin to fill out overview sections of the GHG Inventory Report Template
- Help your data resource(s) as needed
- Track your time (or your Team's time) in your time tracker in Sharepoint.
Reminder, the deadline for the data collection is June 1st , and the deadline for the final government operations GHG inventory report is July 13th. When the inventory reports are complete, we will move on to the government operations climate action plans.
Meeting #5: Inventory Report Deep Dive (6/1/23)
This meeting covered tips and guidance for populating and adding language to ICLEI's government operations GHG inventory (GOGHGI) report template, as well as a review of some example GOGHGIs that have used ICLEI's template. The Westchester municipalities discussed progress in breakout rooms and frequently asked questions and answers from office hours were shared.
- Data Questions and Answers Month 5, Mary Lambert, CAPI Coordinator
Homework for data resources:
- Upload all remaining data into ClearPath.
- Document assumptions and methods as needed.
- Notify CAPI support team for data quality check.
- Identify key findings and copy & paste relevant graphs into inventory template.
Homework for communications and research resources:
- Coordinate with data leads to generate graphs + copy and paste findings from ClearPath into report.
- Edit report draft language, add new sections, including background, relevant work, findings and recommendations.
- When complete, notify CAPI support team for review.
Reminder, the deadline for the government operations GHG inventory report is July 13th.
When the inventory reports are complete, we will move on to the government operations climate action plans.
Meeting #6: Inventory Presentations (7/13/23)
Municipalities who had competed their inventories in ClearPath shared results at this meeting. Emissions Forecasting, Target-Setting, and Stakeholder Engagement in Climate Planning were also covered. In August, the Inventory presentations will continue, and in September, we will officially move on to government operations climate action plans.
- Government Operations GHG Inventories: Forecasting & Planning Preview, Kale Roberts, ICLEI
- Data Questions and Answers Month 6, Mary Lambert, CAPI Coordinator
Homework for data resources:
- Finish GHG Inventory in ClearPath
- Upload all remaining data into ClearPath.
- Document assumptions, contacts, methodology in record’s notes section.
- Attach data requests and calculations to related record.
- Confirm all records are represented in your pie chart.
- Notify ICLEI/HVRC for QA data check.
- Finish GHG Inventory Report
- Include relevant photos, charts, graphs from ClearPath or other sources. (See Reports tab in ClearPath)
- Update footnotes and documented all assumptions in the report.
- Reference non-included sectors (and refrigerants!) and reasoning for not including these.
- Notify CAPI team for report review when draft is complete.
Meeting #7: Inventory Presentations (8/3/23)
In person: Westchester
Date: Thursday, August 3rd, 1 pm - 3 pm
Location: Westchester Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas St., 2nd Fl, White Plains
Municipal emissions inventory presentations from the Village of Tarrytown (Alissa Fasman), the Town of Ossining (David Margulis), The Village of Irvington (Charlotte Binns), Village of Pelham (Tom White), and the City of Peekskill (Peter Erwin). Cohort participants engaged in a high impact action brainstorming and prioritization exercise.
- Prioritizing High Impact Actions, Kale Roberts, ICLEI
Homework:
- Finish Inventory and Inventory Report
Meeting #8: Inventory Presentations (9/7/23)
Municipal emissions inventory presentations from Westchester County (Elijah Reichlin-Melnick) and the Village of Ossining (Maddi Zachacz). Caroline from ICLEI presented on the ClearPath emissions forecasting wizard to forecast a Business as Usual (BAU) forecast and to model emissions from high impact actions. Mary walked through the Public Outreach and Engagement Planning doc and reviewed frequently asked questions on the inventory report.
- GHG Inventory Report Questions and Answers. Mary Lambert, CAPI Coordinator
- Public Outreach and Engagement Plan, Mary Lambert, CAPI Coordinator
- Wizard Guidance for Westchester County for the ClearPath Forecasting Tool Caroline Dickey and Mary Lambert
Homework:
- Finish Inventory Report
- Complete business-as-usual forecast in ClearPath
- Complete Public Outreach and Engagement Plan for Climate Action Plan
- Begin to draft a list of recommended high impact actions or initiatives by sector for your Climate Action Plan
- Schedule (or meet) with Village Board, City or Town Council to present inventory and inform them on the Climate Actin Plan (CAP) and CAP process.
Return to Westchester CAPI Home Page
Westchester CAPI is made possible through a generous grant from the NYS DEC Climate Smart Communities Grant Program.