Rockland County Named a Clean Energy Community by NYSERDA

Rockland has officially been named a Clean Energy Community (CEC) by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NY-SERDA) after completing four High Impact Actions within the CEC program and will receive a $5,000 Designation Grant.

The Designation Grant will be used to purchase electric landscaping equipment to be utilized by the Facilities Management division of the Department of General Services. A sampling of electric battery-operated equipment, such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and weed trimmers, will be obtained to help the County determine how best to transition to the use of electric equipment for maintaining County grounds.

“Congratulations to Rockland County on their designation as a NYSERDA Clean Energy Community”, said NYSERDA CEO Doreen M. Harris. “With the County’s leadership, residents will benefit from a cleaner, healthier and more affordable community to live and work in while laying the foundation to build a more sustainable tomorrow.”

The county also filed an application seeking $75,000 in funding from the New York State Climate Smart Communities (CSC) FY23 Grant Program to support work on two CSC pledge elements:

– Government Operations GHG Emissions Inventory –an accounting, analysis, and report of the GHG emissions resulting from the day-to-day operations of the County which will provide the data needed to set realistic goals and track progress toward reducing operating costs, energy use and emissions.

– Government Operations Climate Action Plan (CAP)

–a strategy document that sets goals and outlines a set of initiatives to reduce GHG emissions.

The CAP will identify priority actions and facilitate coordination across government departments. A CAP will also track progress toward reducing operating costs, energy use, and emissions. Rockland County
became a registered CSC in 2010 and has made a commitment to becoming a certified CSC by taking action to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to climate change.

In order to better support these future actions Rockland has created a new full-time Sustainability Coordinator position within the Department of Planning and is currently seeking qualified applicants. For more information about this role including how to apply please visit the County’s Job Opportunities page.