Clean Energy Communities

In August of 2016, New York State launched the Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program, a  $16-million initiative to help local governments across the state reduce energy consumption and drive clean energy use in their communities.  The CEC program is a set of High Impact Actions, developed by NYSERDA that encourages local municipalities to implement specific clean energy actions that save energy costs, create jobs, and improve the environment. 

The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson is proud to have been designated a CEC community in March 2017.  Below is a description of the 20 CEC high impact actions the Village has completed to date – the actions are listed in the order achieved:

  • Benchmarking (2 actions): Benchmarking is a policy that a local government adopts that requires the annual reporting of energy used in municipal buildings. It is important because buildings account for over 60% of the energy used in New York State. Setting up a system for measuring and sharing data on building energy use over time allows owners and occupants to compare energy usage between buildings, and better identify opportunities to cut energy waste. In November 2016, Hastings-on-Hudson passed a Municipal Building Energy Benchmarking Local Law and Resolution the village provides annual benchmarking reports as required under the law. In 2021, the Village completed the requirements for Advanced Benchmarking.
  • LED Street Lights (2 actions): By replacing conventional streetlights with energy efficient LED technology, communities can reduce street light energy use by as much as 65 percent, generating cost savings and emission reductions. In addition, streetlight projects can contribute to creating a well-lit, safer, and more attractive community. LED street lights last up to 100,000 hours and require much less maintenance than conventional ones. Over several years, the Village replaced 100% of our cobra head streetlights with LEDs. In 2021, we also replaced 51% of our decorative streetlights with LEDs.
  • Solarize (1 action): Hastings-on-Hudson participated in the Sustainable Westchester Solarize campaign which provided a model for how consumers can gain increased access to clean energy. Solarize is a short-term, local effort that brings together groups of potential solar customers through widespread outreach and education. From October 2015 to April 2016, the Hastings-Dobbs Ferry Solarize campaign resulted in 85 homeowners installing solar on their homes. (55 of which were in Hastings).
  • Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) (2 actions): The CCA allows local governments to choose where the energy comes from for their community. CCA is a municipal energy procurement model that replaces the utility as the default supplier of electricity for virtually all homes and small businesses within your jurisdiction. CCA allows whole communities to participate in the clean energy economy by ensuring that a greater percentage of electricity is coming from renewable sources. CCA has the potential to simultaneously deliver lower monthly bills and cleaner energy for your constituents. In October 2015, Hastings-on-Hudson passed a CCA Participation Resolution and a CCA Local Law and Resolution, and in March 2016 the Village passed a CCA Renewables Default Resolution. In September 2020, the Village reconfirmed its commitment to the CAA via resolution (see HERE) and again in June 2022 (see HERE).
  • Unified Solar Permit (1 action): The Unified Solar Permit is a standardized permit application designed to streamline the approval process for installing solar in the community. The standardized permit cuts costs by creating a uniform permitting process in municipalities across the State.  In January 2017, Hastings-on-Hudson passed a Unified Solar Permit Resolution.
  • Clean Fleets (2 actions): Clean Fleets is an effort by local governments to invest in alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure while increasing opportunities for constituents to access electric vehicle charging stations. In Hastings-on-Hudson we installed an EV charging station in the SteinSchneider Parking Lot in June of 2019 and we purchased a Nissan Leaf SL Plus for the municipal fleet in March 2021.
  • Climate Smart Communities Certification (CSC) (2 actions): The CSC program provides local governments with a robust framework to guide their climate action and enables high-performing communities to achieve recognition for their leadership. Designed around the CSC pledge elements, the certification program recognizes communities for their accomplishments. In 2020, Hastings-on-Hudson was certified as both a bronze and silver Climate Smart Community (in March and September respectively).
  • Energize NY Finance (1 action): Energize NY Finance, also known as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing, is a program adopted by an eligible local government that allows property owners to pay back the cost of clean energy upgrades to their commercial or non-profit property. Energize NY Finance enables eligible commercially-owned buildings in New York State to secure funds to tackle significant energy upgrades and renewable energy projects. This financing structure is available through the Energy Improvement Corporation (EIC) for projects that aim to install permanent improvements that reduce energy costs in existing buildings. EIC is a local development corporation and a New York State nonprofit established specifically to assist local government and property owners achieve long-term energy savings and/or generate renewable power for use on site. In June 2020, Hastings-on-Hudson passed a Resolution to allow access to Open PACE finance in the Village.
  • New York Stretch (1 action): The New York Stretch Code is an energy code that is more stringent than New York State’s base energy code. The Stretch Energy Code makes environmental and economic sense – it is based on proven technologies, systems, and construction techniques and integrates best practices from programs like ENERGY STAR for homes. It saves energy and money, as it results in less energy use and in reduced operating costs. It increases property values as more home, business owners and tenants look for green and energy efficient buildings. And the Code will also support the Village in achieving energy/GHG reduction goals and will be a pivotal tool in supporting our energy/climate goals. In June 2020, Hastings-on-Hudson passed a Resolution to adopt the New York Stretch Code.
  • Community Campaigns (4 actions): During Earth Month 2021, the Village launched four CEC Community Campaigns: GridRewards™, Community Solar, EnergySmart Homes, and Electric Vehicles. For more information about how each of the campaigns work, as well as information on their benefits and how residents can participate, click HERE. For the GridRewards™ and Community Solar CEC community campaigns 10 people must sign up, and for the EnergySmart Homes and Electric Vehicles campaigns 5 people must sign up. All the campaigns were launched on March 23, 2021. By April 30, 2021,113 people had signed up for GridRewards™ and 29 people had signed up for Community Solar. The Village completed the requirements of the EV and EnergySmart Homes campaigns by year-end 2021. As per NYSERDA, from 2012 to 2021 a total of 206 EVs had been purchased in the Village (click HERE and sort by zip code); 121 EVs were purchased and received an EV rebate in 2021 and of these 73 were purchased after the Charge Up Hastings! campaign was launched (click HERE and sort by zip code/date). The most popular brand of EV purchased was a Tesla. On EnergySmart Homes, during the course of the campaign 23 residents were issued building permits for the purchase and installation of clean heating and cooling devices.
  • Clean Energy Upgrades (1 action): The goal of this action is to achieve a 10 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from municipal buildings. To that end, in October 2021, the Village enrolled its municipal accounts in Community Solar as an anchor subscriber, in partnership with Sustainable Westchester. To date, four Village meters have been enrolled, with an anticipated usage of 287,677 kWh/year.  This represents a 33.3% reduction in GHGs, that in turn will offset 204 Metric Tons of CO2e and save the Village over $7,500 in energy costs, moving us toward cleaner municipal energy.
  • Energy Code Enforcement Training (1 action): In December of 2021, the Village Building Inspector completed the Energy Code Enforcement Training.

To learn more about the CEC Program, see the NYSERDA CEC Website, which includes a scorecard listing all the New York Clean Energy Communities and their current certification status. Most of the High Impact Actions included in the Clean Energy Communities program also satisfy the requirements of one or more certification action under the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program.

If you're interested in learning more about the work being done in the Village on climate change, please email climatesmart@hastingsgov.org