Pelham Among Newly Certified 'Climate Smart' Communities

PELHAM, NY — Kicking off Climate Week, New York officials announced 11 more communities have been certified as "Climate Smart," including four in the Hudson Valley, and a fifth that has been in the program since 2016 has been re-certified.

In all, Gov. Kathy Hochul said, 105 New York communities are now certified as Climate Smart Communities for local efforts to meet the economic, social, and environmental challenges posed by climate change.

"Today, as we kick off Climate Week, we announce even more steps towards reaching our aggressive climate agenda goals with the designation of 11 new Climate Smart Communities and the launch of the Climate Friendly Homes Fund," said Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. "I could not be prouder to be part of an administration that takes the effects of climate change so seriously and is taking significant steps to turn things around."

Established in 2009, the interagency Climate Smart Communities program provides guidance and technical support to local governments to take locally driven climate action. The first step to becoming a Climate Smart Community is to register by pledging to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. To date, 364 local governments representing more than 9.4 million New Yorkers adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge. A certification program was launched in 2014.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation's Climate Smart Communities Grant program also supports municipalities by providing 50/50 competitive grant funding to help complete certification actions and implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to extreme weather.

To achieve Climate Smart Community certification, communities accumulate points for planning and implementation actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve community resilience to the worsening impacts of climate change.

In the Hudson Valley, three Westchester County communities and one Dutchess County town are the most recent to meet the criteria:

• Bronxville
• North Salem
• Pelham
• Pleasant Valley

In addition, Hochul recognized four local governments for continued commitment to community climate action, now re-certified by completing additional actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change including the town of Mamaroneck, first certified in 2016.

To see a full list of actions completed by all certified Climate Smart Communities, click here.

Officials also announced Monday that the Community Preservation Corporation was selected to administer Hochul's $250 million Climate Friendly Homes Fund.

Through the fund, awards will be made to owners of multifamily rental properties to carry out an energy audit or needs assessment. Developments containing between five and 50 apartments will be eligible and funding will help identify and pay for improvements that increase energy efficiency and decrease a building's greenhouse gas emissions. These improvements include the electrification of the building's heating and cooling systems, domestic hot water systems, ventilation systems, and upgrades to the building envelope.

Eligibility criteria and more information on the Climate Friendly Homes Fund is available on HCR's website as well as the CPC website, where owners can sign up to receive information on funding eligibility requirements, the application process and additional program updates.