The Village of Montour Falls now owns and operates three electric vehicles. The first was placed into service for use by the Public Safety Department; the second is assigned to the Department of Public Works; and now, the third is assigned to the Water Department. All three were acquired through grant funding by meeting clean energy action goals.
The goals were achieved through actions completed by the Montour Falls Sustainability Committee and village staff. The village’s actions were rewarded with funding for addressing energy reduction and the government’s carbon footprint.
While the “We’ve never done it that way before” mentality is typical among some bureaucratic institutions, such as governmental bodies, Montour Falls Mayor James Ryan says that is not the case in his village.
“Red tape, onerous regulations, unnecessary systems, unfunded compliance, and all other forms of bureaucracy can drain the life out of local government. I meet this head-on,” said Ryan. “I am proud of the team I have assembled and the progress we have made as a Clean Energy and Climate Smart Community.”
The cost of operating the village is challenged every day by rising energy prices, said Ryan, who added: “The Village looks for practical ways to reduce costs, including through the electrification of the municipal fleet. By taking a holistic approach to reducing carbon emissions, the village has found ways to both reduce its carbon footprint and save money on behalf of residents and businesses.”
Montour Falls is the regional Climate Smart Communities leader, especially for small municipalities, Ryan noted.
“My hope is that our journey will be an example and inspiration for others,” he said. “Small creative and consistent actions can have big positive impacts today and well into the future. Stay tuned to see what we have planned next!”
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