Two Schuyler County communities are now Bronze-certified Climate Smart Communities according to New York State.
The town of Hector received its first certification from the state for taking meaningful steps to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The village of Montour Falls was re-certified as a Climate Smart community by completing additional actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The town of Lodi, in Seneca County, also received bronze certification.
Tompkins County was recertified silver and has received funding through various grants, including the DEC Climate Smart Communities Grant program. Established in 2016, this 50/50 matching grant program supports municipalities in completing certification actions and implementing projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Tompkins County received a $355,000 Climate Smart Communities grant that year for the county’s food waste transfer station construction as well as Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle Program awards in 2022, 2019, and 2016 for a total of $92,500.
“New York State applauds the work of local communities facing the climate crisis head-on through the implementation of policies and plans that benefit local residents, create green jobs, and help build a stronger, more resilient Empire State,” Governor Hochul said. “It is crucial to do everything we can to combat climate change, and I thank my partners not only in the state, but in our neighborhoods for making these smart communities a reality. For our children, we must leave the earth better than it was when we inherited it, and with work like this we certainly are.”
The Montour Falls Certification report can be reviewed here:
The Hector Certification report can be reviewed here:
