Rockland County Named a Clean Energy Community by NYSERD and a $5,000 Designation Grant

Rockland Daily Staff

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

The four High Impact Actions completed by the county are County Hosted Training - Clean Energy and Your Comprehensive Plan,  County Hosted Training - Overview of the Model Solar Energy Law, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing – Authorize Open C-Pace Locally, and Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) - Projects.

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 lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and weed trimmers, will be purchased to help the County determine how best to transition to using electric equipment for maintaining County grounds.

“Use of electric landscaping equipment will reduce the County’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduce fuel costs, as well as result in health and environmental benefits for County residents and our hardworking employees. We will maximize this grant to prepare for the future at a minimal cost to local taxpayers,” said County Executive Ed Day. “We are committed to completing additional actions in both the Clean Energy Community and Climate Smart Community programs, which will open up access to significant State and Federal grant funding opportunities.”