SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. — North Country municipalities are invited to participate in a grant program designed to help them save energy and reduce costs by implementing clean-energy projects. 

The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) will be coordinating the newly launched round of the Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program throughout the North Country region. ANCA is an independent, nonprofit corporation that works to promote economic development across a 14-county region of Northern New York, with a focus on entrepreneurship, local agriculture, and clean energy. Since 1955, ANCA has leveraged the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars into key sectors that drive sustainable local economic development. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) on Jan. 26 announced the launch of the new CEC Leadership Round as part of New York’s broader climate and clean-energy agenda. ANCA’s energy circuit riders — defined as long-standing residents of the North Country who are public facilitators, researchers, technical experts, and builders — will be providing free technical assistance and consulting services to North Country governments interested in participating.

“There is a solid foundation built on ANCA’s involvement in round one of the Clean Energy Communities program, and the next round allows us to be nimble and responsive to more North Country communities interested in participating. It’s a win-win,” said Jerrod Bley, director of ANCA’s clean-energy program. “We are eager to help our hard-working local leaders take advantage of everything that the Leadership Round has to offer.”

ANCA’s clean-energy program has been offering free technical assistance to municipalities for six years, the organization said.

ANCA is part of a regional group of outreach coordinators that NYSERDA selected, which is headed by the Albany–based Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC) to implement the “Leadership Round in the North Country.” This round will help more cities, counties, towns, and villages join more than 300 local governments statewide that have already been designated as “clean-energy communities.” 

All eligible communities can participate in the new round without local cost share and regardless of previous participation in the program.

“We’re happy to have ANCA on board again for this round of the program,” Todd Fabozzi, CDRPC’s director of sustainability, said. “Their clean-energy team has established strong relationships with North Country municipalities over the years, and they have the programmatic knowledge and community networks to help CEC succeed in this rural region.”

How the program works

To earn CEC designation, each community must complete four high-impact actions intended to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, save taxpayer dollars, and improve quality of life for communities. 

Additional funding is included for “disadvantaged” communities through the Leadership Round in support of the goal of “increasing access to clean energy and sustainable infrastructure to all end-users,” in New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, per the ANCA release.

Nancy Bernstein and Jennifer Perry, ANCA energy circuit riders, will be joined by a new team member to serve as CEC coordinators in the North Country region, ANCA said. The coordinators are currently informing municipalities about the program and are ready to assist eligible communities in completing high-impact actions, becoming designated CEC communities, and accessing grant funds for clean-energy projects. 

ANCA will work in partnership with organizations across New York to implement the statewide program, including CDRPC, the Hudson Valley Regional Council, and the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, as well as two subcontractors who will provide technical assistance. 

Round one of the CEC program, which wrapped up in 2020, resulted in 20 designated communities in the North Country implementing 108 “high-impact,” clean-energy actions. Over $1.7 million in grant funds were awarded to support clean-energy projects throughout the region. 

During the first round of the CEC program, Lewis County used grant funds for LED (light-emitting diode) lighting upgrades and an electric vehicle for the county’s fleet.

“Lewis County is excited to build upon its prior CEC designation and advance development that balances community, economic and environmental sustainability,” Larry Dolhof, Lewis County board chairman, said. “For round two of the program, we are committed to a county-wide approach that supports our villages and towns achieving designation, energy savings and emissions reductions.”