Referred to:  The Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Chairman Cahill and Legislators Corcoran, Criswell, Hewitt, Litts, Maloney and Sperry), The Health, Human Services and Housing Committee (Chair Walter and Legislators Corcoran, Erner, Lopez, Nolan, Petit, and Uchitelle), and The Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee (Chairwoman Greene and Legislators Hansut, Erner, Maloney, and Stewart)

Chairman of the Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee, Brian B. Cahill, and Deputy Chair Herbert Litts, III offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive on behalf of the Department of the Planning; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County has demonstrated its environmental commitment and leadership by achieving Certified Silver status in the New York State Climate Smart Communities Program (CSC) Program; and

WHEREAS, the 2022 CSC Grant Program solicitation, for which municipalities are the only eligible applicants, has a new category to fund renewable energy projects in low-income housing; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County has also demonstrated its commitment to creating new housing in the county through its partnership with Pennrose, utilizing the former Ulster County Jail site to realize a new neighborhood of mixed income, intergeneration, and workforce housing; and

WHEREAS, the County desires to submit an application in conjunction with Pennrose which would entail renewable energy equipment including solar arrays and efficient heat pumps for the project and for which match has been identified from Pennrose and Ulster County is requesting financial assistance from the CSC Grant Program pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law Article 54, Title 15; and

WHEREAS, a grant if awarded would require a resolution of the Ulster County Legislature before any intermunicipal grant agreement between the County and State is executed as well as a contract between Ulster County and Pennrose specific to the grant scope of work and matching funds; and

WHEREAS, Pennrose has indicated its willingness to provide the necessary matching funds; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Planning Department is hereby authorized to submit an online application through the New York State Consolidated Funding Application to the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program for renewable energy at the Golden Hill low-income housing site for up to the category maximum of $2,000,000 with match to come from Pennrose,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture on _______________.

Passed Committee: Health, Human Services and Housing on _______________.

Passed Committee: Energy, Environment and Sustainability on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE