Referred to: The Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee (Chairwoman Greene and Legislators Hansut, Levine, Maloney, and Stewart), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Criswell, Roberts and Ronk)

Chairwoman of the Energy, Environment and Sustainability Committee, Manna Jo Greene, and Deputy Chair Gina Hansut offer the following:

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

WHEREAS, the Budget Department seeks legislative approval to submit an application for funding for a Climate Justice Fellow under Program Opportunity Notice (P.O.N.) No. 4772 to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); and

WHEREAS, a climate justice fellow would be responsible for supervising the Climate Corps, assisting in the development and implementation of the Climate Justice Plan, and assisting in county-wide initiatives aligned with Executive Order 1; and

WHEREAS, NYSERDA’s Climate Justice Fellowship P.O.N No. 4772 will fund the fellow’s salary as well as professional development training/mentoring and/or wrap-around services with a total maximum award of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) per fellow; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Climate Corps is budgeted to continue in 2024; and

WHEREAS, the Budget Department seeks legislative approval to submit for reimbursement of intern salaries under P.O.N. No. 4000 in July of 2024 for the Ulster County Climate Corps Program; and

WHEREAS, NYSERDA’s New York State Clean Energy Internship Program P.O.N. No. 4000 provides funding to eligible clean energy businesses, organizations, and local municipalities hiring interns to perform meaningful work in the clean energy sector, at a rate of seventy five percent (75%) for up to 7 interns wages, for a total maximum award of Twenty Four Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety Dollars ($24,990.00); and

WHEREAS, these funding sources will benefit projects that align with achieving Ulster County’s Climate Agenda; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby authorizes a grant application to the To the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Climate Justice Fellowship P.O.N. No. 4772 in the amount of Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00); and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby authorizes a grant application to the submission for reimbursement of wages through the New York State Clean Energy Internship Program P.O.N. No. 4000 in the amount of Twenty Four Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety Dollars ($24,990.00); and, be it further

RESOLVED,  that the County Executive is hereby authorized to accept and administer the Climate Justice Fellowship P.O.N. No. 4772 and New York State Clean Energy Internship Program P.O.N. No. 4000 awards; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the County Executive is hereby authorized to execute any required applications or agreements, and any related amendments, to accept the funding agreement with NYSERDA, 

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                   NOES:       

Passed Committee: Energy, Environment and Sustainability on ______________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$40,000.00 – ANTICIPATED 2024 STATE REVENUE DOLLARS 

(P.O.N. 4772 AWARD)

$24,990.00 – ANTICIPATED 2024 STATE REVENUE DOLLARS 

(P.O.N 4000)