Referred to: The Energy and Environment Committee (Chairwoman Greene and Legislators Bruno, Criswell, Petit, and Wawro), and The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Archer, Bartels, Haynes, Maio, Parete, Ronk, and Walter)

Chairwoman of the Energy and Environment Committee, Manna Jo Greene, and Deputy Chair Mary Wawro offer the following:

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

WHEREAS, Ulster County has demonstrated its commitment to clean energy by participating in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Program and has earned designation as a Clean Energy Community by completing at least four High Impact Actions, the first County in New York State to achieve the designation.; and

WHEREAS, through its Solarize Ulster Campaign, Ulster County demonstrated completion of the “Community Campaigns – Community Solar” High Impact Action in the CEC program; and

WHEREAS, for completion of this High Impact Action, Ulster County has been awarded a grant through the CEC program for $15,000.00 with no local cost share to support additional clean energy projects; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County completed a detailed energy audit through the NYSERDA FlexTech program that recommended the facility improvement measure of weatherization improvements at both the Carr building (1 Pearl St., Kingston, NY) and the Department of the Environment (17 Pearl St., Kingston, NY), but has not yet completed the weatherization improvements recommended in the audit; and

WHEREAS, the Department of the Environment intends to submit the grant application to utilize the $15,000.00 CEC program grant funds for such weatherization projects; and

WHEREAS, the proposed project will utilize grant funds to complete air sealing and insulation improvements per the recommendations in the NYSERDA energy audit; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Ulster County Legislature is hereby authorized to sign an agreement with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and any amendments thereto, for use of the awarded Clean Energy Communities grant funding; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Director of the Ulster County Department of the Environment is hereby authorized to submit an online application with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for the use of the awarded Clean Energy Communities grant funding,

and move its adoption.

    ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

    AYES:                    NOES:           

Passed Committee: Energy and Environment on________________.

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on ________________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$15,000.00 – ANTICIPATED 2022 APPROPRIATION DOLLARS

$15,000.00 – ANTICIPATED 2022 REVENUE – STATE AID