Awards Support Regional Economic Activity, Accelerate Neighborhood Revitalization through Governor Cuomo’s Cleaner, Greener Communities Initiative
(Long Island, NY) As part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2014 Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) awards, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded support for sustainability projects in Long Island under Governor Cuomo’s Cleaner, Greener Communities, a major statewide initiative to invest in smart growth planning and sustainability.
NYSERDA provided the Cleaner, Greener Communities awards in Long Island for development of a mixed use commercial building adjacent to the Long Island Rail Road Wyandanch Station, for a coalition that plans to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout Long Island, and for installation of electric vehicle charging stations along the Long Island Expressway corridor.
“Communities across the State have told us what they need to move forward toward their sustainability goals under Governor Cuomo’s Cleaner, Greener Communities initiative,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, NYSERDA. “These projects and local plans – based on sustainability plans developed in each region – will help them reduce their energy and environmental impact and increase sustainable development in their neighborhoods.”
Long Island projects receiving support under the latest round include the following:
- Long Island Complete Green Home — This partnership between Malloy College, local governments and not-for-profits plans to promote residential energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout Long Island.
- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations along the Long Island Expressway — Eight Long Island towns and Suffolk County are joining together to create an east-west corridor of electric vehicle charging stations. A feasibility study will determine the best locations to maximize impact, as well as design specifications.
- Wyandanch Rising Building, Wyandanch — This project will construct a three-story, 95,000-square-foot commercial building next to the Long Island Rail Road station. The building is expected to increase employment opportunities in the community. (First announced in Governor Cuomo’s December 11 REDC press release)
Cleaner, Greener Communities provided additional support for local planning and zoning initiatives in the region, including the Smithtown Indoor Organic Waste Processing Facility Code Amendments and the East Hampton Decentralized Resilient Energy Assessment and Management Plan.
Applications for Cleaner, Greener Communities support were submitted through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) and were chosen through a competitive process. Cleaner, Greener Communities is providing $30 million statewide during this round of funding and is a component of the $709.2 million in CFA projects announced by Governor Cuomo on December 11.
Under Cleaner, Greener Communities, each of 10 regions across the State developed sustainability plans in 2013, addressing energy, transportation, land use and livable communities, waste management, water management economic development and agriculture/forestry. Those plans are blueprints for improving regional sustainability. The projects receiving support are in line with regional plan objectives and the objectives of their REDC.
The Cleaner, Greener Communities program also will help build market capacity to encourage communities to engage in sustainability strategies without the need for ongoing support.
Cleaner, Greener Communities is funded through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s first market-based regulatory program in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI is a cooperative effort among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector.
The REDC initiative is a key component of Governor Cuomo’s transformative approach to State investment and economic development. The councils are public-private partnerships composed of local experts and stakeholders from business, academia, local government, and non-governmental organizations. The Regional Councils have redefined the way New York invests in jobs and economic growth by putting in place a community-based, bottom up approach and establishing a competitive process for State resources. After three rounds of the REDC process, over $2 billion has been awarded to more than 2,200 job creation and community development projects consistent with each region’s strategic plans, supporting the creation or retention of more than 130,000 jobs. For more information on the Regional Councils, please visit regionalcouncils.ny.gov.
About NYSERDA
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975. To learn more about NYSERDA’s programs and funding opportunities, visit http://nyserda.ny.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram.
