(CONKLIN, NY) Broome County Executive Jason Garnar was joined by County Legislators and members of the Broome County Department of Planning and Economic Development Wednesday to announce Broome County is participating in the New York State Climate Smart Communities program. The program offers municipalities technical assistance, leadership recognition, and funding for implementation of projects to improve resiliency, efficiency of services, and efficiency of infrastructure.
“Our Broome County Departments have already done great work to improve our community’s sustainability, demonstrating our status as a leader in this area,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “Participation in this program allows us to be recognized for that leadership and empowers County staff and officials to continue working toward the common goals of improving efficiency, reducing present and future flood risk, continuing to lead the way in solid waste management, addressing brownfield sites, fostering an innovative economy and supporting agriculture.”
The County has identified several priority projects that are eligible for Climate Smart Communities funding to improve flood resiliency and to upgrade Broome County infrastructure to meet state and federal requirements to improve overall efficiency.
Identified projects include:
- Upgrading HVAC at County facilities to more efficient systems
- Installation of advanced monitoring at County flood control structures
- Drainage improvements in Deposit to mitigate flooding in the Village.
The Climate Smart Communities program provides opportunities to fund a significant portion of project costs. Costs for identified priority projects including the improvements to flood control infrastructure and upgrades to facility cooling systems total nearly $4 million.
Flooding is a concern in Broome County and can endanger our infrastructure, economy and livelihoods, as well as posing harms to local agriculture, and a health threat to county residents.
Broome County has already demonstrated leadership in energy efficiency, waste reduction, community resilience and renewable energy. Investments through the Climate Smart Communities program to improve energy efficiency, resiliency and waste management efficiency may save money for taxpayers and result in more resilient, livable communities and foster a vibrant, innovation-based economy.
The New York State Climate Smart Communities Pledge is comprised of the ten following elements:
- Build a climate-smart community
- Inventory emissions, set goals, a plan for climate action
- Decrease energy use
- Shift to clean, renewable energy
- Use climate-smart materials management
- Implement climate-smart land use
- Enhance community resilience to climate change
- Support a green innovation economy
- Inform and inspire the public
Engage in an evolving process of climate action
