Senate Resolution No. 2222

BY: Senator METZGER

COMMENDING Orange County upon the occasion of
being named a Certified Climate Smart Community

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those
communities within the State of New York whose focus and intent is to
promote conservation education and to encourage the appreciation and
understanding of the environment as a whole; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Orange County upon the occasion of being named a Certified
Climate Smart Community; and

WHEREAS, Certified Climate Smart Communities serve as models for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience; they
also support New York State's Green New Deal and nation-leading goals to
achieve a Carbon Free Electricity System by 2040, and 85 percent
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; and

WHEREAS, New York's Climate Smart Community (CSC) program is jointly
sponsored by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC),
the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Department of State, Department of Health, Department of Transportation,
and the Department of Public Service; the CSC program helps local
governments reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing
climate, while offering free technical assistance, grants, and rebates
for electric vehicles; and

WHEREAS, Since 2014, New York State has designated 37 Certified
Climate Smart Communities, one of which is Orange County; on September
26, 2019, the county was one of 16 local governments to be recognized
for successfully meeting Climate Smart criteria as climate leaders
today; the county has enacted bold policies to address climate change
and build a clean energy economy at a local level; and

WHEREAS, Some of these policies include: HVAC upgrades, energy
benchmarking for government buildings, green building standard for
government buildings, fleet inventory, solar energy installation and
power purchase agreement for renewables; and

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon all citizens to recognize and applaud
the efforts of local governments and communities such as Orange County
which work tirelessly on behalf of protecting our natural surroundings
for the benefit of present and future generations of New Yorkers; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Orange County upon the occasion of being named a Certified
Climate Smart Community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Orange County.