Honor Climate Smart Orange County

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.