Climate Smart Communities (CSC) is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. As a town completes actions that help mitigate climate change at the local level, they are able to progress through three levels of CSC certification: bronze, silver, and gold.

The Town of Clinton created a Climate Smart Community Task Force in 2018, and the Town Board adopted the CSC pledge in the spring of 2021, officially registering us as a Climate Smart Community.

The CSC Task Force meets monthly to pursue goals that will qualify the town for the first level, Bronze Certification. You can follow their progress here.

Goals of the Task Force

The goals of the CSC Task Force is to develop a strategy and work plan for establishing a baseline for the town’s current emissions to:

• Recommend ways to reduce emissions

• Identify strategies for increasing energy efficiency

• Suggest ways to incorporate these strategies into the town’s economic development and planning efforts

Benefits for the Town of Clinton

In addition to the environmental benefits of reducing carbon emissions, becoming a Climate Smart Community can help the Town in many ways.

• Reduce energy costs can reduce town taxes

• Receive state and federal assistance in adopting low-carbon technologies

• Secure grants to add more solar panels to the Highway Department Salt Shed and the Town complex on Centre Road

• Cut federal and state taxes for individuals through solar credits/rebates

• Attract economic growth by enhancing the Town’s reputation as an environmental leader

• Improve air and water quality

• Increase energy independence and security

• Provide an opportunity for residents to use Clinton’s collective buying power and scale to provide 100% NYS-generated renewable electricity supply and services aligned with our needs via participation in the Hudson Valley Community Power CCA.

• Enhance the community’s reputation as an environmental leader

Why Now?

According to NASA, 97% of scientists agree that man-made greenhouse gasses are very likely triggering the dramatic changes in weather- and climate-related events that we are seeing today. The evidence that indicates we’re in trouble is growing:

• Global temperature is rising

• Oceans are getting warmer

• Ice sheets are shrinking

• Glaciers are retreating

• Snow cover is decreasing

• Sea level is rising

• Arctic sea ice is declining

• Extreme events (floods, storms, etc.) are increasing in frequency

• Ocean acidification is increasing

We have about a decade left before reaching a tipping point from which our precious planet’s health may never recover.

Every country, state, town, and citizen needs to work urgently to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save our planet for our children and grandchildren. The Town of Clinton is proud to join the Climate Smart Communities Initiative.