Climate Committee
Climate Committee
Embedded Files
Come to a meeting if you’d like to help address climate change right here at our Town Hall in Spencertown!
The Second Wednesday of Each Month at 7PM.
Find us online at austerlitzclimateaction.org
Climate Smart Community - Bronze Certified
The Town of Austerlitz is proud to announce we are now a bronze certified Climate Smart Community. One of only three towns in Columbia County, we are proud to show if we can do it, any town can.
*Adopted Town of Austerlitz Climate Action Plan 2024.pdf2.12 MB
Austerlitz Climate Committee Background
Formed by the Town Board on August 17, 2017, the Austerlitz Climate Committee serves in an advisory capacity to the Town Board. Consisting of volunteers and Town Board members, the Climate Committee also supports the board in the implementation of its climate mitigation and adaptation goals. This means reducing the town's contribution to climate change, as well as preparing for the effects of climate change locally.
The Two Main Objectives of the Climate Committee:
First, to identify ways in which town operations might reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The goal of the committee is to identify emission reduction opportunities and ways in which these actions could be funded.
Second, to identify ways in which town residents, businesses and agriculture might reduce their greenhouse emissions. Any recommendations from this objective would be advisory only. The committee is not chartered with mandating any action to the town or its residents. In addition, no changes to our zoning laws are expected from these efforts.
Austerlitz Climate Committee, Our Mission
We commit to protect and enhance our town’s resources - environmental and economic.
We serve in an advisory capacity, making recommendations to the Town Board.
We work to encourage, enact, and quantify local efforts to address climate change, its causes and the effects on our municipality.
We seek to empower Austerlitz residents in the face of ecological stress.
We invite meaningful action toward adaptation and prevention.
We offer support. Our goal is to assist the town in building a more resilient and livable future.
CLIMATE COMMITTEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2024
Awarded $100,000 by NYSERDA. Austerlitz achieved over 5,000 points in the Clean Energy Communities program. The town has decided to use the $100,000 to purchase an EV truck for the Highway Department as well as install an EV charging station for public use and Highway Garage
Awarded $1,500 grant from Berkshire Taconic Foundation to help fund potential Planning Board, CAC and or Code Enforcement training opportunities toward interpretation and implementation of the Natural Resources Inventory and anticipated zoning update from the town’s Comprehensive Plan.
Awarded $5,000 grant from NYSERDA to create a native plant demonstration garden in the town park
Awarded $10,000 grant from the Clean Energy Communities program for our EV, HVAC outreach campaigns which has funded the purchase of electric lawn mower and electric landscaping equipment for the highway department
Recertified as Bronze in the Climate Smart Communities Program
Hosted Repair Cafe with Columbia NE Repair Cafe columbianerepaircafe@gmail.com
What We're Working On Now
Applying for Silver Certification
Waste Reduction Campaign( can we link to the Waste Reduction Campaign section?)
Facilitate and fund NRI education/training for town committee members (Taconic-Berkshire Grant)
Conduct RFP for purchase/installation of new EV charging station
Assist DPW w/ purchase of 1st EV Truck
Demonstration Garden
CLIMATE COMMITTEE ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2020-2023
Passed the 1st Climate Action Plan for Government Operations in Columbia County in June 2023!!!
Completed a NYSERDA clean heating and cooling campaign earning the town $5,000 in grant funds
Completed a energy study of the town highway garage earning the town $10,000 in grant funds
Built the Austerlitz Town hall with new all-electric air source heat pumps and installed LED bulbs in all interior light fixtures, installed LEDs in highway street lights
Installed solar panels on Town garage in 2020
Installed electric car charging station in Town Hall parking lot.
Planted 25 seedlings along the stream in the Austerlitz town park (behind Austerlitz Fire House) with DEC’s Buffer in a Bag program.
Became a certified NYSERDA Clean Energy Community (CEC) (2019)
Completed a municipal buildings energy benchmarking analysis, updated annually!
Made compost bins available to residents
Launched a solarize Austerlitz campaign
Partnered with New Lebanon, and Chatham in several Repair Cafes to offer residents the opportunity to fix items in their household which would otherwise end up in a landfill
Public Event series "Second Sundays For Sustainability"
Leading in the Capital Region in the Clean Energy Communities program with over 3000 points!
What We're Working On Now
Community Wide Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Climate Action Plan
Sustainability elements for the town's comprehensive planning and natural resources inventory processes
Grant writing to support implementation of the Town's Climate Action Plan for Government Operations
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning with Cornell Cooperative Extension
Electric Vehicle Community Campaign.
Repairs by Year- Repair Cafe
Repairs by Year- Repair Cafe.pdfRepair Cafe Data- repairs, visits
Repair Cafe Data- repairs, visits.pngPage updated
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