Embedded Files
Initiatives
Initiatives
Grants in 2023-2025
● 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
● Awarded $10,000 grant from NYSERDA which paid for an energy audit of the town highway garage and heat pumps for the town history center. Funds from this grant combined with a previously awarded $20,000 grant were used to purchase electric landscaping equipment, for the highway department.
● Awarded annual grant of $10,000 by Scout Foundation to pay for CSC Coordinator, one of two paid coordinators in Columbia County
Town of Austerlitz
● Recertified as Bronze in the Climate Smart Community, attaining 65 additional points by accomplishing 7 additional actions in the Climate Smart Communities program
● Updated benchmarking of government buildings, which earned us a no-cost NYSERDA energy study for the Spencertown Academy building
● ICLEI membership—Local Governments for Sustainability to work on a Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and design of a Community Climate Action Plan.
Engaged in ICLEI-led Climate Vulnerability Assessment.
● Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (GHGI) was completed, a snapshot of all emissions generated within the bounds of the Town of Austerlitz, including residential and commercial energy, transportation, and waste.
● The Town of Austerlitz Comprehensive Plan includes several significant “green” modifications, which will guide future town policy and law. Visit our website for more details. https://austerlitzclimateaction.org/about/
● County-wide Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan with CCE-Columbia Greene adopted in March 2024
● Columbia County’s first Climate Action Plan for Government Operations adopted, setting the town on a path to reach CLCPA targets and operate at net zero by 2050.
● Planted 25 seedlings along the stream in the Austerlitz town park (behind Austerlitz Fire House) with DEC’s Buffer in a Bag program.
● Installed solar panels on Town garage in 2020.
● Installed electric car charging station in Town Hall parking lot.
● Earned NYSERDA Certified Clean Energy Community (CEC) designation in 2019.
● Incorporated all-electric air source heat pumps in new Austerlitz Town Hall
● Installed LED bulbs in all interior light fixtures and in highway street lights
Public communication and education
● 2025 Waste Reduction Campaign
● Collaboration with local nonprofit and community-based organizations like Clean Energy Hub, Capital District Regional Planning Council, Partners for Climate Action, Columbia County Climate Smart Task Force, local CSC groups, and Zero Waste Groups
● CURE 100 App Climate action website that enables residents to assess their carbon footprint and pledge to reach net zero by 2040.
● Launched an electric vehicle purchase campaign in April 2024 encouraging residents to purchase electric vehicles
● Clean Heating and Cooling outreach campaign encouraging residents to switch to heat pumps, leading to 16 new heat pump installations by residents
● Repair Cafes- 16 Repair events with Columbia NE Repair Cafe, a collaboration with Towns of Chatham, New Lebanon, Canaan, and Village of East Nassau
● Sponsored October 13, 2023, program at Spencertown Academy on Climate Change: The Activists Among us
● Sponsored June 24, 2024, Energy Reduction Workshop
● Distributed composting bins to interested residents
● Solarize Austerlitz campaign
● We use the Town website, Austerlitz Climate Action website and Facebook to publicize programs and to provide public education.
2025 Goals
● Achieve Silver Certification
● Waste Reduction Outreach Campaign
● Battery and electronics collections
● Campaign to reduce single-use plastic
● Educational Series: The forests of Austerlitz
● CARP- Climate Adaptation & Resilience Plan
Austerlitz_Benchmarking Annual Report.docx.pdfAusterlitz CARP 2024.pdfCARP Appendix_Austerlitz (1).pdfAusterlitz - PE9 Education & Engagement.pdfCommunityGHGInventorySummaryReport June 2024.pdfTown of Austerlitz Climate Action Progress Report.pdfClimate Smart Adaptation and Resiliance Plan-2024.pdfPage updated
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