The concept that it’s a good idea for municipalities to move toward sustainability is spreading. In Sullivan County, as the chairman of the county legislature, Scott Samuelson, writes in the county’s Climate Action Plan, the process “began in 2005 with the creation of the Sullivan 2020 initiative and continued in 2007 with the County’s Green Vision Statement,” and led to a number of achievements such as the installation of an impressive solar array behind the Robert B. Travis Building in Liberty.

The county plans a number of further green initiatives, such as two more solar installations, the energy retrofitting of county-owned buildings and incorporating hybrid vehicles into the county’s fleet. The county government was the first municipality in Sullivan to sign on to the Climate Smart Communities Pledge (CSC), a statewide initiative to help municipalities go green.

After that, the towns of Bethel, Cochecton, Highland, Lumberland and Tusten took the pledge. Most recently the Town of Delaware also signed on, and the council there recently appointed a committee to oversee the implementation of the goals of the pledge. The county and the towns have been guided and assisted in their CSC efforts by the Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development (SASD).

Some local officials support the pledge’s aim of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and in so doing reducing some of the most extreme impacts of global climate change, while others are motivated by a desire to save the public tax dollars. But whatever the motivation, it is a positive development that six of Sullivan County’s 15 towns have joined the county in the movement.

The CSC program is jointly sponsored by six state agencies, including the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Department of State, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation and the Public Service Commission. There are 10 steps to becoming a Climate Smart Community, which include adopting the pledge to reduce GHG and preparing to deal with “unavoidable climate change.”

The upfront costs of such projects as solar installations and energy retrofits for public buildings continue to deter some communities from adopting the CSC Pledge, but the DEC says the program is designed to help take advantage of grant money to pay for the projects.

Information on the DEC website (www.dec.ny.gov/energy/76483.html) says, “Projects that promote energy and resource efficiency most likely will save municipalities money in the long run. However, short-term barriers such as municipal budget constraints and debt limits, lack of technical expertise or of staff time to plan or implement projects can impede even money-saving projects. To help overcome these barriers, communities can learn about best practices and tools (and often can seek funding) through state and federal agencies, and through non-governmental organizations such as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives Local Governments for Sustainability.

“Technical and financial assistance are available to help local governments manage energy use and reduce GHG emissions. Financial evaluation tools can help local planners calculate the cost savings from proposed projects. Innovative financing strategies, such as tax-exempt municipal lease-purchase agreements, energy performance contracts and funding through a local utility or state agency can help communities overcome financial barriers to implementing a local action plan.”

The DEC maintains that in the long run, the CSC can save taxpayer dollars by reducing the costs of energy and improving the efficiency of municipal operations. It also says the program increases energy independence and security, writing, “The cheapest energy is energy that is not used. When a community lowers its energy consumption, it becomes less vulnerable to restrictions in foreign energy sources, and keeps more of its energy dollars within the local or regional economy.”

The DEC also says that communities that adopt the pledge demonstrate leadership. “Each Climate Smart Community joins the state’s most forward-thinking municipalities in active climate protection. Climate Smart Communities benefit from the experience and knowledge of communities with mature programs and, in turn, help other communities to get started. The CSC Pledge demonstrates that local government is acting to protect the future of its citizens and of coming generations, reassures concerned citizens and invites everyone to join in doing something about climate change.”

The result, the DEC concludes, is that communities that commit to the pledge will be better positioned for future economic growth than other communities. “Green technologies generate more jobs per dollar than conventional fuel technologies, and these dollars are more likely to be retained in the local economy. According to the American Solar Energy Society, the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors have the potential to generate up to 37 million jobs by 2030—more than 17% of all anticipated employment in the nation.”

There are 144 communities in the state that have adopted the CSC Pledge, including seven in Sullivan County. We commend the municipalities here that have signed on and urge the remaining nine towns and the five villages to consider joining the movement.