Narrowsburg News

Jane Luchsinger
Posted 3/1/17

With temperatures reaching close to 60° in February as they did last week, it is difficult to deny the effects of climate change. Over three years ago, the Tusten Town Board voted to take the New …

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Narrowsburg News

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With temperatures reaching close to 60° in February as they did last week, it is difficult to deny the effects of climate change. Over three years ago, the Tusten Town Board voted to take the New York State Climate Smart Community (CSC) pledge, thereby making a commitment to take action on climate change. The CSC Program recognizes and rewards towns in New York for reducing greenhouse gases and implementing clean energy practices. 


Tusten officials have taken this pledge seriously. The Tusten Energy Committee was appointed and the work began. Here are the accomplishments:
• The first step was an energy audit. As a result, our town hall lighting has been upgraded for more efficiency, therefore reducing our greenhouse gasses.
• We are the first municipality in Sullivan County to have a solar array that supplies the energy to power our municipal buildings and facilities.
• We have received grant funding to upgrade additional areas needing improvement as noted in the audit. 


Currently we are in the process of gaining New York State Climate Smart Communities Certification. The certification program is supported by The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and will enable us to compete for funding to further develop additional clean energy projects. 


Nearly one half of Tusten electric use is for streetlights. Because of streetlight restrictions imposed by NYSEG, the power company that owns the streetlights, the Tusten Energy Committee has recommended we replace streetlights with LED lights owned by the town. This will require coordination with NYSEG and funding. Funding opportunities will be available as a result of our Climate Smart Certification. 


We owe a great deal of thanks to our Tusten Energy Committee—Brandi Merolla, Star Hesse, Carol Wingert and Naomi Holoch—for their dedication in making Tusten a clean-energy town. Watch as we continue to make even more sustainable energy changes.

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