Bedford Becomes 1st In State With 70 Percent Emission Reduction

BEDFORD, NY — The Town of Bedford has become the first community in the state to track, report and verify a 70 percent community-wide greenhouse gas emission reduction, according to Bedford 2020. The nonprofit organization said the milestone far exceeds its initial target of 20 percent.

The Town of Bedford adopted a Climate Action Plan in 2010 that set an aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 20 percent below its 2004 baseline by 2020 for municipal and community operations.

Bedford 2020 made the announcement during a press conference held Wednesday at Bedford Town Hall attended by town, county and state officials, as well as leaders of civic and environmental entities. The organization said the target was reached and surpassed three years ahead of schedule.

Ellen Rouse Conrad, co-president and co-founder of Bedford 2020, said the achievement was thrilling.

“When we announced our goal in 2010, it was visionary, even daring, to propose a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020," she said. “It is the result of hard work by the entire community: elected officials, our partnering organizations, the commitment of our citizens, business leaders, students and religious leaders.”

According to the data generated by ICLEI, a global network of more than 1,750 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development, and analyzed by consulting firm VHB, by implementing initiatives in four action areas — energy, transportation, waste and recycling and water and land — Bedford decreased its GHG emissions by a staggering 70 percent.

Midge Iorio, executive director of Bedford 2020, said the organization is a replicable model for New York State and beyond.

“We have shown that tackling the impact of Climate Change can be done and can be done without disruption or economic loss,” she said. “In fact, all of our actions have helped save money as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Within the energy sector, the Community Choice Aggregation program, which allows municipalities to make bulk purchases of electricity for all residents and small businesses, had a particular impact. As part of that program, Bedford chose a 100 percent renewable energy supply for its bulk energy contract.

Community Choice Aggregation has now expanded to 27 Westchester County municipalities, and was just one of a number of pilot programs championed by Bedford 2020 that contributed to the dramatic reduction in the town’s emissions. Bedford 2020’s initial program, Energize Bedford, allows qualified homeowners to receive a free or reduced cost energy assessment revealing opportunities for energy efficiency upgrades. Lead by the Town of Bedford, a consortium of northern Westchester towns received a $2.5 million grant in 2010 from the U.S. Department of Energy and NYSERDA. Bedford created a pilot energy efficiency program that was later replicated in Northern Westchester and subsequently expanded statewide as Energize NY. In Bedford, this program has led to energy upgrades in more than 200 homes so far, saving homeowners nearly $400,000 annually.

Bedford 2020 has also supported and advocated for programs including a campaign urging residents of Bedford and Mount Kisco to utilize solar energy, the creation of a Single Stream Waste Recycling program, the purchase of the town’s municipal fleet of electric vehicles and the conversion of municipal lighting to LED.

“Over the past decade, our world has changed,” Conrad said. “The climate crisis demands immediate and comprehensive action, much more than 20 percent GHG emission reduction. The challenge for Bedford 2020 is to use the lessons learned over the past 10 years to create a new paradigm – working with elected officials, policy makers, environmental leaders and our partners and supporters to address energy efficiency, elimination of fossil fuel use, 100 percent renewable energy and protection of our natural resources.”

Bedford 2020, which was founded in 2010, is a grassroots nonprofit committed to reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change.

Find and “Like” Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.