Southampton Town Earns Clean Energy Community Designation

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town has made great strides in its attempts to embrace sustainability. And now, the town has earned the Clean Energy Community designation for its ongoing commitment to cut costs and reduce energy consumption across the board.

Southampton Town was named a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, or NYSERDA, "recognizing its leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy locally," a release said.

Southampton joins Southold Town, which was the first town on the East End to announce that it had earned the designation, followed by East Hampton Town.

Announced by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo in August, 2016, the $16 million Clean Energy Communities initiative supports local government leaders across the state in the ongoing effort to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable development projects in their communities.

Clean Energy Communities advance the governor’s Reforming the Energy strategy by demonstrating the importance of communities in helping New York reach its Clean Energy Standard of 50 percent of the state’s electricity coming from renewable energy resources by 2030.

The town received the designation for completing four of 10 high-impact clean energy actions identified by NYSERDA as part of the Clean Energy Communities initiative.

The Clean Energy Communities initiative on Long Island is offered in partnership with PSEG Long Island.

“This designation validates our commitment to encourage our residents to become less dependent on fossil fuels and more energy efficient,” said Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman.

“The Town of Southampton serves as a role model for other communities across the state by reducing its energy costs and protecting the environment,” said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. “Communities are central to Governor Cuomo’s fight against climate change and his aggressive energy strategy that seeks to build a cleaner, more sustainable New York.”

“PSEG Long Island is committed to helping communities across Long Island and the Rockaways become more energy efficient,” said Michael Voltz, director of energy efficiency and renewables at PSEG Long Island. “We applaud the Town of Southampton on becoming a Clean Energy Community through NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Initiative program. We look forward to assisting additional communities in the near future.”

To earn the Clean Energy Community designation, Southampton Town completed four high-impact clean energy actions, including adopting a unified solar permit, completing energy code enforcement training in the building department, completing a solarize program, and purchasing an electric vehicle.

Southampton Town Engineer Christine Fetten, the Director of Municipal Works said the designation is an "incredible accomplishment, with the assistance and support of many. I hope this accomplishment is one of many as we move towards a more sustainable Southampton.”

Southampton Town Green Advisory Committee co-chair Dieter von Lehsten agreed. “As a coastal community, the South Fork is particularly sensitive to severe storms and beach erosion. Southampton Town’s actions reduce CO2, deter sea level rise, demonstrate sustainable environmental leadership and reduce operating costs at the same time," she said.

Cities, counties, towns and villages that complete at least four of 10 high-impact clean energy actions are designated Clean Energy Communities and are eligible to apply for funding of up to $250,000 with no local cost share with the option of receiving up to 25 percent paid in advance to support additional clean energy projects, a prior release on the program said.