Press Releases
Western New York Region Receives $998,000
By Richard Zink
Jun 26, 2012, 14:28

ALBANY – A coalition of five counties in Western New York, towns and organizations has received an award for more than $998,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to create a comprehensive smart growth plan for regional sustainability. This plan is part of the Cleaner, Greener Communities program, a major environmental initiative announced by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo last year.

The coalition, comprised of representatives from Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara counties, will develop a smart growth plan that encompasses the Western Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) area. Allegany County will lead the planning process for the Western New York region.



The development of a comprehensive regional sustainability plan is the first phase of the Cleaner, Greener Communities program and is intended to provide resources that each New York State region can use to develop its own vision, goals and objectives for a sustainable future, identify actions needed to achieve that future and outline metrics to measure success. Only one award was made in each region of the state.

“The protection and improvement of our environment is not only key to quality of life in Western New York, it can also serve as a driving force for economic development,” said Howard A. Zemsky, Western New York Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair and Managing Partner at Larkin Development Group. “I applaud Governor Cuomo and the Cleaner, Green Communities program.”

“Leveraging our region’s natural beauty and abundant natural resources is a major thrust of our Western New York REDC plan and this award from NYSERDA will help our region realize this critical goal,” said Satish K. Tripathi, Western New York Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chair and President of the University at Buffalo. “Urban revitalization and environmentally sustainable growth strategies go ‘hand-in-hand’ and developing a regional approach will be a great benefit –economically and socially – to our WNY region. I look forward to working with our community to develop and implement our regional sustainable growth strategy.”

“This funding is an excellent opportunity for the Western New York Region to develop a plan that improves environmental quality by reducing air, water and land pollution and improves quality of life through smart growth and sustainable development,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, all New Yorkers will benefit, as the regional plans will examine each region’s available resources and provide a specific vision to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency and renewable energy.”

Fred Sinclair, the Chairman of Allegany County’s Planning and Economic Development Committee had this to say about the sustainability planning initiative. “Allegany County, as Sponsor of the Cleaner, Greener Communities Initiative in the Western New York Region, is well positioned and poised to join in the development of the sustainability strategy. The vision is that the identification and subsequent implementation of specific projects will integrate environmental improvement, energy sustainability and economic development into an industry. The well-established curriculums of SUNY Alfred which teach green technologies and are pioneering sustainable agriculture as well as the research capabilities of Alfred University developments in the energy sector, compliment a strong industrial base and multiple municipal electric authorities, all serving to fuel our keen interest in this initiative.”

“We are thrilled to participate in the Cleaner, Greener Sustainable Planning effort so we can identify ways that Erie County can reduce our carbon emissions and energy usage while also strengthening our local economy,” commented Maria Whyte, Commissioner, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning.



Once the plan is developed, additional funding will be available from the Cleaner, Greener Communities program on a competitive basis to implement projects that support the goals of the plans. Projects must create opportunities for achieving carbon reductions, energy efficiency savings and/or renewable energy deployment while enhancing job creation, economic investment and development consistent with the region’s sustainability and REDC strategic plan.



For further information on the Western New York sustainability planning process, please contact Richard Zink at Southern Tier West, 716-945-5301 or rzink@southerntierwest.org.



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From: Press Office [mailto:Press.Office@exec.ny.gov]
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 12:56 PM
To: Press Office
Subject: GOVERNOR CUOMO AWARDS $10 MILLION UNDER HIS CLEANER, GREENER COMMUNITIES PROGRAM



State of New York | Executive Chamber
Andrew M. Cuomo | Governor
For Immediate Release: June 25, 2012



GOVERNOR CUOMO AWARDS $10 MILLION UNDER HIS CLEANER, GREENER COMMUNITIES PROGRAM

First Phase of $100 Million Program to Incentivize Smart Growth will Create Green Jobs, Improve Energy Efficiency, and Reduce Pollution


Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that all ten New York State Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) regions have been awarded funding through the Cleaner, Greener Communities (CGC) program to develop and implement smart growth plans for regional sustainability.

The $100 million CGC program was a major environmental initiative announced by the Governor in his 2011 State of the State address. By providing competitive grants, the program will reward communities across the State that develop comprehensive regional smart growth plans. The program will increase green jobs, improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution. The Regional Sustainability Planning program, which is the first phase of the CGC program, provides nearly $10 million in funding awarded through a competitive process.

"These regional awards for the Cleaner, Greener Communities program are a major step forward in accelerating New York State towards a sustainable and energy efficient future," said Governor Cuomo. "This year, with the our NY Works program, New York made an unprecedented investment in our state’s infrastructure so that we could create jobs and rebuild our essential infrastructure. These plans will result in green jobs, the development of renewable energy and significantly reduced pollution. This will allow us to build communities that are healthier and more prosperous all across New York."

The plans for each region, which will align with the strategic plan of their Regional Economic Development Council, will outline the region’s vision, goals and objectives for a sustainable future. In addition, the plans will identify activities or projects that will have the greatest impact on reducing air pollution particularly ways to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency and renewable energy development within the regions. Up to $90 million will be available in the second phase of the CGC program for the implementation of plans.

Awards for seven of the regions were announced last December with the remaining three regional winners announced today. Funding of up to $1 million was available for each region in the first phase. Municipalities, acting on behalf of a coalition of counties, towns and organizations in their region, applied through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). The program is administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA, said, "This funding is an excellent opportunity for all ten regions to develop plans that improve the state’s environmental quality by reducing air, water and land pollution and advance our citizens’ quality of life through smart growth principles and sustainable development. Governor Cuomo’s Cleaner, Greener Communities initiative provides a real opportunity for regions to tailor plans for their own resources and needs to invest in a sustainable future for all New Yorkers."

Sustainable development helps communities to use natural, economic and social resources more responsibly in order to preserve them for the future. Smart growth practices include implementing mixed land use, providing varied transportation choices, creating walkable neighborhoods and preserving open space.

Cleaner, Greener Regional Sustainability Planning awards were made to the following:


· Capital Region: City of Albany, $1 million

· Central New York Region: Onondaga County, $1 million

· Finger Lakes Region: Monroe County, $900,000

· Long Island Region: Town of North Hempstead, $800,000

· Mid-Hudson/Westchester Region: Orange County, $865,000

· Mohawk Valley Region: Otsego County, $1 million

· New York City Region: City of New York, $1 million

· North Country Region: Essex County, $1 million

· Southern Tier Region: Tompkins County, $1 million

· Western New York Region: Allegany County, $998,224


For more information on the Cleaner, Greener Communities program, please visit www.nyserda.ny.gov/Cleaner-Greener.

Last year, a total of $785 million was awarded through the CFA for community development and job creation projects consistent with each region’s strategic plans.

To learn more about each Regional Council and their economic development plans, please visit www.nyworks.ny.gov.





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