Grants For Climate Action

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Climate Smart Communities Grant Program

The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant program was established in 2016 to provide grants to cities, towns, villages, and counties of the State of New York for eligible climate change mitigation, adaptation, and planning and assessment projects.

Download the CSC Grants Fact Sheet (PDF) for an overview of the program.

Funds are available for two broad project categories - implementation and certification. The first project category supports implementation projects related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (mainly outside the power sector) and climate change adaptation. The second supports planning and assessment projects aligned with Climate Smart Communities certification actions.

Round 8 of the CSC Grant Program is CLOSED.

For details on project types, requirements, and eligibility, see the 2024 Request for Applications (PDF)

Eligibility:

  • All municipalities, defined as a county, city, town, village, or borough (referring only to Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island) within the State of New York are eligible to apply to the CSC Grant program. Political subdivisions such as municipal corporations, school districts, district corporations, boards of cooperative educational services, fire districts, public benefit corporations, industrial development authorities, and similar organizations are not eligible to apply, however, may apply in partnership with an eligible lead municipality. See request for application for details.
  • Municipalities need not be a registered or certified as a Climate Smart Community to apply for a grant.
  • Applicant municipalities must be registered in the New York Statewide Financial System Grants Management System 

​Application:

  • Applications are accepted only through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA).
  • The deadline for the 2024 round is July 31, 2024.
  • Climate Smart Grants Q&A (PDF)
  • 2024 CFA Program Application Questions (PDF)
  • All eligible applicants must complete a project work plan and budget using the templates linked below and complete the sexual harassment prevention certification form and the Executive Order 16 form as part of the application process and upload the documents to the CFA. Excel and Word versions maybe requested by emailing [email protected]​​
  • ​ALL applicants must submit a resolution authorizing the application. Applications without such a resolution will be deemed ineligible.
  • Pursuant to the requirements of Title 15 of the Environmental Protection Fund (Environmental Conservation Law [ECL] §54-1501 et seq.), the grantee must own the property upon which the proposed development, improvement, restoration, and/or rehabilitation project will be implemented, or obtain a climate change mitigation easement (CCME) from the owner of the project site or a DEC approved agreement from a government entity not legally authorized to enter into a CCME. If the applicant does not own the property upon which the proposed project will be implemented, the applicant is required to submit a landowner agreement at the time of application as follows:
    • If the property owner is another municipality, submit a certified resolution by the municipal property owner in support of the project indicating agreement to enter into a CCME with the applicant.
    • If the property owner is not a municipality, submit a notarized written statement from the property owner in support of the project indicating agreement to enter into a CCME with the applicant.
    • If the property is owned by a government entity that is not legally authorized to execute a CCME, the applicant must submit written permission for such use from the authorized representative of the government entity indicating that it will enter an agreement with the applicant.
  • ​Projects involving a partnership between two or more municipalities, or a municipality and a non-municipal entity, must submit, at the time of application, letters or other written agreements, signed by all parties, substantiating the collaboration and detailing the responsibilities, roles, and financial and in-kind match contributions of each party.

Additional Information:

Land Acquisition Toolkit

Recipients of Climate Smart Communities grant funding to acquire land for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects must complete the necessary documentation to receive approval for land purchases identified in their application work plan. To aid with the development of these documents, DEC has developed the following standards and guidelines for awardees to use.

For applications that contain land value as match:

All land value to be used as match must have been acquired before grant application. The following documents are required at the time of application:

  • map identifying the property, including adjacent roads and section-block-lot number
  • current appraisal report (preferably within 1 year) of the application date
  • copy of the recorded deed conveying title

The deed recording will need to have the "Notice of Grant" language recorded against the subject property and a certified copy submitted to the DEC.

For applications that contain land acquisition as grant funded, the following documents are required at time of application:

  • Map identifying the property, including adjacent roads, section-block-lot number
  • Narrative description of property.
  • Legal description of property.
  • Narrative description of public access, forestry management, wetland management, flood infrastructure (natural [e.g., dune] and engineered) maintenance, or other climate mitigation or adaptation management or maintenance protocol to occur on the property.
  • Documentation that federal, State, and local taxes and fees are up to date and paid in full.
  • Provisional purchase agreement, if available,
    OR, if the property owner is another municipality, a certified resolution by the municipal property owner in support of the project indicating agreement to convey the real property to the applicant.
    OR, if the property owner is not a municipality, a notarized written statement from the property owner in support of the project indicating an agreement to convey the real property to the applicant.
  • Additional information or documentation as determined by DEC on a case-by-case basis.
  • The budget detail must estimate the value of the land being acquired for each parcel(s), transactional costs for each parcel(s), staff salaries devoted to or connected to the project or program, restoration costs, contractual costs, and travel cost. Applications that do not clearly detail costs associated with a land acquisition project or detail costs that do not provide a good value as it applies to achieving climate change adaptation and mitigation will not be eligible.
  • Monitoring and enforcement protocol. Applicants are required to submit detailed protocols to demonstrate proper enforcement and monitoring of properties acquired with funding through this grant opportunity. Applicants that do not upload a detailed property enforcement and monitoring protocol with an online application will be deemed ineligible for funding. The protocol must include, but is not limited to, the following information:
    • Monitoring Procedure
    • Frequency (e.g., annual)
    • Type of monitoring (e.g., boundary survey, encroachment, dumping)
    • Monitoring documentation (e.g., updated site photos, maps)
    • Parties responsible for monitoring (e.g., staff, volunteers, contractor)
    • Enforcement Procedure
    • Violation definitions (e.g., minor, major)
    • Potential violation response
    • Violation documentation
    • Resolving violations

The deed recording will need to have the "Notice of Grant" language recorded against the subject property and a certified copy submitted to the DEC.

Additional Information and Requirements for Post Award Land Acquisition as Grant Funded prior to closing.

Standards for Real Property Appraisal. Grantees must ensure the property appraisal meets these standards.(PDF)

Definitions of Common Appraisal Terms (PDF)

Code of Practice for Land Surveys adopted by the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors. Surveys must be in accordance with the Code of Practice for Land Surveys adopted by the New York State Association of Land Surveyors.

Survey Documentation and Requirements (PDF)

Survey Map Checklist (PDF)

Map Title Block Template (PDF)

Map Surveyor Certification Template (PDF)

Environmental Site Assessment Checklist (PDF)

Fee Title Requirements Checklist (PDF)

Fee Title 'Notice of Grant' Deed Restrictions

DEC reserved the right to request any additional information or documentation regarding land acquisition during the application process.

If the acquired property is used for activities which interfere with the accomplishment of approved climate change adaptation or mitigation purposes, the violating activities must cease, and any resulting adverse effects must be remedied.

Funding cannot be used for eminent domain proceedings.

Real property acquired, developed, improved, restored, or rehabilitated by a municipality under ECL Section 15-1523(1)(i) pursuant to this grant program shall not be sold or disposed of or used for other than climate change mitigation or adaptation purposes without the express authority of an act of the New York State Legislature, which shall provide for the substitution of other lands of equal environmental and fair market value, and reasonably equivalent GHG mitigation or climate adaptation benefits to the residents of New York, and be located within New York State, as closely as practicable to those to be discontinued, sold, or disposed of, and such other requirements as shall be approved by the commissioner.

For real property alienated under ECL Section 54-1525, DEC must review and approve the proposed acquisition of a new parcel(s) prior to the sale of the original parcel.

In accordance with the New York State Finance Law, landowners are considered sub-contractors of the grantee, therefore any landowner receiving $100,000 or more is required to submit a Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire before DEC will execute a contract with the applicant.

Municipal Zero-emission Vehicle (ZEV) Program

The Municipal ZEV Program was established in 2016 to provide rebates to cities, towns, villages, and counties of the State of New York to encourage and enable ZEV adoption by municipalities for fleet use as well as install electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fuel filling station components primarily for public use.

ZEV Vehicle Rebates

The Municipal ZEV Rebate provides rebates to cities, towns, villages, and counties to purchase or lease (for at least 36 months) eligible new zero-emission vehicles for fleet use.

Download the ZEV Rebate Fact Sheet (PDF) for an overview of the program.

ZEV Rebate Application Period is CLOSED

For details, requirements, and eligibility see the 2024 Request for Applications (PDF).

Eligibility:

  • All municipalities, defined as a county, city, town, or village residing within New York State are eligible to apply to the ZEV Rebate program. Political subdivisions such as municipal corporations, school districts, district corporations, boards of cooperative educational services, fire districts, public benefit corporations, industrial development authorities, and similar organizations are not eligible to apply.

​Application:

ZEV Infrastructure Grants

The Municipal ZEV Infrastructure Grant program provides grants to cities, towns, villages, and counties to install hydrogen fuel filling station components and Level 2 (L2) and direct current fast charge (DCFC) electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) primarily for public use.

Download the ZEV Infrastructure Grant Fact Sheet (PDF) for an overview of the program.

ZEV Infrastructure Grant Application Period is OPEN

For details, requirements, and eligibility see the 2024 Request for Applications (PDF).

Eligibility:

All municipalities, defined as a county, city, town, or village residing within New York State are eligible to apply to the ZEV Infrastructure Grant program. Political subdivisions such as municipal corporations, school districts, district corporations, boards of cooperative educational services, fire districts, public benefit corporations, industrial development authorities, and similar organizations are not eligible to apply, however, may apply in partnership with an eligible lead municipality. See request for application for details.

  • L2 EVSE that appear on the NYSERDA Charge Ready, Utility Make Ready, or NYSOGS State contract lists of qualified units having a minimum charge capacity of 7.2kW,
  • Direct current fast charge (DCFC) EVSE that appear on the Utility Make Ready or NYSOGS State contract lists of qualified units having a minimum charge capacity of 50kW are eligible
  • Hydrogen fuel dispensing equipment is eligible if the hydrogen is produced through electrolysis.
  • If a facility (location) has received funding from the NYSERDA Charge Ready Program, the same facility may not receive funding from this program, for the same equipment installed under Charge Ready; however additional units may be installed in the same facility.
  • Utility Make Ready Program funds may be combined with funds from this program.

Application:

  • Applications are accepted only through the New York State consolidated funding application (CFA)
  • The deadline for the 2024 round is 4:00 p.m. on February 28, 2025
  • Pursuant to the requirements of Title 15 of the Environmental Protection Fund (Environmental Conservation Law [ECL] §54-1501 et seq.), the grantee must own the property upon which the proposed development, improvement, restoration, and/or rehabilitation project will be implemented, or obtain a climate change mitigation easement (CCME) from the owner of the project site or a DEC approved agreement from a government agency that cannot enter into a CCME. If the applicant does not own the property upon which the proposed project will be implemented, the applicant is required to submit a landowner agreement at the time of application as follows:
    • If the property owner is another municipality, submit a certified resolution by the municipal property owner in support of the project indicating agreement to enter into a CCME with the applicant.
    • If the property owner is not a municipality, submit a notarized written statement from the property owner in support of the project indicating agreement to enter into a CCME with the applicant.​

Additional Information:

Managing Grant Contracts

Grant awards under $10,000 will be administered via NYS Letter of Agreement and awards $10,000 and over will be managed via NYS Master Contract for Grants (MCG) within the Statewide Financial System Grants Management System (SFS GM) , a web-based grants management system. All grantees must be registered in SFS GM to submit an application, enter into a contract, and receive grant payments. Register as soon as possible.

To become familiar with SFS GM, award recipients should visit the Transition to SFS webpage and complete the training opportunities for vendors and download a copy of the Vendor User's Manual (PDF).

All eligible applicants and award recipients should visit the NYS Grants Management website for information about grant contracting with NYS and review the New York State Master Contract for Grants (MCG) (PDF). For NYSDEC Agency Terms and Conditions see Attachment A-1 (PDF), for additional contract details specific to the CSC grant program, see the Attachment A-2 CSC Program Specific Terms and Conditions (PDF); for the ZEV Rebate Program see the Attachment A-2 ZEV Rebate Program Terms and Conditions (PDF) and for ZEV Infrastructure Grant Program see the Attachment A-2 ZEV Infrastructure Grant Program Terms and Conditions (PDF).

Climate Change Mitigation Easement

Pursuant to the requirements of Title 15 of the Environmental Protection Fund (Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) §54-1501 et seq.), the grantee must own the property upon which the proposed development, improvement, restoration, and/or rehabilitation project will be implemented, or obtain a climate change mitigation easement (CCME) from the owner of the project site. A CCME must develop, execute, and file with the appropriate County Clerk's office a CCME or a DEC approved agreement that ensures the following:

  • The property shall be accessible to the municipality for any necessary work to achieve the funded purpose throughout the anticipated life of the project.
  • The property shall provide the identified public benefit throughout the anticipated life of the project.
  • The property shall be used to achieve climate protection and mitigation goals pursuant to ECL Article 54, Title 15 "Climate Smart Communities Projects" throughout the anticipated life of the project.
  • The property owner shall provide information and data to the municipality or will provide access to the municipality for collection of data, as specified in the grant contract.
  • A ten-year minimum term for the easement is required to adequately reflect the expected useful life of the project.
  • For CCMEs: CCMEs are enforced as a conservation easement pursuant to ECL § 54-1513 and ECL § 49-0305, and must be filed with the appropriate county clerk’s office. A CCME template is available to assist grantees with appropriately structuring the CCME.

A CCME template is available to assist grantees with appropriately structuring the CCME.

Other Grants for Climate Action

See below for additional grant funding programs available to help communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions, plan and implement climate adaptation strategies, and improve resilience to climate change. Opportunities are available for municipalities and not-for-profit organizations.

Click the links for details on each individual program including eligibility requirements, funding availability, and application deadlines.

Department of Environmental Conservation Grants
Hudson River Estuary Grants
Mohawk River Watershed Grants
Marine Habitat Restoration and Resiliency Grants
Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Grants 
New York's Great Lakes Basin Small Grants Program 
Department of Agriculture and Markets Funding Opportunities 
Department of State Funding Opportunities 
Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve Student Research Opportunities 
EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Program 
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Solicitations and Funding Opportunities 

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