DEC Adopts Updated Regulations Expanding Climate Smart Communities Grants Eligibility
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced a total of 23 municipalities certified under New York State’s Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification program. The certifications recognize that these communities have demonstrated climate leadership by taking actions to reduce flood risk, address extreme heat, invest in clean energy, improve infrastructure, reduce air pollution, and increase resilience across the state.
“Local governments certified through Climate Smart Communities certification program are essential partners in advancing Governor Hochul’s climate, resilience, and sustainability initiatives helping to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change we’re seeing across the State at the local level,” said Commissioner Lefton. “At a time when the federal government is rolling back climate investments and policies, New York State is taking the lead to address the costly damages due to climate change to help ensure affordability and protect our environment for residents and the planet.”
New York City was newly certified silver, the highest level under the CSC program, for the city’s strong commitment and continued efforts to decrease emissions, particularly in historically overburdened areas, and protect the health and quality of life of residents. Erie County was recertified silver this CSC round, in recognition of the county’s continued leadership through sustained action following their initial silver certification in 2021.
Communities certified as part of the CSC certification program accumulate points for putting plans into place and implementing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve local resilience. As each certification is valid for five years and communities must demonstrate continued and sustained action to maintain their status as bronze or silver. A total of 21 communities were certified bronze as part of this round of certification, including 11 new communities. They are part of a total of 185 certified Climate Smart Communities across the state, including 25 silver certified communities.
Bronze certified and recertified communities include:
- Village of Cooperstown (new bronze)
- Town of Cortland (recertified bronze)
- Town of Hamilton (recertified bronze)
- Village of Hamilton (recertified bronze)
- Town of Hector (recertified bronze)
- Town of Kinderhook (new bronze)
- Town of Marbletown (recertified bronze)
- Town of Middlefield (new bronze)
- Town of Olive (recertified bronze)
- Otsego County (new bronze)
- City of Peekskill (recertified bronze)
- Town of Philipstown (recertified bronze)
- Town of Ramapo (new bronze)
- Town of Seneca Falls (new bronze)
- Town of Southampton (recertified bronze)
- Town of Stuyvesant (new bronze)
- Village of Tuxedo Park (new bronze)
- Town of Tuxedo (new bronze)
- Village of Valatie (new bronze)
- Westchester County (recertified bronze)
- Village of Wilson (new bronze)
Local Climate Actions
Climate action at the local level often brings benefits to historically underserved neighborhoods. Disadvantaged communities cover a significant portion of several municipalities certified today, including seven municipalities with at least 25 percent or more areas designated as disadvantaged – the Town of Cortlandt, Erie County, New York City, City of Peekskill, Town of Seneca Falls, Town of Southampton, and Westchester County.
Several of the municipalities certified today have also received CSC grant funding under the CSC Grant program, further advancing their efforts and investments for climate adaptation and mitigation projects. In Erie County, the county was awarded grant funding in multiple years, including nearly $1.9 million last year for a refrigerant collection and disposal program. As part of this grant project, Erie County is partnering with local municipalities and local scrap metal recyclers to include in-home pickups, collection at municipal events and with schools and location governments, along with two-drop off events per year in disadvantaged communities.
New York City has also been awarded grant funding in several years of the CSC Grant program, including three awards last year – nearly $2 million for the Hunts Point food distribution center floodproofing; $1.6 million for NYC Department of Transportation’s heat adaptation project to implement shade structures and drinking water features; and $870,000 for an air conditioner recycler program with NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Other examples of projects in bronze certified communities include nearly $1.8 million for the City of Peekskill’s historic Paramount Theatre cooling center to upgrade the HVAC system and designate it as a cooling center for residents; and $418,000 for the Town of Ramapo to install permanent shade structures over existing playground and recreational areas in the town’s parks.
New York City Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung said, “New York City is proud to earn the highest level of Climate Smart Communities certification from New York State. This designation reflects the range of investments our city has made in climate action, from decarbonizing our buildings to protecting New Yorkers from the risks of extreme heat and flooding," said “It also reflects years of hard work by city government and our community partners to create the climate plans, partnerships, and projects that are delivering a safer, healthier, and more affordable city for all New Yorkers.”
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said, "The Climate Smart Communities program provides vital guidance, support and funding to municipalities as they work to address the challenges of a changing climate. Erie County is proud to have been recertified at the program's highest level and is committed to continuing this critical work. We greatly appreciate the support offered by the program, which is helping us to sustain our climate leadership and build a more resilient community."
CSC Program
Established in 2009, the interagency CSC program provides guidance and technical support to local governments pursuing climate action. The CSC program is led by DEC with support from NYSERDA, Department of Health (DOH), Department of State (DOS), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Public Service (DPS), Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), and New York Power Authority (NYPA).
Launched in 2014, the CSC Certification program recognizes the leadership and accomplishments of communities advancing climate projects. The first step to becoming a certified Climate Smart Community is to register by pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. To date, 472 local governments representing nearly 18 million New Yorkers have adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge.
To achieve certification, communities must demonstrate an active task force of residents and municipal representatives advancing local climate action. Most certified communities complete greenhouse gas inventories that calculate emissions at the local level and identify actions to help New York State achieve its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
For a full list of actions completed by these and other certified communities, visit the online certification reports found on the Climate Smart Communities website.
NYSERDA and DEC are working together to support towns, cities, villages, and county governments in New York State that play a vital role in achieving the State’s clean energy and climate initiatives. Local governments’ achievement of Climate Smart Communities certification is supported through NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program, which recognizes and rewards community leadership by providing technical resources, tools, and financial support for the completion of clean energy projects. Of the 23 certified Climate Smart Communities being recognized today, 21 have been designated as Clean Energy Communities.
NYSERDA President & CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Congratulations to the newly certified Climate Smart Communities and all those designated Clean Energy Communities for putting clean energy solutions into action at the local level to improve the quality of life for New Yorkers. NYSERDA is proud to partner with DEC to support municipalities on their pathway towards a future that is not only more sustainable, but more affordable for every New Yorker.”
CSC Grant Programs
A decade ago in 2016, DEC launched the CSC Grant program. This funding supports municipalities in completing a subset of certification actions and implementing projects that reduce emissions and build resilience to extreme weather.
In January, DEC announced more than $22 million in CSC grant awards for 43 projects. The latest round of grants is expected to open in May as part of the consolidated funding application. Eligible project types include reducing flood risk, reducing emissions from food waste, engineering feasibility studies, and other actions that target decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and improve health and community resilience.
DEC also manages the Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program, which offers grants to install electric vehicle charging stations for public use and rebates toward the purchase or lease of electric vehicles for municipal fleets. In October 2025, DEC announced a total of $5 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and $585,000 for municipalities to purchase electric vehicles for fleet use. The next set of awards are expected to be announced this summer.
Updates to CSC Grant Programs Adopted
DEC’s Office of Climate Change also announced adopted amendments to NYCRR Part 492, Climate Smart Community Projects, to align the regulations with statutory changes, expand eligible applicants, and make the program more adaptable to future conditions.
The three main components of Climate Smart Community Projects include the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Rebate Program, the ZEV Infrastructure Grant Program, and the CSC Grant Program. The amendments align the program with legislative changes to the State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) and restructure the rule to simplify and clarify the three separate programs.
The revisions also expand the number of entities eligible to receive grants under Climate Smart Community Projects, including local public authorities and Indian Nations, consistent with the ECL and the Environmental Bond Act. Expanded eligibility will allow for additional entities to apply for funding and help to ensure increased participation among disadvantaged communities. Visit DEC’s website for more information.
Regional CSC Coordinators
DEC is contracting with regional partner organizations to serve as regional Climate Smart Communities Coordinators to provide free technical assistance to any local government that seeks to develop and implement successful local climate initiatives across New York State.
These coordinators use the CSC Certification program as a roadmap for local climate mitigation and adaptation. Coordinators provide outreach and support for climate action engagement, as well as capacity building, education, and training. They also help facilitate local planning efforts, support the implementation of municipal climate projects, convene engagement sessions about state climate policy, and more. Visit the CSC website for more information.
New York State's Climate Agenda
New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.
