Schenectady County Democrats make the Climate Smart Community Pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

“Schenectady County is pleased to join with other communities throughout New York State to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan E. Savage. “This is one more step Schenectady County is taking to greatly reduce the County’s greenhouse emissions and create a livable, energy-independent and secure community for our children and grandchildren.”

Chairwoman Savage began the 2008/2009 term of the Schenectady County Legislature by committing to making County government more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. In April of 2008, Democrats on the County Legislature sponsored the first major package of environmental legislation in County history. This package required County departments to purchase Energy Star products, put into place LEED standards for all new County construction projects, ordered the establishment of new policies to be implemented for energy conservation and recycling in all County facilities, and created a partnership with NYSERDA to promote residential home energy audits within our county.

Building upon the success of that package, the Democratic Majority on the Schenectady County Legislature on April 14, 2009 supported a resolution stating that Schenectady County, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate, will:

1. Pledge to combat climate change by becoming a climate smart community;
2. Set goals to reduce carbon emissions, and act to implement those goals;
3. Decrease energy demand for county governmental operations;
4. Utilize renewable energy for county governmental operations where feasible;
5. Realize benefits of recycling and other climate smart solid waste management practices;
6. Promote climate protection through community land use planning;
7. Plan for adaptation to unavoidable climate change;
8. Support a green innovation economy;
9. Inform and inspire the public; and
10. Commit to an evolving process.

Click here for more information on the legislation.