Town of Dryden Recognized by NY DEC With Silver Climate Smart Community Status

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has recognized six municipalities for their ongoing efforts to address economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by climate change. The Town of Dryden was recognized as a Silver Climate Smart Community. 

According to the DEC, communities participating in the state’s Climate Smart program earn points for planning and implementing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve community resilience. The Town of Dryden now joins 20 other silver communities that demonstrate local leadership through a commitment to advancing climate actions and projects.

Achieving New York State Climate Smart Community silver certification is a proud moment for the town of Dryden, which has a long history of environmental advocacy. We thank our Climate Smart Coordinator and the volunteers on the Climate Smart Task Force, the Energy Team at Cornell Cooperative Extension, and all the staff who worked on the high-impact actions that have helped our town reduce its carbon footprint and prepare for the effects of climate change.” Dryden Town Supervisor Jason Leifer said in a release.

The Town of Dryden says some of the climate smart initiatives the town has done includes the addition of four electric vehicles to the town fleet, installation of two EV charging stations on town property, finishing a complete energy upgrade and retrofit to the DPW office building.

“This certification is a tribute to all the community members across Dryden who’ve worked diligently over the past six years to prepare for the effects of climate change, reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, and build resilience,”

said Alice Walsh Green, who served as Climate Smart Coordinator and Chair of the Dryden Climate Smart Task Force from 2018 until last month.

Dryden has also switched all town streetlights to LED, and has conducted two successful Clean Heat and Cooling Campaigns as well as planning for extreme weather events. 

“In addition to CSC silver certification, the town has earned more than $350,000 in grants for climate actions from the NYS Clean Energy Communities Program, a partner effort with the Climate Smart Program,”

Green said.

The Climate Smart Communities program began back in 2009 and provides both guidance and technical support for local municipalities for climate action. The program is headed by the DEC. The certification program part of the Climate Smart Communities started five years later in 2014. So far, 445 local governments have adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge.