Saugerties Climate Smart Task Force Annual Report 2021

SAUGERTIES CLIMATE SMART TASK FORCE

Prepared by The Climate Smart Task Force

The 2021Annual Report prepared by the Climate Smart Task Force presents a review of programs and projects implemented throughout the year to address climate change, reduce energy use, and support renewable energy thereby advancing the goals of the Climate Action Plan for Government Operations (CAP) adopted in May 2019.

2021is the second reporting year, a year that presented challenges in obtaining complete and accurate usage data from Central Hudson for the town’s accounts. Some accounts included only eight months of usage data. They are: the Large Pavilion and Conference Center, Malden Pump Station, Garden Court Pump Station and Streetlights. Central Hudson provided no data for the Ice Arena Chiller building. Therefore, the total usage and Greenhouse Gas emissions from kWh usage presented in this report are the best estimates given the incomplete numbers provided by Central Hudson. The above factors also caused a delay in completing the 2021 report.

During 2021, the task force participated in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Leadership Round launched in January 2021.The program sets forth thirteen high-impact, clean- energy actions to which points are assigned. Based on the number of points accumulated, the town becomes eligible to apply for grants to further implement clean energy projects. The town has completed nine high-impact actions and accumulated 3,400 points.

The town became eligible for two CEC grants in 2021: a $10,000 Point-based Grant for accumulating 3,000 points and a $5,000 Action Grant for participating in a Community Campaign for Community Solar. There was no town match for these grants. The high-impact actions completed by the town include: Benchmarking, Clean Fleets, Climate Smart Communities Certification at the Bronze level, Community Choice Aggregation, Energy Code Enforcement Training, LED Upgrades, Community Campaigns and Unified Solar Permit

CLEAN ENERGY HIGH-IMPACT ACTIONS BENCHMARKING

Benchmarking is a policy that a local government adopts that requires the annual reporting of energy used in buildings. Collecting, reporting, and sharing building energy data on a regular basis allows town officials and the public to understand the energy performance ofmunicipal buildings With this information the Town of Saugerties is able to make smarter, more cost-effective operational and capital- investment decisions.

Knowing the energy use in buildings,thetownisabletomake smarter, more cost-effective operationalandcapitalinvestment decisions.

The Town Board adopted a benchmarking policy on August 11, 2021 that establishes procedures and guidelines to measure energy use in town-owned buildings of a certain size. The policy requires department heads to enter into Portfolio Manager the total energy consumed by each building that is 1,000 square feet or larger along with all other descriptive information required by Portfolio Manager for the previous calendar year.

CLEAN FLEETS

ELECTRIC VEHICLES and EV CHARGING STATIONS

This action is an effort by local governments to invest in electric vehicles and infrastructure while increasing opportunities for the public to access electric vehicle charging stations. Compared to gasolinepowered cars, electric vehicles (EVs) are more energy efficient and cost about 50 to 70% less to operate per mile. EVs reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants that cause smog and acid rain. The CAP calls for the town totransition to EVs and hybrids in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and affect cost savings. Plans to acquire an EV for the Police Department were developed in 2021. Due to the unavailability of electric vehicles in a timely fashion, the town was unable to acquire an EV in 2021.

The Town of Saugerties installed five Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and NYSERDA recognized the town for completion of this high-impact action. Charging station locations include: at the Kiwanis Ice Arena, at Frank Greco Senior Center, near the Cantine Field Tennis Courts, at the Saugerties Public Library and at Town Hall. The town received an $8,000 rebate from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

CLIMATE SMART CERTIFICATION at the BRONZE LEVEL

The Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program added Climate Smart Certification at the Bronze level as high-impact action for recognition by NYSERDA in 2021.

The Town of Saugerties is the first town in Ulster County to receive certification at the Bronze level. Saugerties earned certification in October 2019 by completing twenty-two climate smart actions and accumulating 170 points as a participant in NYS Climate Smart Communities (CSC).

The Climate Smart Communities program is a New York State initiative that began in 2009. It helps local governments take actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. The Town Board appointed the task force to participate in the CSC program in March 2018.

Town Board members accepting Bronze Award.

COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION (CCA)

The 2019 CAP calls for the town’s participation in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program.

CCA offered town residents 100% renewable energy at a fixed price starting in September for the thirtyfourmonthsoftheagreement.

The Clean Energy Communities program designated CCA as high-impact action in January 2021. Working with Joule Assets as the CCA administrator and with Hudson Valley Community Power, the program administrator implemented CCA in September 2021.

The program offers 100% renewable energy for town residents at a fixed rate of $0.072 per kWh over the thirtyfour month period of the agreement. 71% of those eligible to participate joined the program. With 100% renewable energy as the source, an estimated 90,000 metric tons of CO2 can be eliminated over the thirty-four month agreement.

COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN for COMMUNITY SOLAR

The Community Campaign was a partnership between the Town of Saugerties and Ulster County to promote renewable energy projects in the region.

The program offered residents the opportunity to join a community solar array, get up to 10% off their electricity bill, and receive a $100 gift card while supporting clean renewable energy resources in the region. Seventeen town resident accounts subscribed to one of three solar farm providers who were vetted and selected by Ulster County to participate in the campaign. For each resident who subscribed, the solar provider also donated $100 to the Ulster County Green New Deal Fund.

ENERGY CODE ENFORCEMENT TRAINING

Energy enforcement training is an important high-impact action. The energy code is a minimum building standard for energy efficiency. It applies to new construction and renovation of commercial and residential buildings in New York State.

Since buildings represent roughly 60% of New York’s total energy consumption, there is significant opportunity for energy and cost savings through improved energy code compliance.

The town code enforcement officer completed training prior to January 26, 2021. Communities that completed Energy Code Enforcement Training prior to the January 26, 2021 date must retake the training to earn additional points in the CEC program.

LED STREETLIGHTS

Replacing conventional street lights with LED lights results in cost savings, reduced energy use, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The town has converted all possible streetlights in the street lighting districts to LED lights.

By completing conversion to LED street lights in 2020, the town reduced its cost $10,745, its electricity use by176.083 kWh, and its greenhouse gas emissions by 23.63 metric tons of carbon dioxide compared to 2017, the baseline year.

Buildingsrepresentroughly60%of NewYork’stotalenergyconsumption whichmeansthereissignificant opportunityforenergyandcost savings.

UNIFIED SOLAR PERMIT

The standard permit is expected to cut costs by creating an expedited uniform permittingprocess.

The Unified Solar Permit is a CEC high-impact action adopted by the town in 2016 and recognized by the 2021 CEC Leadership Round as a high-impact action.

The unified solar permit provides a standardized permit application designed to streamline the approval process for installing solar in the community. The standardized permit is expected to cut costs by creating an expedited uniform permitting process throughout New York State. It saves the town government and the solar installers time and resources.

NY STRETCH ENERGY CODE

Adoption of the NY

NY Stretch Energy Code – 2020 (NYStretch) if adopted by municipalities would apply to new buildings and major renovations in existing buildings. It is a high-impact action developed by NYSERDA as a statewide model code for municipalities to use to meet energy and climate goals. This more stringent code protects the environment, creates healthier more comfortable buildings with lower operating costs. The CAC task force recommends the adoption of NY Stretch by the Town Board.

It is estimated that NYStretch will be 10–12% more efficient than the state’s 2020 code (2020 ECCCNYS) and will significantly reduce energy consumption, operating costs, utility costs, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Adoption of a more stringent standard for buildings may result in slightly higher costs for new construction, but costs will be offset by the energy cost savings associated with a home that meets NY Stretch requirements

On average, residential buildings that meet NYStretch can save an estimated 19.7% in terms of energy cost compared to those built to the 2020 ECCCNYS. Likewise, a homeowner would see, on average, an estimated19.7%reductionin theirutilitybill over the course of one year.

The prescriptive residential provisions of NYStretch were modeled using whole building energy simulation software to quantify energy savings beyond what will be expected under the 2020 ECCCNYS.

Stretch Energy Code protects the environment, creates healthier more comfortable buildings with lower operating costs

A homeowner would save, on average, an estimated 19.7% reduction in their utility bill overthecourseofoneyear.

KIWANIS ICE ARENA CHILLER

While replacing the ice arena chiller is not a CEC high-impact action, the chiller is identified in the CAP as using the largest amount of electricity and generating the greatest amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

$32,811 in yearly costs.

The 2020 Annual Report recommended, as a priority, the replacement of the existing chiller with one that is “the most energy efficient, reduces the largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions and yields the most annual cost savings.” Replacing the chiller is estimated to save $32,811 in annual costs. The Climate Action Plan (CAP) called for the town to pursue funding for a state-of-the-art chiller.

The town applied for and was awarded a $269,688 state matching grant for the Kiwanis Ice Arena Air-cooled Chiller Project. In announcing the grant, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation noted that the project will replace the chiller using a refrigerant type that will “reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere through leaks in traditional cooling systems to reduce energy and financial costs, eliminate commercial water treatment, and cut maintenance costs.”

2021 TOWN MUNICIPAL GREENHOUSE GAS DATA INTRODUCTION

The Saugerties Climate Action Plan (CAP) adopted by the Town Board in 2019, used the Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory to set a number of energy-efficiency goals and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction goals. The plan calls for the Town to reduce its GHG emissions by 20% by 2025 and to report annually on its progress. 2021 is the second reporting year.

Several roadblocks were encountered when preparing this 2021 report resulting in an estimated reduction of GHG emissions for 2021. Most significantly, we were able to obtain only usage numbers from Central Hudson’s portal rather than directly from the town’s accounts which was done in the past. No costs associated with Central Hudson’s electricity and natural gas usage for town facilities were available on the Central Hudson portal.

In addition, we experienced the same problems that the Saugerties community experienced with its Central Hudson bills, including new account numbers and inexplicable increases or decreases in usage. Some accounts included only eight months of usage data. They are: the Large Pavilion and Conference Center, Malden Pump Station, Garden Court Pump Station and Streetlights. Central Hudson provided no data for the Ice Arena Chiller building. Therefore, the total usage and Greenhouse Gas emissions from kWh usage presented in this report are the best estimates given the incomplete numbers provided by Central Hudson. The above factors also caused a delay in completing the 2021 report.

Replacing the chiller is estimated to save

The town’ s Police Department has not yet met its yearly goal of adding one hybrid plug-in police vehicle to its fleet through 2025 due to a lack of vehicle availability and not lack of intent. The upcoming installation of a new chiller, along with the other improvements already completed at the ice arena, will make the facility highly energy efficient. Superintendent of Parks, Recreation and Buildings Greg Chorvas and his team have made energy efficiency a priority since the construction of the Ice Arena, and their successes are noteworthy.

METHODOLOGY

 We used the same format, Facility/Group Names and Categories that were used in the 2017 GHG Inventory.

 Definitions: MTCO2e means Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide and other Greenhouse Gases (GHG).

 We used the factors and sources provided in the GHG Inventory to calculate Metric Tons of CO2e.

 Central Hudson’s portal was used only for electricity and natural gas usages.

 Street lighting usage and cost records came directly from Central Hudson at our request.

 Gas and diesel records were self-reported by the Highway Department’s records (including Building Inspector, Animal Shelter, Police, and Transfer Station), Parks and Recreation, Glasco Waste Water Treatment Plant (GWWTP), and Police Department WEX authorized purchases from regular gas stations when police are unable to use the Highway Department facility.

 Tank fuel usage and cost numbers were requested and received from the town’s suppliers, Paraco and Bottini.

 David Velasco of Conductive Power, an affiliate of East Light Partners, provided the usage, cost and GHG numbers from the solar farm located at the Transfer Station.

COMPARISON RESULTS

In order to provide a comparison between 2020 and 2021 (with the caveats mentioned in the introduction) below are side by side comparisons for each of the categories for Municipal Operations.

ELECTRICITY

East Light Partners’ Solar Farm

In 2021 the total municipal electric usage was 1,951,193 kWh. The East Light Solar farm provided 1,946,507.60 kWh in 2021, eliminating 261.30 Metric Tons of GHG emissions in 2021.

East Light Partners’ Solar Farm at the Transfer Station reported that:

 Total kWh allocated to the Town of Saugerties in 2021 was 1,946,507.60 kWh

 Total savings in 2021 from the solar installation was $21,315.45 (which is 10% of the total credit of $213,154.54)

Administration Facilities, Wastewater Facilities, Water Delivery Facilities, and Streetlights are the town’s electricity users. Administration Facilities generated the lion’s share of electricity usage and emissions.

Please note. Central Hudson’s reported only eight months of data for the Large Pavilion and Conference Center.

Please note. Central Hudson’s portal includes only 8 months of data for the Malden pump station and the Garden Court pump station.

Please note. Central Hudson did not have a new account number for 3637949000 (G Rt. 32 water), so it is not included.

Streetlights

All the town’s streetlights have been converted to LEDs.

Please note. The numbers above represent only eight months of data provided by Central Hudson accounts.

NATURAL GAS

Natural Gas is a more polluting source of energy than electricity and emits more greenhouse gases. Because it is used primarily to heat town facilities, it is difficult to find less polluting and cost-effective alternatives, such as heat pumps, within the limitations of the municipal budget.

Please note, Central Hudson’s portal only reported eight months of data for the Large Pavilion and Conference Center and no data in the account for the Chiller building.

Also, the new standard for calculating natural gas MTCO2e emissions is to use therms instead of ccfs. 1 ccf = 1.037 therm.

VEHICLE FLEET

The vehicle fleet is the largest emitter of municipal greenhouse gases. This is the reason for a continued effort by the Town to gradually change over to electric and/or plug in hybrid vehicles.

TANK FUEL

Heating oil and kerosene are highly polluting, so all the Town’s departments who don’t use natural gas have switched to propane for the heating of all its buildings. This has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Propane is also used to fuel a generator in the Bluestone Park Water District.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS SUMMARY

THE ESTIMATED GHG EMISSIONS IN 2021 COMPARED TO 2020*

THE TOTAL MUNICIPAL PERCENTAGE OF MTCO2e INCREASING IN 2021 WAS .002% from 2020. WHEN THE KILOWHATT HOURS ALLOCATED TO THE TOWN FROM THE EAST LIGHT SOLAR FARM ARE FACTORED IN, THE ACTUAL TOTAL PERCENTAGE OF GREEN HOUSE GASES (MTC02e) REDUCED IN 2021 COMPARED TO 2020 IS 21.91%

*Due to Central Hudson’s failure to provide four months of usage numbers for the accounts listed in the Introduction, the summary excludes that data. The total usage and Greenhouse Gas emissions from kWh usage presented in this report are the best estimates given the incomplete numbers provided by Central Hudson.

RECOMMENDATION

As the Town of Saugerties continues to move forward with its plans and strategies for reducing energy use and its annual tracking of municipal greenhouse gas emissions, it is imperative that the town have reliable year-to-year usage data for all its energy components.

Therefore, the Climate Smart Task Force strongly recommends that the Town Board contact Central Hudson and require the utility to provide full twelve months of 2021 usage data for accounts for which only eight months were provided as of early October, 2022.

The accounts are:

Streetlights

Large Pavilion and Conference Center

Garden Court Pump Station

Malden Pump Station.

In addition, the task force recommends that the town require Central Hudson to provide an explanation for the unusual usage changes in accounts such as the Kings Highway Water account that went from 4,145 kWh in 2020 to 7 kWh in 2021 and to provide the accurate Kings Highway Water kWh usage for 2021.

The Task Force will provide the Town Board with a master list of its Central Hudson accounts.

 The town completed nine clean energy high-impact actions making the town eligible to apply for and receive a $10,000 grant.

 The state awarded the town a $5,000 grant to fund an energyrelated project or program.

 The NYSERDA Clean Energy Program recognized Saugerties as a Climate Smart Community at the Bronze level.

 The town initiated a Community Choice Aggregation CCA program that offers100% renewable -energy supply for residents.

 A Community Solar Campaign, a partnership between the town and Ulster County, offered residents up to 10% of their electric bill.

 The town was awarded a $269,688 grant toward the replacement of the Ice Arena chiller.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TOWN BOARD

Supervisor Fred Costello, Jr.

Councilwoman Leeanne Thornton

Councilman Mike Ivino

Councilman Zach Horton

Councilwoman Peg Nau

CLIMATE SMART TASK FORCE

Mary O’Donnell, Coordinator

Skip Arthur

Carole Furman

Mike Harkavy

Patti Kelly *

Susan Murphy

Nicole Roskos

Elizabeth Shafer

Leslie Surprenant

Steve Wehr

Mary Anne Wrolsen

Town Board Liaison Councilman Zach Horton

The Climate Smart Task Force gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of town department heads and their staff for providing information and data essential for this Annual Report.

A Special Thank you to Patti Kelly for preparing the 2021 Town Municipal Greenhouse Gas Data Section of this Report

Design/Layout/Editor Mary O’Donnell