This week, the city was awarded the ECO-action Champion Award for its clean energy leadership. The city was recognized for accelerating the clean energy transition by among other climate actions, enabling 8,000 households to switch to clean, renewable energy through the community-based program Hudson Valley Community Power.
Municipalities, including Poughkeepsie, have come together to create a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program with renewable electricity, which is recognized by New York State as one of the most powerful climate actions a municipality can take. The award recognizes communities and organizations that are actively accelerating the clean energy transition through actions such as CCA. Together, the communities proved the power of local climate action by implementing the community-based renewable electricity CCA program Hudson Valley Community Power (HVCP). The program has so far enabled 23,000 households to switch to renewable energy.
CCA allows municipalities – rather than the state – to choose where their communities get their electricity.
City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Marc Nelson said, “We are proud of this recognition that the City of Poughkeepsie is effectively participating in an innovative program that is helping to protect our environment. We think it's a positive development that people can access energy from renewable sources, and we congratulate the other communities in our region that are also receiving this distinction."
CCAANY Board Member Jessica Stromback said, “I am so honored to celebrate with this group of leaders who have shown how we can create meaningful change here in NY State in a way that benefits and protects residents and enables us to fight climate change together. Community-based CCA programs represent a significant portion of purchasers of renewable energy in NY State, and as NY is a leader in the country when it comes to renewable energy, this achievement is truly impressive.”
The Hudson Valley Community Power program is set to relaunch in July of this year in 12 communities, with renewable electricity options available. Eligible residents and small businesses will be automatically enrolled in the program but can opt out at any time without penalty.
A Hudson Valley Community Power information session will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 5 in the Common Council Chambers, Third Floor, City Hall.
You can learn more about our local clean energy program at www.hudsonvalleycommunitypower.com or call (845) 859-9099 or email info@hudsonvalleycommunitypower.com.
From left are Peggy Kurtz, community coordinator for Joule Community Power; CCAANY Board Member Jessica Stromback; Mayor Marc Nelson; Common Council Member Nathan Shook, and Town of New Paltz Supervisor Neil Bettez, another municipality receiving the award.