Upper Nyack Climate Action

Local Climate Efforts by the Village

• Upper Nyack was the first municipality in Rockland County to join the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, now known as Rockland Community Power. CCA provides a way to pool the buying power of communities across the county to purchase renewable energy at a fixed rate that is lower than what is typically paid for fossil fuel-based electricity. Upper Nyack is joined by Nyack, South Nyack, Haverstraw, Orangetown, and Clarkstown.
• The first two year round of the Rockland Community Power clean energy program ended October 31, 2022.  Cost savings for participants in the renewable energy part of the program totalled $6.3 million and 40,500 metric tons of CO2 were avoided as a result of this program.
• This community-based clean energy program is relaunching in April 2023.  You can learn more at an online or in-person information session. For more information go to www.rocklandcommunitypower.com/events or call 845 859-9099 option 1.
• Since November 2020, over 20,000 households in the county have signed up for 100 percent renewable energy through the CCA program, saving more than $2.1 million on electricity bills since the program launched. Read more here about the program’s impact and cost savings to date.
• As part of the CCA initiative, just under 500 households have also subscribed to Community Solar, supporting solar energy projects at the local level, while also receiving solar credits that save them at least 10% on their electricity bills.
• Upper Nyack became the first municipality in Rockland County to acknowledge the harmful effects of noise and air pollution from gas-powered leaf blowers in the Upper Nyack Sound Law, which restricts the use of gas-powered leaf blowers to two “clean up” seasons: March 15 through May 15, and September 15 through December 15. Electric and battery-operated blowers are permitted year round.
• In July 2021, Upper Nyack passed a resolution pledging to pursue climate smart actions as part of the Climate Smart Communities program in New York state, which “helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate.” Read more here.

For Residents: How You Can Participate and Reduce Your Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Sign up for free to get alerted (and get paid) when it is particularly important to save energy when it is being produced by some of the most polluting power plants in our area: The Upper Nyack Green Committee is promoting a new program to lower your energy use, reduce your carbon footprint – and save you money.  This program, called Meltek, is entirely free and is authorized through Orange & Rockland. By voluntarily shifting our energy use to off peak hours – and by becoming more efficient, we can reduce the use of the dirtiest power plants on hot summer days. Meltek alerts participants ahead of time to peak electricity demand days – and gives you ways to reduce your energy use – and shift it to off peak. You get paid for reducing your energy use – or you can donate the savings to charity or to plant trees.  All of this is voluntary. You can learn more at www.meltek.io and sign up or download the app at app.meltek.io.
• Transition to green energy for home heating and cooling: Air and ground source heat pumps are a great way to heat and cool your home without fossil fuels such as oil or gas. Learn more about them here, including rebates through the state. You can also make improvements to your home by using all LED light bulbs, keeping your thermostat lower in the winter and higher in the summer, and ensuring your home is well-insulated.
• Consider an electric vehicle or a hybrid: Upper Nyack Green Committee member, Addison Chappell, writes here about his own experience purchasing and driving an electric car. You may qualify a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 depending which kind of vehicle you buy, and up to $2,000 from New York’s state-level rebate.
• Make the switch to battery-powered lawn equipment: Did you know that gas-powered leaf blowers emit large amounts of pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, hydrocarbons? According to the California Air Resources Board, operating a typical commercial leaf blower for one hour emits as much smog-forming pollution as driving approximately 1,100 miles! See this informative piece from Upper Nyack Green Committee members, Judy Ryan and Suzanne Buchauer, on what you can do to maintain a green-friendly lawn and how to raise awareness in our community.
• Compost your food and organic waste: Transportation of waste only adds to our carbon emissions. The fewer trash bags we fill with compostable, organic waste, the better. See these educational resources from Cornell Cooperative Extension and this piece from Upper Nyack Green Committee member, Suzanne Buchauer, on her own journey composting at home.