Clean Energy Outreach Program
Sustainable Hudson Valley partners extensively with communities, state agencies and media partners on outreach to help home- and business owners take advantage of clean energy technologies and incentives. Our annual Clean Power Guide, produced with Chronogram Media, reaches over 100,000 readers all year long with practical tips on everything from how to shop for a heat pump to how to use an energy coach. We host the EnergyCorps, a spirited group of students who learn about clean energy and share their knowledge in support of community campaigns; this includes helping Climate Smart and Clean Energy Communities with campaign outreach to achieve program goals.
From 2015–2018, SHV opened up the solar market with the 3-year Solarize Hudson Valley campaign. Funded by NYSERDA and run in partnership with Catskill Mountainkeeper, Solarize resulted in over 400 rooftop and community solar contracts and educated thousands through local workshops, carefully selected contractor partners and group purchase discounts. Drive Electric Hudson Valley provided a similar “acceleration through coordination” in the early EV marketplace by educating consumers and car dealers, and getting chargers installed where there were major gaps. SHV has also piloted an approach to deep dive outreach with Marbletown, a hub of climate action in Ulster County, helping them to create one of the region’s first 100% Renewable Energy Action Plans.
Our 2024 calendar is being created in close coordination with community partners. It will include getting the word out on renewable energy, energy-efficiency, clean transportation, and the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. It will also include a fun and important new project: The Coolest Recycling Drive, set for April and May in partnership with New Yorkers for Cool Refrigerant Management. Knowing that refrigerants in heating and cooling equipment are the most potent greenhouse gases in existence, “The Cool Ones” are a group of expert volunteers who are prodding government agencies to speed up the shift to lower-impact refrigerants in new equipment and strengthen the regulation of existing refrigerant containing appliances (including those heat pumps we’re all so excited about). The Coolest Recycling Drive is open to communities throughout the Hudson Valley and will be run in April and May 2024 in partnership with Hudson Technologies and The Cool Ones.