Energy


The Chenango County Planning Department has been partnering with the City of Norwich and Network
for a Sustainable Tomorrow (NeST) on a Clean Heating and Cooling Campaign. This program helps to
connect both businesses and residents with local heating and cooling efficiency experts who offer
the latest clean energy technologies.
When you sign up for HeatSmart, a representative from NeST will reach out to you promptly to
connect you with one of their installers and guide you through the process of making your home
or business more energy efficient. HeatSmart will also help you find ways to save on new heat
pump systems through Federal and State tax incentives and grants that are available for low-
and moderate-income households.
During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house
and during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors.
Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide equivalent space
conditioning at as little as one quarter of the cost of operating conventional heating or cooling
appliances.
With 10 unique installations utilizing this program, Chenango County and the City of Norwich
will receive grant funding for clean energy projects!
The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program began in 2009 as an interagency initiative
of New York State to encourage local governments to commit to act on climate change by
passing a resolution containing the 10-point CSC Pledge. Announced in 2014,
the certification program represents the next step in the evolution of the program.
In order to be designated a Certified Climate Smart Community, a municipality must
go beyond the CSC Pledge by completing and documenting a suite of actions that mitigate
and adapt to climate change at the local level. Chenango County passed the 10-point CSC
pledge and became a registered CSC in March 2021. Participation in this program offers
Chenango County the ability to increase resiliency, sustainability, and energy efficiency
through County chosen projects. Chenango County will earn points toward certification for
each action they complete.
Benchmarking Reports for Public
2021 Benchmarking Report
2020 Benchmarking Report
2019 Benchmarking Report
2018 Benchmarking Report
NYSERDA developed a list of high-impact actions that local governments can take to
save energy, cut costs, and earn designation. A local government must successfully
complete four actions to become a designated Clean Energy Community. Chenango County
was designated a Clean Energy Community in February 2019 after completing four out of
ten high impact actions identified by NYSERDA. Designation allowed Chenango County the
opportunity to apply for a grant up to $150,000 toward an additional clean energy project.
To build on this success, the Clean Energy Communities Leadership Round was launched in
January 2021. The Leadership Round is a powerful new update to the original Clean Energy
Communities to make the program more impactful, innovative, and sustainable over time.
In this round, Chenango County will continue to prioritize and implement high-impact
actions, apply for grants that emphasize new activity and impact, and earn new forms
of recognition.