Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger has notified 10 local governments across Ulster County of their successful application to the County’s Solar & Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (SEVI) program, which committed $2.5 million of the County’s American Rescue Plan Act funds to support clean energy investments by local governments that reduce reliance on fossil fuels and help mitigate climate change.
The SEVI program offered grants capped at $100,000 to municipalities for solar, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, or both, and required a 50% local match (federal, state, and other funding can be included in the match). Applications to the program were accepted from May 20 to July 19.
In total, 11 applications were received from 10 municipalities, including the Town and Village of New Paltz, Lloyd, Hurley, Marbletown, Marlborough, Rosendale, Shandaken, the City of Kingston, as well as two applications from the Town of Ulster for separate solar projects that together will receive the maximum award of $100,000.
All funded solar projects will collectively generate 1,597,028 kWh annually, which will eliminate approximately 1,115 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
The County plans to announce a second round of applications for municipally-owned EV charging facilities, and will dedicate any remaining funds to planned County solar projects.
“Having served in local government in Rosendale for many years, I know how impactful these additional resources can be in helping communities reach their climate and clean energy goals, and I’m thrilled that the County can support these local efforts with American Rescue Plan Act funds,” said County Executive Jen Metzger. “These local projects will not only reduce climate-damaging emissions but also provide long-term savings to local governments and taxpayers, and I want to thank the Legislature’s ARPA Committee and its Chair, Legislator Tom Corcoran, for championing this great program for our communities.”
“The Solar & Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (SEVI) program is a landmark initiative for Ulster County, demonstrating our commitment to clean energy and sustainability,” said Legislator Tom Corcoran, ARPA Committee Chair. “By allocating $2.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act funds, we are enabling local governments to significantly reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. The projects funded through this program will generate over 1.5 million kWh annually, marking a substantial step towards mitigating climate change. This collective effort underscores the importance of local action in achieving our environmental goals.”