OSWEGO, NY – The Port City is looking to reduce its carbon footprint and save some money in the process.
The city has been awarded a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Energy Efficiency Block Grant.
It would enable the city to take part in the Climate Smart Communities program.
At tonight’s committee meetings, Mary Vanouse, community development director, is expected to request the council to authorize the purchasing agent to request proposals from qualified energy management contractors to implement this project.
The NYSERDA grant of $49,616 requires a match of $2,611 in city funds.
“This contract will help the city to benchmark its current energy use and identify and apply for additional grant opportunities to reduce the city’s energy consumption, carbon footprint and ultimately its operating costs for city facilities,” Vanouse explained.
The Climate Smart Communities program is a partnership of state and local governments whose goal is to combat climate change.
The program emphasizes local actions that will save taxpayer dollars and support other community goals while protecting the climate.
According to Vanouse, 47 other communities have already pledged to make their municipal operations and their communities ‘climate smart.’
Becoming a Climate Smart Community establishes a locality and its leaders as forward-thinking and innovated, she added.
Climate Smart Communities position themselves as good investments for the future, especially for renewable energy, energy efficiency, weatherization and other “green” businesses and jobs, she said.
Also on tap is a discussion, requested by Mayor Randy Bateman, regarding an ordinance relating to the use of personal flotation devices by fishermen.
This dialogue is in response to the deaths of two fishermen last fall in the Oswego River.
The city held public meetings to discuss how to make things safer during fishing season.
A follow-up meeting was conducted to consider the suggestions offered during the public meetings. The use of personal flotation devices was one of the options under consideration.
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