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Internal Operations

Climate Action & Sustainability Plan for Internal Operations and Green Team

casp

The Climate Action & Sustainability Plan (CASP) outlines and prioritizes ways the County can further reduce GHG emissions from its internal operations through action items specific to each chapter. Overall GHG emission reduction goals were set for a short-, mid-, and long-term timeframes. The following reduction goals are set against a 2005 baseline and were based on initiatives already begun within County operations, and from the measures listed in the CASP:

  • 32% by 2020; ACHIEVED
  • 50% by 2025; and
  • 80% by 2040.

Final Climate Action & Sustainability Plan for Internal Operations

Climate Action & Sustainability Plan - 2019 Update

Climate Action & Sustainability Plan - 2020 Update

Erie County 2021 Climate Action Update

Erie County 2022 Climate Action Update

Erie County 2023 Climate Action Update

Building Energy Use Reporting

Many initiatives within the Climate Action and Sustainability Plan (CASP) conserve energy from Erie County government buildings. Erie County reports building energy use, building greenhouse gas emissions, and other building energy metrics annually to allow the community to better understand our progress.

Erie County Green Team

Erie County established a Green Team in 2016 to pursue sustainability initiatives in its internal operations. As called for in “Initiatives for a Smart Economy”, the Green Team is focusing on energy reduction and resource conservation projects that will decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, prevent pollution, reduce waste, and save money throughout the County’s daily operations.

The Erie County Green Team is made up of representatives of every County department, including those led by other elected officials such as the Sheriff and the Comptroller. The Green Team now meets quarterly to report on progress associated with implementing the initiatives listed in the CASP. Additionally, there are three standing committees that meet regularly: the Core Green Team, which serves as the Green Team’s steering committee, the Energy Committee, and the Transportation Committee.

Clean Energy Communities Scorecard

This scorecard shows your community’s accomplishments, the high impact actions your community is undertaking, and how your efforts compare to others in your region and across New York State. Select your community from the dropdown to display the information for your community.

This scorecard can be printed and can be displayed or distributed.

Climate Smart Communities

Climate Smart Communities Award

Climate Smart Communities is a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Certified communities are the foremost leaders in the state, having gone beyond pledging to take climate action to completing and documenting a suite of actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change at the local level.

In 2021 Erie County was designated a Silver Certified Climate Smart Community by NYSDEC, which is currently the highest level of the program. Visit our Climate Smart Communities report, which provides details of all of County’s completed initiatives.

Clean Energy Communities

As of June 2023, Erie County along with New York City, City of New Rochelle, and City of White Plains are the only communities statewide to achieve 5,000 points in the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Communities Program among the largest 80 communities in the state. This achievement resulted in a $250K grant award for Erie County that is being used to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

CSC Report Download

This is the Climate Smart Communities Certification Report of Erie County. Erie County is a silver certified Climate Smart Community.

Erie County was certified on September 25, 2021 with 318 points earned from 44 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding Erie County’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.

The certification for Erie County will expire on September 30, 2026.