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The Smart Growth Initiative
The Governor's Smart Growth Cabinet and the various state agencies involved with this initiative is committed to working with localities to use smart, sensible planning to create livable communities, protect our natural resources and promote economic growth.


Economic Development	Planning	Agriculture & Farmland Protection	Transportation & Neighborhoods

Partnerships	Conservation & Environment	Revitalization	Energy

Sustainable Neighborhoods Program is Moving Forward
2/11/2010
Program Will Serve as a National Model for Urban Revitalization
Governor David A. Paterson announced that his Sustainable Neighborhoods initiative is moving quickly, with officials from the Governor's office and nine State agencies scheduled to tour potential revitalization investment sites with local stakeholders. This initiative will work to create new, affordable, high quality homeownership opportunities by rehabilitating vacant and abandoned buildings and making them available to first-time homebuyers. The Governor has instructed State agencies to identify challenges to revitalization and determine the programs that best fit the goal of the Sustainable Neighborhoods initiative. State agency experts will work with local community development officials to facilitate these projects and establish clear goals for each new sustainable neighborhood. The City of Buffalo, with more than 23,000 vacant housing units, was selected to serve as the starting point for the Sustainable Neighborhoods project which will expand to cities across New York State.
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Empire State Future Releases Transcript of Important Smart Growth Conference
2/8/2010

Last October, Empire State Future and the New York Department of State hosted Revitalizing New York: Building a New Economy through Sustainable Development. This statewide summit was designed to convene a diverse audience from across the state and across professions and political persuasions to focus on the imperatives and opportunities of smart growth and sustainable development for all New York’s communities.

Participants included mayors, town supervisors, state officials and legislators, architects, planners, business leaders, developers, academics, health/environmental/education/agriculture practitioners and more. The presentations and panels afforded these attendees many valuable opportunities to learn, share and network. You can read the proceedings in a new report prepared by Empire State Future.
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Nearly $700,000 in Grants to Improve Recreational Access to Hudson River and Lake Champlain Announced
2/5/2010
“Eco-docks” to act as key element in the revitalization of New York waterfront communities
New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez announced $693,070 in funding from the state Environmental Protection Fund’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program for the development of new or refurbished “eco-docks,” which will provide recreational, non-motorized boats improved access to communities on the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. These 12 awards, from the 2009-2010 budget, will serve as legacy projects of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial celebration, which marked the 400th anniversary of the voyages of Henry Hudson, who led the expedition up the river that now bears his name, and Samuel de Champlain, the first European to discover the 110-mile-long Upstate lake.

Since 1994 communities along the Hudson River and on Lake Champlain have received 272 awards from the EPF Local Waterfront Revitalization Program totaling over $47 million for planning, design and construction of waterfront improvements.
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Process for Developing New York State Climate Action Plain Detailed
1/21/2010
Expert Advisory Panels to Assist Climate Action Council
Governor David A. Paterson outlined his initiative to develop an extensive plan that will dramatically reduce greenhouse gas pollution while also building New York's clean energy economy. The multi-faceted effort is driven by Executive Order No. 24, which the Governor issued last August and sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in New York State by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

Over the course of this year, the Climate Action Council (CAC) will meet with expert advisory panels and focus on the full spectrum of energy use and economic activity including:

Power supply and delivery;
Residential, commercial and industrial;
Agriculture, forestry and waste;
Transportation and land use; and
Adaptation, such as responses to potential climate-related threats to various sectors.

More than 100 individuals representing private sector companies, utilities, government officials, non-profit organizations, academia, advocacy groups, and others will participate in the advisory panels. Director of State Operations Valerie Grey is the CAC Chair. The staff work of the CAC will be led by NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Department of Environmetnal Conservation.
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Onondaga County Farm is First to Sell Development Rights in Statewide Land Program
12/28/2009 8:44:00 AM
Development Rights Purchased Under State Farmland Protection Program
The New York Agricultural Land Trust has negotiated its first sale of development rights under the state’s Farmland Protection Program. The development rights to a 244-acre farm in Marcellus (Onondaga County) have been purchased by the state. This will keep the dairy farm on the property tax rolls but off the list of potential development properties. Under the Farmland Protection Program, the state contributes up to 75 percent of the cost to buy development rights, with the remaining 25 percent coming in either cash or in-kind services from the county.
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Funding to Continue Long Island Solar Energy Program
12/17/2009
$6 Million to Help Purchase and Install Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Governor David A. Paterson announced that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will provide a $6 million grant to the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). With the grant, LIPA will continue programs that provide homeowners and businesses with rebates and incentives for purchasing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. It helps LIPA increase its renewable energy portfolio and furthers Governor Paterson’s goal of achieving 45 percent of New York’s electricity needs through improved energy efficiency and renewable sources by the year 2015.

Final 2009 State Energy Plan Submitted to Governor
12/15/2009
2010 Energy Policy Agenda Announced

Governor David A. Paterson accepted the final 2009 State Energy Plan from the New York State Energy Planning Board. The Energy Plan provides a comprehensive blueprint for New York to continue to transition to a clean energy economy over a 10-year planning horizon, and is the first State energy plan since 2002. The Plan identifies a number of specific policy initiatives that set forth a vision for a robust and innovative clean energy economy that will stimulate investment, create jobs and meet the energy needs of residents and businesses over the next ten years.

Winners of DEC Environmental Excellence Awards Announced
12/7/2009
List Includes State and Local Municipalities and Private Residential Care Center

A ground-breaking school recycling program, a not-for-profit corporation that applies green building practices, and a county government that helped lead the "Don't Flush Your Drugs" campaign are among the winners of the 2009 Environmental Excellence Awards announced by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis. DEC established this awards program in 2004 to recognize innovation, sustainability and creative partnerships that achieve exceptional environmental, social and economic benefits for New York State.

Clean Water Funding Programs Updated
11/2/2009
Goal: Modernize Scoring System and Promote Asset Management

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced that the agency will update the system used to score applications for clean water infrastructure loans. DEC will develop new regulations to ensure that the scoring system adds incentives to: support smart growth and wise land use planning, ensuring that a proposed project maximizes existing infrastructure and is consistent with local land use plans; implement asset management planning that encourages ongoing maintenance; and utilize the most energy efficient technologies possible.

North Country Power Discount Program Thousands of Businesses and Dairy Farms
10/27/2009
Low-Cost St. Lawrence Hydropower to Provide Up to $10 Million in Savings
More than 3,500 Northern New York businesses and dairy farms will receive an approximately 9 percent discount on their electric bill for the next year. The savings will go to St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Franklin counties and will be worth an average of $1,200 for each electric customer – with some of the largest electricity users possibly saving up to $250,000 over the period. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) developed the temporary power discount program in conjunction with the Office of Governor David Paterson, and could result in up to $10 million in total savings.

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$7.8 Million in Downstate Revitalization Funding Awards Announced
10/22/2009
First Round of Funding Supports Small Business Investment and Development
$7.8 million from the Downstate Revitalization Fund has been awarded to five projects to help attract businesses, improve commerce and revitalize local economies. Part of the first round of awards, Brooklyn Navy Yard h received $1 million to develop a Green Manufacturing Center. The facility will employ 300 full-time workers. The Fund is administered by Empire State Development (ESD) and available to projects in New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Nassau and Suffolk counties.

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Policy on the Development of Oil and Gas Resources in State Parks and Historic Sites
10/16/2009
Explains the Policy of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
This document sets forth agency policy regarding the leasing and development of state-owned oil and gas resources on lands under the jurisdiction of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). It also addresses privately-owned oil and gas rights located beneath state parkland.
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$4.4 Million for Solar Energy Projects Awarded
10/9/2009
U.S. Department of Energy Awards Hudson Valley Community College and New York City
The award of $4.4 million for solar energy projects in New York State was announced by Governor David A. Paterson. Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) received $3.5 million to develop a new solar photovoltaic training facility that will provide critical support for efforts to develop the clean energy workforce. HVCC will establish a network of instructors that will earn Institute of Sustainable Power (ISP) certification, and develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) training facility that will support future instructor training in the region. Additionally, New York City received $932,508 to support development of solar electric generation. The awards were made by the U.S. Department of Energy with funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

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$10 Million in Brownfiedl Opportunity Areas Program Grants Announced
10/7/2009

More than $10 million in Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program grants has was awarded for 24 projects located in communities across the State. These grants support environmental remediation, community revitalization, job creation and the expansion of the tax base in neighborhoods that have been adversely affected by multiple brownfield sites or economic distress. Brownfields are dormant properties where contamination has impeded redevelopment, making them an economic and environmental drain on localities. To date, nearly 100 Brownfield Opportunity Area revitalization plans, supported by over $14 million in State funding, are underway across New York. The program is administered by the Department of State in partnership with the Department of Environmental Conservation.

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New York Energy Policy Institute Established
10/5/2009
Existing Colleges, Universities and Research Centers in New York Will Coordinate Efforts
Governor David A. Paterson today announced the creation of the New York Energy Policy Institute (NYEPI), a key initiative from the Governor’s State of the State address. NYEPI will coordinate the work of New York’s leading energy research centers, using their established expertise in the field to provide a resource for the state’s energy policymakers. To facilitate this coordination, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) released a request for proposals to establish the policy institute.

Funding of up to $200,000 per year for up to three years has been allocated for this effort. Initially, NYEPI will concentrate on strategies that will introduce more energy efficiency and further reduce energy-derived pollution, while also providing for economic development and increased employment. Electric power generation, transmission and use and heating fuel use are expected to be core issues, then, further effort will work toward new and efficient transportation use within the State.

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$28 Million in Federal Funds Available for Alternative Fuel Transportation Projects
9/1/2009
Grants Support Job Creation; Help to Reduce Petroleum Use and Greenhouse Gases
Governor David A. Paterson announced the award of two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grants totaling more than $28 million for alternative fuel projects. The funds, available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will assist school districts, local governments, public universities, and private businesses in purchasing clean fuel and alternative fuel vehicles and associated infrastructure.

The $13.3 million DOE Clean Cities grant to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will be matched with $18.8 million in cost-share from NYSERDA partners to purchase 307 alternative fuel vehicles and eight infrastructure projects across the State. The Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition (GLICCC) was awarded a grant of $14.9 million to deploy five compressed natural gas stations and 179 alternative fuel vehicles in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

New Law Enhances Historic Preservation Tax Credit
7/31/2009
Enhancements Will Make Tax Credits More Effective in Preserving Historic Structures
Governor David A. Paterson signed legislation to strengthen the New York State Historic Preservation Tax Credit, improving a program that will stimulate investment in urban neighborhoods, create jobs, increase property values and revitalize historic areas. The rehabilitation tax credit program provides incentives to developers, municipalities, businesses and residents to make investments in distressed areas by rehabilitating historic properties that are listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Bold Steps to the New Economy: A Jobs Plan for the People of New York
6/8/2009
Investments in Clean Energy, Technology, Health Care Sectors to Drive Economic Recovery

Governor David A. Paterson unveiled Bold Steps to the New Economy: A Jobs Plan for the People of New York. The Governor highlighted the emergence of a New Economy based on knowledge, technology and innovation – and outlined his vision for how New York will lead this New Economy. The Jobs Plan capitalizes on federal stimulus dollars to drive economic recovery in the fields of energy, environmental protection, technology and health care. An Innovation Economy Matching Grants program will be created to provide a 10 percent match for every stimulus dollar the federal government awards through competitive grants to research facilities in New York State. New York will allocate $100 million over several years for this program which is expected to leverage one billion dollars in federal research funding.

Plans for Largest Solar Project in State History Announced
5/15/2009
New York Power Authority Plans to Advance Statewide 100 MW Photovoltaic Project
Governor David A. Paterson announced the largest solar photovoltaic project in New York, which will help the State meet its energy needs, foster the development of solar technologies and stimulate the economy with new clean energy jobs. On behalf of the State, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) will issue a request for expressions of interest for the purpose of exploring a public-private partnership for the installation of up to 100 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at municipal facilities, public and private schools, businesses and State agencies throughout New York. NYPA is seeking proposals that would promote potential regional economic development opportunities for local component manufacturing and assembly.

“Smart Energy Corridor” and First “Energy Smart Campus” Proposed For Long Island
5/11/2009
Energy initiatives will create clean energy jobs

Governor David A. Paterson and Congressman Steve Israel announced that the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), along with Stony Brook University and Farmingdale State College, have proposed the creation of Long Island’s first integrated Smart Energy Corridor. The initiative would assist residential, commercial and industrial LIPA customers in monitoring and reducing energy usage, increase reliability, encourage energy efficiency by facilitating smarter technologies, and create clean energy jobs. Additionally, LIPA has teamed with Farmingdale State College to create Long Island’s first “Smart Energy Campus.” Under the partnership, LIPA will work with Farmingdale State College to expand the college’s solar center to become a Renewable and Sustainable Resource Center for demonstration of customer-owned renewable resources such as wind and solar. The college will also utilize the renewable energy center to expand certificate training programs for renewable resources for green technology entrepreneurs and industry workforce.

“Smart Energy Corridor” and First “Energy Smart Campus” Proposed For Long Island
5/11/2009
Energy initiatives will create clean energy jobs

Report on How Best to Protect New York’s Ocean and Great Lake Ecosystems Released
4/8/2009
Report details an "Ecosystem-Based Management" approach to decision-making

Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis and Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, on behalf of the New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Council, delivered a report, "Our Waters, Our Communities, Our Future" to Governor David A. Paterson and the members of the State Legislature. The details opportunities to protect and enhance New York's shoreline waters through an "ecosystem-based management" approach to decision-making that recognizes the interconnections among ecosystems and the need to manage human activities to ensure ecosystems deliver what humans need.

Report on How Best to Protect New York’s Ocean and Great Lake Ecosystems Released
4/8/2009
Report details an "Ecosystem-Based Management" approach to decision-making

Census Day is April 1st
2/22/2010
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$500,000 in Grants for Smart Growth Planning Projects in the Lower Hudson Valley Announced
2/10/2010
Awards focus on economic development, community and environmental issues
New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez announced $500,000 in funding from the state Environmental Protection Fund Smart Growth Grant Program for seven smart growth planning projects in the Lower Hudson Valley. These awards cover a variety of planning projects that focus on economic, community and environmental issues, reinforcing Governor Paterson’s commitment to improving both local economies and the environment.

Six of the awards are for planning the revitalization and redevelopment of municipal and regional centers. Three of these awards will advance transit-oriented development in the Lower Hudson Valley. Transit-oriented development is compact, walkable, mixed-used development that is focused around mass transit, such as trains, light rail, trolleys or buses. By focusing development around transit, communities can become sustainable places to live, work and play.

One award to the Open Space Institute (OSI), for $250,000, will enable the development of a Lower Hudson Valley regional smart growth plan. OSI is partnering with the Regional Plan Association, the Trust for Public Land, the Environmental Defense Fund, Scenic Hudson and Patterns for Progress. The smart growth plan will address carbon emissions, economic efficiency and quality of life issues for the region and will produce plans for priority growth and preservation areas to balance the rapid growth of the region with emissions reduction and environmental protection for the Lower Hudson Valley.
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Local Government Efficiency Grants Awarded
12/30/2009
Will Result in Estimated Savings of $63 Million to Local Taxpayers
The recipients of 15 Local Government Efficiency (LGE) awards totaling $3.6 million were announced by New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez . These grants for shared services, cooperative agreements, mergers, consolidations and dissolutions will help local governments provide residents with higher quality services – from better drinking water and wastewater disposal to a more comprehensive plan for building roads and bridges – and will help New York State’s municipalities reduce property taxes through the reduction in local expenses. To date, the program has funded 250 projects with a projected savings of more than $350 million from a $41 million state investment.

$23.8 Million in Waterfront Revitalization Grants Awarded
12/30/2009
Grants will Maintain and Enrich the State's Vast Waterfront Resources
New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez today announced $23.8 million in funding from the state Environmental Protection Fund’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program for 90 projects across New York. Seventeen of the awards will advance downtown revitalization, highlighting the important links between a thriving and successful waterfront and downtowns. Forty-three of the awards create new or improved public access to the waterfront. Thirty-six of the awards, totaling $14,623,682, are for projects in areas that have sustained physical deterioration, decay, neglect or disinvestment or where a substantial proportion of the residential population is of low income or is otherwise disadvantaged and is underserved with respect to the existing recreational opportunities in the area. Eight new watershed management plans will be developed covering 22 counties and involving over 150 communities.

Brownfield Opportunity Areas Grants
7/2/2009
No Deadline
The Department of State announces the availability of funding under the Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program. Funds are available to municipalities, 501(c)(3) community-based organizations and New York City Community Boards to foster redevelopment and return dormant and blighted land into productive and catalytic areas while restoring environmental quality. This program provides resources for communities to undertake area-wide brownfield redevelopment planning and to complete environmental site assessment for strategic redevelopment parcels.
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