Climate, Sustainability, Energy, and Solar
Resolutions adopting climate smart community pledges, supporting state climate plans, joining sustainability organizations, establishing climate task forces, authorizing participation in community distributed generation solar projects, and selecting electric power suppliers.
In force, by year of last update
2025
Climate Smart Communities Task Force — Establishment
The Village Board has created the Climate Smart Communities Task Force (CSC Task Force) to advance the Village's Climate Smart Communities Pledge adopted February 11, 2019, with the goal of achieving Bronze Certification and increasing levels of Climate Smart Community certification. Task Force members are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Village Board.[12]
Climate Smart Communities Task Force — Composition
The CSC Task Force shall have a minimum of four (4) and a maximum of seven (7) members, including one Village Board member appointed by the Mayor as liaison. A minimum of three (3) members, excluding the Village Trustee, shall be residents of the Village of Red Hook; additional non-resident members may be appointed based on environmental or sustainability expertise.[12]
Climate Smart Communities Task Force — Terms of Office
The term of office for CSC Task Force members shall be two (2) years. Upon initial appointment, three (3) members shall serve one-year terms and four (4) members shall serve full two-year terms. Members whose terms have ended may remain until a replacement is appointed and may be reappointed for additional two-year terms at the Mayor's discretion.[12]
Climate Smart Communities Task Force — Meetings and Records
CSC Task Force meetings shall be open to the public when a quorum is present, with agendas and minutes filed with the Village Clerk. A meeting schedule shall be established by the Chair, posted at least one week in advance on the Village website, and a virtual option shall be made available unless the meeting is outdoors.[12]
Climate Smart Communities Task Force — Powers and Duties
The CSC Task Force shall use the NY State DEC Climate Smart Communities Pledge Elements to prioritize climate actions, recommend prioritized actions to the Village Board for approval, implement Board-approved actions, and submit an Annual Report to the Village Board outlining activities over the past calendar year and goals for the year ahead.[12]
2024
ICLEI Membership Authorization
Trustee Bradley-Rickard is authorized to pursue membership with the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and to negotiate a cost-sharing agreement for membership fees with the Town of Red Hook.[11]
2022
NYS Climate Action Council Scoping Plan Support
The Village of Red Hook declares support for the NYS Climate Action Council Scoping Plan and the goals of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including reducing GHG emissions by 40 percent by 2030 below 1990 levels, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, meeting 70 percent of electricity needs from renewable resources by 2030, and 100 percent from zero-emissions resources by 2040. The Village supports prohibiting expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, transitioning to efficient electricity-based solutions for buildings and transportation, advanced building codes, phasing in prohibitions on on-site fossil fuel combustion in new buildings over a 2024–2027 period, and expanding electric vehicle infrastructure.[10]
2019
Climate Smart Communities Pledge
The Village of Red Hook has adopted the New York State Climate Smart Communities pledge, committing to ten elements: building a climate-smart community; inventorying emissions, setting goals, and planning for climate action; decreasing energy use; shifting to clean, renewable energy; using climate-smart materials management; implementing climate-smart land use; enhancing community resilience; supporting a green innovation economy; informing and inspiring the public; and engaging in an evolving process of climate action.[4]
Community Distributed Generation Solar Intermunicipal Agreement
The Mayor is authorized to execute an Intermunicipal Agreement between the Village of Red Hook and the Town of Red Hook regarding the Community Distributed Generation Solar (PV) Project, in substantially the form on file with the Village Clerk, with changes that do not affect the substance thereof and subject to revisions made to Exhibit A.[5]
Community Solar Project Zoning Immunity Determination
The Village Board has determined that the construction of the proposed 1.73 MW AC community solar array on an approximately 9.5-acre portion of parcel 6272-14-427425-0000 at Glen Pond Drive is immune from the application of the Town's Zoning Law, except that the project remains subject to Town Zoning Law Sections § 143-37(E), (F), (G), and D(e) through (j), including the requirement for issuance of a building permit.[6][9]
Community Solar Ground Lease — Red Hook CSA, LLC
The Mayor is authorized to execute the ground lease and site plan with Red Hook CSA, LLC for the community solar project on the Village well fields, subject to final legal and engineering review of attachment pages and modification of the insurance clause (Section 11) to enhance protection of the well field. A First Amendment of Land Lease Agreement was subsequently approved to relocate the originally proposed power connection point, with the corrected parcel number 6272-14-427425-0000.[7][9]
Community Distributed Generation Credit Purchase Agreement
The Mayor is authorized to execute a Community Distributed Generation Credit Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Red Hook CSA, LLC for a 1.73 MW AC community solar array co-located at the Village's well site. The PPA sets forth terms and conditions for delivery of and payment for Community Distributed Generation credits and Value of Distributed Energy Resources credits, with CDG Credits allocated to the Village's listed accounts and priced based on Metered Electrical Output from the solar panel system.[8]
Community Solar Revised Site Plan Approval
The Village Board has approved the revised site plan for the community solar project entitled "Photovoltaic (Solar Electric) Site Plan," prepared by SunCommon, dated October 14, 2019, providing for relocation of the proposed utility connection points within Village property and the adjacent Firehouse Lane. A copy is filed with the Village Clerk and the Town Clerk.[9]
2014
Dutchess County Retail Electric Energy Supply Participation
The Village of Red Hook participates in the Dutchess County Department of Central Services' Retail Electric Energy Supply application. The Village Clerk is authorized to submit the Village's Central Hudson electric account information to the County as required.[3]
2012
Energize New York Partnership Pact
The Village of Red Hook has adopted the Energize Partnership Pact to participate in the Energize New York residential energy efficiency program. The Mayor is authorized to appoint a Municipal Energize Liaison or Liaisons from among municipal staff or civic volunteers, subject to Board affirmation, to serve as chief points of contact with Energize staff and coordinate with community Energize Champions and Sponsors.[2]
History · superseded or expired
2011
Electric Power Supplier — MEGA Rate
The Village approved purchase of electric power from MEGA at a rate of $7.22 per unit, unless another vendor submitted a lower bid, potentially saving 14% on annual electric costs of $114,000. Superseded by subsequent participation in the Dutchess County Retail Electric Energy Supply program.[1]
Source resolutions
- [1]2011-06-16Electric Power Supplier Selection
- [2]2012-10-01RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ENERGIZE PARTNERSHIP PACT AND AUTHORIZING MUNICIPAL ENERGIZE LIAISON APPOINTMENTS
- [3]2014-09-08Authorize participation in county electric supply program
- [4]2019-02-11CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITY – RED HOOK
- [5]2019-05-02RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERMUNICIPAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF RED HOOK REGARDING COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOLAR (PV) PROJECT
- [6]2019-06-17RESOLUTION DETERMINING APPLICATION OF TOWN AND VILLAGE ZONING LAWS TO COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT
- [7]2019-06-20Authority to Sign Ground Lease and Site Plan– Community Solar Project
- [8]2019-08-12RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF THE COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTED GENERATION CREDIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH PROJECT PURCHASE OPTION WITH RED HOOK CSA, LLC REGARDING COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTED GENERATION SOLAR PROJECT
- [9]2019-12-09RESOLUTION APPROVING MODIFICATION TO SITE PLAN AND FIRST AMENDMENT OF LAND LEASE WITH RED HOOK CSA, LLC FOR COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECT
- [10]2022-06-22Resolution Declaring Support for the New York State Climate Action Council Scoping Plan
- [11]2024-06-20ICLEI Membership Authorization with Town Cost-Share
- [12]2025-06-09RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH A CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITIES TASK FORCE
Synthesized from the chronological history of these resolutions. Each clause shows the year it was last established or amended. The text is a reading aid — for legal force, consult the source resolutions and the Village Code.