Across the State, local governments are striving to create a healthy and sustainable environment by investing in future-focused clean energy solutions for their community, while at the same time facing unprecedented societal and financial challenges.
Launched in August 2016, the Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program provides grants, coordinator support, and a clear path forward to local governments that demonstrate leadership with clean energy initiatives.
As of December 13, 2023, a the latest round has launched: CEC Round 3.0 with $25 million available for the program.
NYSERDA’s new Clean Energy Communities Round 3.0, the third round of the program, provides the resources and funding to help you successfully execute and achieve those goals. It provides more opportunities for you to improve your community, access increased grant funding, and earn recognition. CEC 3.0 comes with new and updated high impact actions, toolkits to help with those actions, and the ability to track your progress and compare your accomplishments with other communities across the state. With continued coordinator support and guidance for implementing high-impact clean energy actions, you have a clear path to building community-wide resiliency and economic opportunity.
CEC Round 3.0 Guidance Documents can be found HERE.
Experience the rewards of expanding clean energy in your community on a whole new level. The new Clean Energy Communities program gives you the energy to make it happen.
Clean Energy Communities Rounds 1 and 2: 2016-2023
On August 3, 2016, Governor Cuomo announced the launch of the Clean Energy Communities program, with $16 million in initial funding to help local governments across the state reduce energy consumption and drive clean energy use in their communities.
To build on the success of the initial program, the second round of the program, CEC Leadership Round ran from January 2021 until December 2023.
In the first and second rounds combined, there were 114 communities who took part in the program in the Southern Tier, with 67 that received the designation of Clean Energy Community.
The Clean Energy Communities Program (CEC) provides grants, direct technical support to communities, and recognition to local governments that demonstrate leadership in the area of clean energy. The Southern Tier region had active communities in each county with 37 municipalities reaching a designation status by completing at least 4 action items. In addition, $1.78 million was awarded to the region for clean energy projects!