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Energy and Sustainability Plan Madison County, NY

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Energy and Sustainability Plan Madison County, NY Energy and Sustainability Plan Madison County, NY 1 2016 Contents 4 Executive Summary 5 Introduction 16 Background 6 Energy Management 10 Transportation 24 Land Use Framework 8 30 Environment Target Areas Economic Development 36 Materials Management 42 Agriculture Climate Adaptation 54 County Government 58 48 Created by the Madison County Planning Department 2 A message from the County Chairman The Madison County Energy and Sustainability Plan represents a coordinated effort to reduce Madison County’s greenhouse gas emissions while increasing the economic vitality and quality of life in our communities. The Plan is part of Madison County’s commitment to participate in New York State Climate Smart Communities program and includes the actions Madison County is committed to undertaking to further address the critical issue of sustainability. John Becker Chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisors 3 Executive Summary The Energy and Sustainability Plan for Madison be started. With proactive and forward thinking County was designed to use our 2013 Greenhouse leadership at the County Board level, and staff Gas Inventory as a launchpad for emissions that are willing to take the lead on implementation, reduction goals and strategies. Participation in the Madison County is poised to make great strides in 2010 Climate Change Innovation Program (C2IP), the energy and sustainability arena in the future. With headed by the Central New York Regional Planning an easily digestible level of background information and Development Board (CNYRPDB), was the and explanation, this document sets forth a catalyst for the inventory and has led us down many roadmap that was intended to be easy to follow and paths toward improved energy efficiency, community straightforward to implement. education, and an overall improvement in our carbon The Plan is broken down into nine goal areas which footprint. include: Energy Management, Transportation, Paradigm shifts often require leadership by those Land Use, Environment, Economic Development, who are willing to step outside of the box, take Materials Management/Waste, Agriculture, Climate risks, and lead by example. When it comes to Adaptation/Resiliency, and Madison County alternative energy, Madison County has been a Government. These areas were in part chosen to leader in the State and Nation for many years. From mirror similar topic areas within the “Vision CNY housing the first commercial wind farms east of the Central New York Regional Sustainability Plan” Mississippi in 1999-2000, to our use of collected prepared by the Central New York Regional Planning landfill methane to create electricity, to present day and Development Board in 2013. In addition, the efforts to utilize large scale solar energy to power emphasis is on specific goals and focus areas that municipal operations, Madison County has taken that were identified as priorities through partner surveys, leadership role that has helped provide opportunities Energy Committee Meetings, and topics of State and for its residents and those of neighboring National importance. With this plan, and continued municipalities. local, regional, and national support, Madison County can sustain and enhance its present levels of Though some of the goals and tasks identified in proactive energy policy. this plan are already underway, many have yet to 4 Introduction What is sustainability? Sustainability is a strategy that recognizes all the assets of a community and acknowledges that communities gain more when those assets are leveraged together. Investing in green initiatives The Madison County Energy and means designing communities with intention. It Sustainability Plan is the beginning means that projects are held to a high standard to of a journey toward a more sustain- ensure they preserve and enhance the values and able Madison County. In these pag- resources of our communities including preserving es, the citizens of Madison County our working farmland to supporting livable places will find policies and programs that that are healthier and more economically viable. aim to reduce emissions, save en- By continuing to pursue green initiatives, we ergy and money, and help Madison demonstrate our dedication to looking beyond the County continue to be a beautiful and status quo and recognize that each new endeavor is healthy place to live, work, and play. an opportunity to leverage all of our assets, including our vast natural resources, to create efficient, holistic growth that reduces costs and integrates economic development with community quality of life. Through advancing these technologies and initiatives, we are creating a momentum that is bringing new vitality to our communities and establishing Madison County as a leader. 5 Background In 2010, Madison County applied for and was public health, or social conditions in a community”. awarded a grant through the Central New York Regional Planning built the C2IP program around two Regional Planning and Development Board’s Climate main goals: improving energy performance in local Change Innovation Program (C2IP). government operations; and removing barriers for greenhouse gas management and the reduction of Regional Planning had been awarded a United States vehicle miles traveled through the development of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate effective local government programs, policies, and Showcase Communities Program grant and had outreach in the areas of land use, transportation, and developed the C2IP program for Central New York. community master planning. The goal of the EPA’s program is to “create replicable models of community action that generate cost- effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions while improving the environmental, economic, Madison County GHG Inventory Summary Completed in January of 2013, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory used 2010 data for its baseline and was developed using ICLEI’s Clean Air and Climate Protection software in addition to a great investment of time and energy collecting government and community level ener- gy consumption data. For the first time ever, Madison County now has a clear picture of both its energy use and cost as well as that of our community and citizens. Madison County emitted 777,338 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mtCO2e) or 10.6 tons for each of Madison County’s 73,442 residents. Energy consumption costs for Madison County government operations is about $1.5 million a year and accounts for about 0.75% of total community-wide emissions. The plan itself goes into much greater detail in a number of sectors and provides a clear and concise baseline from which to develop this Energy and Sustainability Plan (ESP). 6 Madison County Solar Installations 2003-2015 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 40 35 30 29 30 25 20 15 10 8 5 5 4 1 0 2 2 1 2 0 Number of Completed Installations (NYSERDA) Number including non-solarize) (all solari PV, 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 For Madison County, this three year project included $2,000 incentive to further reduce the costs of solar a number of facets, most notably the development installations. of a Greenhouse Gas inventory and the Solarize The program was so successful that we had a total Madison Program. The award included $30,000 for of 29 installations in the first year and Madison the development or implementation of greenhouse County went from being the 24th most expensive gas mitigating technologies, to which Madison County for installing Solar PV in New York, to the County developed (with partners including the cheapest County in all of New York State. The Renewable Energy Training Center at Morrisville program continued into 2013 and focused on solar State College and CNYRP&DB) the Solarize Madison PV as well as solar hot water. The 2013 program Program. Through a competitively bid process, resulted in 115kW of installed solar PV and 19 we selected a Solar PV installation contractor that installed hot water systems. In 2015 Madison County offered a unique and cost saving tiered pricing participated in SolarizeCNY, a regional solarize approach that gave participants greater cost savings program in Madison, Oswego, Cayuga, Oneida, and as more participated in the installation of solar PV. Onondaga counties. 344 systems were installed in The first 15 residential participants were offered a 7 the 5 county region through SolarizeCNY in 2015. Framework The Energy and Sustainability Plan is both a short The following plans have been developed for the and long term vision for attainment of the County’s County and the Region: energy future. The plan highlights energy goals, develops action plans to meet those goals, and Central New York Region identifies needed resources for attainment. At the government level, it has been determined (using Central New York Regional Sustainability Plan VisionCNY - 2013 2010 baseline data) that the County spends nearly $1.5 million a year on electricity, natural gas, and CNY Regional Economic Development Plan transportation fuels combined. The bulk of those 2012 dollars are spent on running the buildings and fueling vehicles. The resulting greenhouse gas emissions are primarily a result of gasoline and Madison County diesel fuel consumption, with a smaller percentage coming from electricity and natural gas emissions. Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan 2005 With regard to both emissions and cost, there are numerous opportunities for Madison County Health Improvement Planning Report to reduce carbon emissions and save
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