Mayor Signs Agreement with DEC for Climate Action Plan

SARATOGA SPRINGS ­— Mayor Kim, with City Council approval, accepted a $37,500 grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for a Government Operations Climate Action Plan (CAP) during the Nov. 8 City Council meeting.

The CAP will establish initiatives and policies that enable the city to meet its climate goals, identify priority strategies and actions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, assess the vulnerability of the city’s infrastructure and natural environment to projected climate change, and create several shovel-ready projects able to compete for private, federal, and additional state funding. 

The city has reviewed proposals responsive to an RFP for consulting services and expects to announce an award of bid at the Nov. 21 City Council meeting.

The consultant, with assistance from a project team comprised of members of the Climate Smart Task Force and City staff, will draft the CAP for review by stakeholders, local officials, advisory agencies, and citizens. After comments and recommendations are taken into consideration by the consultant and project team, the CAP will be brought to City Council for approval. The process of developing the Climate Action Plan is anticipated to take 12-18 months.