Climate Smart Communities Certification Report
Download PDF Versionbronze Certified
This is the Climate Smart Communities Certification Report of Broome County. Broome County is a bronze certified Climate Smart Community.
Broome County was certified on September 26, 2019 with
178 points earned from 37 completed actions. Listed below is information regarding
Broome County’s Climate Smart Communities efforts and materials associated with its certified actions.
The certification for Broome County will expire on September 30, 2024.
Contact Information
The designated Climate Smart Communities contact for Broome County is:
| Name: | Beth Lucas |
|---|---|
| Title/Position: | Director of Planning / Broome County Planning Department |
| Address: | 60 Hawley St
PO Box 1766 Binghamton, NY 13902 |
Actions Implemented
Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Broome County was approved for in 2019 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.
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1. Build a climate-smart community.
PE1 Action: CSC Task Force
20 PointsBronze Mandatory Silver MandatoryProgram Summary: The Executive Order designates the Environmental Management Council (EMC) as the Climate Smart Communities Task Force. The EMC Operating Bylaws outline the membership and associated responsibilities of the EMC and the 2019 EMC Roster identifies the individuals that make up the current membership. EMC Minutes 3-7-19 and EMC Minutes 5-9-19 document the most recent meetings of the EMC (designated Climate Smart Communities Task Force) including records of attendance.
- pdf EMC Operating Bylaws
- pdf 2019 EMC Roster
- pdf EMC Minutes 3-7-19
- pdf EMC Minutes 5-9-19
- pdf Executive Order
PE1 Action: CSC Coordinator
10 PointsBronze Mandatory Silver MandatoryProgram Summary: Executive Order - Names the Designated Climate Smart Communities Coordinator
- pdf Executive Order
PE1 Action: National/Regional Climate Program
3 PointsProgram Summary: Clean Energy Communities Designation Notification - Email notifying Broome County that our submission for designation as a Clean Energy Community was approved.
PE1 Action: Partnerships with Other Entities
3 PointsProgram Summary: Broome County partners with other communities that are regulated MS4s under federal and state stormwater regulations through the Broome-Tioga Stormwater Coalition. The group works together on stormwater management issues. A major component is educating the public, primarily through the Water From Rain campaign. The website is www.waterfromrain.org. Similarly, the Broome County Flood Task force is a group that meets regularly to work together to address the issues surrounding flood risk and changing flood conditions and how they are impacting local communities. This group includes local officials, but also regional NYSDEC representatives and state and federal officials. Documentation includes: MOU establishing the BTSC MInutes from a recent BTSC meeting. Agenda from a recent Flood Task Force Meeting with attached sign-in sheet with affiliations.
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3. Decrease energy use.
PE3 Action: Government Building Energy Audits
16 PointsBronze Priority Silver PriorityProgram Summary: Broome County Facilities Square Footage Audited - Includes individual buildings owned by Broome County and indicates which ones were audited and a calculation of the percent square footage audited. 81% of the total square footage has been documented as being audited. Broome County DEA Exec Summary - THIS IS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, This is the executive summary for the Detailed Energy Audit for the Broome County Office Building, Public Safety Facility, Veterans Memorial Arena, Courthouse energy annex, Transportation Garage, Greater Binghamton Airport, Forum, Library, Harpursville Senior Center and DPW Garage. Willow Point Nursing Home DEA exec summary - THIS IS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, This is the executive summary for the Detailed Energy Audit for Willow Point Nursing Home
PE3 Action: Benchmarking - Municipal Buildings
2 PointsProgram Summary: Benchmarking Resolution 2-19 - Resolution from the Broome County Legislature adopting a benchmarking policy
PE3 Action: Green Building Standard for Government Buildings
2 PointsProgram Summary: In 2009 Broome County adopted a policy that directs the Department of Public Works to "apply the principles of energy conservation in design and operational practices, as a standard that meets environmental and economic performance goals for County owned facilities, using established and/or advanced building energy principles, practices, management, materials and standards for: a.) planning of new major County facility construction projects occurring on or after the effective date of this Resolution, or, b.) planning of renovation of existing major County facilities, or, c.) energy saving operational practices and management, occurring on or after the effective date of this Resolution". The adopted resolution is attached.
PE3 Action: Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy
2 PointsProgram Summary: The Broome County Purchase Procurement Process Guide includes policies for recycled materials and Energy Star products. These are highlighted in the attached document on pages 31 and 22 respectively.
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4. Shift to clean, renewable energy.
PE4 Action: Solar Energy Installation
14 PointsProgram Summary: Attached is the power purchase agreement for the Broome County Solar Farm. It includes all of the details regarding the two solar installations on site. Also attached is the press release indicating that the solar systems went online in 2018. Attached is information about the Solar Panels on the Broome County Public Library, a press release from when they went online and an image from the Library's website with live data showing energy production and emissions savings from the panels.
PE4 Action: Power Purchase Agreement for Renewables
14 PointsProgram Summary: The attached file includes a PPA for two separate, although adjacent, solar farms
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5. Use climate-smart materials management.
PE5 Action: Construction & Demolition Waste Policy
4 PointsProgram Summary: The attached C&D Program informational document gives an overview of C&D disposal options including relevant excerpts from the Broome County code. Also attached is info about the EcoCenter, a reuse center for C&D waste.
PE5 Action: Reuse Programs
3 PointsProgram Summary:
PE5 Action: Recycling Program for Public Places & Events
3 PointsProgram Summary: Broome County offers guidance and a recycling bin loan program for public events. Documents included are: Info from Solid Waste website, MOU for Recycling Bin Loan, application, promotional postcard, Special Event Recycling Guidelines, and the log of entities that participated in the loan program in 2018. For recycling in public places, we have attached the instructions for parks staff for implementing recycling at those facilities. Also attached are a series of photos shows a sample of the recycling bin setup at the parks.
PE5 Action: Waste Reduction Education Campaign
2 PointsProgram Summary: Page 4 of the attached 2018 Solid Waste Annual Report gives an overview of the Education and Outreach efforts in the past year (these have also continued into 2019). Information about Broome County waste management services, as well as informational/educational materials are available on the website at www.gobroomecounty.com/solidwaste with downloadable documents available at www.gobroomecounty.com/brochures. These materials are also distributed at public events. Attached is a packet of these educational materials (Solid Waste Information Docs). There are additional materials available as well.
PE5 Action: Residential Organic Waste Program
2 PointsProgram Summary: The attached Organics Issue Paper #9 gives an overview of organics composting in the County. We are requesting points for yard waste composting at the County-run landfill. Also included are images from the current Solid Waste website. "Yardwaste - BC recycling guide" describes where yard waste can be dropped for free, including the BC Landfill. "Broome County Landfill - Give Back Program" is a pdf of the main Landfill webpage. The availability of free compost is listed under the heading "Give Back Program" on page 2.
5.4 Implement a Pay-as-you-throw or Similar Unit Pricing Program
0 PointsProgram Summary:
5.7 Offer Recycling to Residents
0 PointsProgram Summary:
5.8 Offer Recycling to Commercial Entities (or Require That They Recycle)
0 PointsProgram Summary:
5.12 Host Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days
0 PointsProgram Summary:
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6. Implement climate-smart land use.
PE6 Action: Comprehensive Plan with Sustainability Elements
9 PointsBronze Priority Silver PriorityProgram Summary: 2013 Broome County Comprehensive Plan - Full plan Adopting Resolution 12-19-13 - Resolution from proceedings of the Broome County Legislature adopting the plan. Memorandum - Sustainability Elements of BC Comp Plan - Document outlining sustainability elements in the Comprehensive Plan
PE6 Action: Policies for Local Food Systems
2 PointsProgram Summary: Broome County houses community gardens at a county park, Otsiningo Park. These are managed through a partnership with Otsiningo Community Gardeners' Association. Broome County also has an agreement with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County for operations and maintenance of the Broome County Regional Farmers. The BC Regional Farmers Market Vendor Handbook outlines the policies for the market including requirements for the source of products and ingredients.
PE6 Action: Infrastructure for Biking and Walking
2 PointsProgram Summary: BMTS Unified Operations Plan - Documents the structure of the Binghamton Metropolitan Transportation Study (local Metropolitan Planning Organization) and their roll in leading transportation planning and project implementation for our region. Documents Broome County's official role in that organization. Broome County also houses the organization in the Department of Planning and Economic Development, and employees are considered Broome County employees. Two Rivers Greenway Signage Plan and Design Guide - Shows the plan outlining plans for installing signage identifying the Two Rivers Greenway. This plan also includes planned linkages to enhance the multi-use regional trail network and is considered an update to the 1999 Greenway Plan. Two Rivers Greenway Sign - Otsiningo Park - Picture depicting an installed Two Rivers Greenway sign at Otsiningo Park (County-owned Park). Broome County installed greenway signs on County-owned properties as outlined in the Plan, in partnership with the other involved municipalities.
PE6 Action: Natural Resources Inventory
8 PointsBronze Priority Silver PriorityProgram Summary: The Broome County Environmental Management Council has documented the County's natural resources in a Natural Resources Inventory. The most recent draft was completed in June of 2019. The inventory is attached.
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7. Enhance community resilience to climate change.
PE7 Action: Climate Resilience Vision
3 PointsProgram Summary:
PE7 Action: Evaluate Policies for Climate Resilience
6 PointsBronze Priority Silver PriorityProgram Summary: Broome County completed the Climate Smart Resiliency Planning Tool in 2017 with input from relevant County staff. The tool was recently reviewed and updated to reflect plan updates that have occurred since then. The completed Tool and a summary of the results of the assessment are included.
7.5 Incorporate Climate Resiliency Vision, Goals, and Strategies into Local Plans and Projects
0 PointsProgram Summary:
PE7 Action: Watershed-based Flood Mitigation Plan
6 PointsProgram Summary:
7.22 Develop or Enhance Early Warning Systems and Community Evacuation Plans
0 PointsProgram Summary:
PE7 Action: Water-smart Landscaping
0 PointsProgram Summary:
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8. Support a green innovation economy.
PE8 Action: Farmers’ Markets
3 PointsProgram Summary: Broome County was instrumental in the construction and opening of the Broome County Regional Farmers Market. Broome County funded both the feasibility study to identify the economic feasibility of a regional market and establish criteria for a building and the construction of the facility (mix of grants and County funds). Broome County also obtained a grant to get the market up and running upon opening, which was used to fund operations through an agreement with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County through the end of 2017 (contract attached). Now, Broome County continues to fund Cornell Cooperative extension, providing 10% of their annual budget (shown on page 4 of the CCE Annual Report, CCE_Broome_AR_2018), and they operate the facility open on Saturdays year round, and additional days in the main growing season (see BCRFM Hours). Currently, there is an agreement in place between CCE and Broome County establishing a lease agreement and operations and maintenance responsibility for the market until 2040 (see Resolution No. 351 attached).
PE8 Action: Buy Local/Buy Green Campaign
2 PointsProgram Summary: Broome County participates in 3 separate Buy Local programs: The Agency (BC IDA) promotes locally produced products through the Made in Broome program. Broome County
PE8 Action: Brownfield Clean-up & Redevelopment
8 PointsProgram Summary:
- pdf 18 FD County Comp Plan - Action Plan VI 5 Legacy.pdf
- pdf 19 FD County Comp Plan - Action Plan Table VI 5 Legacy.pdf
- pdf B00168 COC for 312 Maple Street Site.pdf
- pdf Brandywine Corridor BOA November 2013-revised.pdf
- pdf EJ BOA Nomination Study Pt 1Summary 12 15 10 rev 3.pdf
- pdf FINAL PRR - 10 31 17.pdf
PE8 Action: PACE Financing
7 PointsProgram Summary: Energy Improvement Corporation Municipal Agreement - This includes the resolution passed by the Broome County Legislature adopting the local law to establish the program
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9. Inform and inspire the public.
PE9 Action: Local Climate Action Website
3 PointsProgram Summary: Broome County's has added a Climate Smart Communities page to the website. This went live in June 2019. The site is located at www.gobroomecounty.com/csc A pdf of the main page is attached.
PE9 Action: Social Media
3 PointsProgram Summary: The Broome County EMC (also designated CSC Task Force) post information about environmental notices, events and other information regularly via the facebook page www.facebook.com/broomeemc. See screenshot attached.
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12. Performance
Performance: Reduce GHGs from Government Facilities
15 PointsProgram Summary: Broome County submitted and was approved for the CEC Clean Energy Upgrades action. Documents include the calculator and the email from NYSERDA approving the CEC action.