Town of Hebron Receives Clean Energy Communities $5,000 Grant

Town of Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell and the Climate Smart Hebron Task Force today announced that Hebron is the first municipality in Washington County to receive a $5,000 Clean Energy Communities Action Grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The grant is a result of Hebron successfully completing a community solar campaign led by the Task Force during the summer of 2022 and will be used to install a new air source heat pump system.

The grant will be applied to a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning upgrade to the Hebron fire company building in West Hebron that houses the Town Court and Town Meeting Room. The project will replace the very old and inefficient oil-fired furnace with a hybrid dual-fuel HVAC system. Specifically, the new system to be installed will be a clean energy air source heat pump system backed up by a 95% efficiency auxiliary propane furnace.

According to Paul Sokol, Town Councilman, Climate Smart Hebron Task Force member, and a member of the Hebron Volunteer Fire Company, “This new air source heat pump system will provide greater heating and cooling flexibility and save between 30% and 50% in energy costs per year.”

Jill Nadolski, Town Council member, and Climate Smart Hebron Coordinator said: “Hebron has been an active NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities participant for just over a year. The Task Force has completed three high-impact actions including Cobra Head LED Street Lights, Municipal Building Benchmarking, and most recently, Community Campaign for Community Solar, making Hebron a leading town in Washington County for clean energy initiatives.

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), said, “Congratulations to the Town of Hebron for successfully completing a community solar campaign that resulted in more New Yorkers accessing clean energy and led to them receiving the first Clean Energy Communities Action Grant in Washington County. Reinvesting the grant in a clean heating and cooling system shows how communities can build on initiatives to strategically make their community a healthier place to live with improved sustainability, energy savings and reduced climate-altering emissions.”

The Climate Smart Hebron Task Force was formed in January 2022 to promote clean energy and sustainability initiatives in the Town. Volunteer committee members serve as ambassadors and advocates, spreading the word and developing plans for high-impact actions. In addition to Ms Nadolski, and Mr Sokol, current members are William Throop, Elizabeth Baker, Jordan LaMothe and Randy Brooks.