Welcome
The Climate Crisis is at a critical stage. Urgent action is needed.Our planet is experiencing more intense heat, bigger storms, longer droughts, increased flooding, raging wildfires, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. And yes, man-made greenhouse gases are causing our climate to change.
That's why the Saugerties Town Board took these actions:- Took the Climate Smart Communities Pledge back in 2009, the first town in Ulster County to do so.
- Appointed the Saugerties Climate Smart Task Force in March 2018 to help Saugerties continue to honor that pledge, and set new goals – further reduction of greenhouse gases and certification by New York State as a Climate Smart Community.
- October, 2019 — The Town of Saugerties has achieved NYS certification as a Climate Smart Community at the bronze level, the first town in Ulster County to acheive this.
- April 2024 - The Town of Saugerties achieved recertification at the Bronze level.
NEWS 2025
Two Battery Electric Trucks Added to Town Fleet 
(l to r) Town Supervisor Fred Costello, Jr; Waste Water Consultant Mark Resso; Superintendent of Parks, Recreation, Buildings and Grounds Greg Chorvas; Special Operations Coordinator/Grant Writer Kathleen Gray
Two battery electric light-duty trucks, funded by a $100,000 New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) grant, arrived in Saugerties to replace aging gas-powered vehicles. The all-electric trucks help reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, are more efficient, and cost less to operate. Internal combustion engines are a leading source of emissions.
The new trucks are for use primarily on public roads and highways by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Buildings, and the Waste Water Treatment Department.
The town, a New York State designated Clean Energy Community (CEC) qualified for the $100,000 grant having implemented the required number of clean energy high-impact actions.
Town Supervisor Fred Costello, Jr. stated his gratitude to NYSERDA for providing the funding, and to the town’s Conservation Advisory Commission Climate Smart Task Force for its work in documenting the town’s CEC high-impact actions that qualified the town for the grant.
Previous CEC grants include: $10,000 for LED lighting at Town Hall, $5,000 for energy efficient appliances at the Greco Senior Center kitchen, and a $5,000 grant as designated CEC community.
Climate Smart Task Force Hosts Repair Cafe
Eight-one people attended the Repair Café on February 1 at the Saugerties Frank D. Greco Senior Center eager to have an item fixed, free of charge, by one of the 13 volunteer “fixers” on hand to do repairs. Items repaired included electrical, mechanical and wood items, sewing machines, clothing, jewelry and computers. A total of 90 items were successfully repaired. Thirty-five were unable to be fixed.
Future Repair Cafes are scheduled in Saugerties at the Frank D. Greco Senior Center 207 Main Street for June 7 and October 4 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Volunteers to help with repairs are always needed. Interested in volunteering? Email rcsaugerties@gmail.com
Repair Café is a project of the Saugerties Climate Smart Task Force and an action of the NYS Climate Smart Communities program.
Hudson Estuary Trees for Tributaries (Tribs)
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation offers free native trees and shrubs for planting along streams in the Hudson River Valley. Trees planted along streams help protect water quality, fish, and wildlife, and also reduce erosion and flooding. Info at https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/hudson-estuary-trees-for-tribs
By working together — Town government, residents, and business owners — we can reduce greenhouse gas emmissions while building our local economy, and be part of the solution to the climate crisis. Here are some suggestions:
Upcoming Events
There is an immediacy to this threat that requires all of us to be proactive and take responsibility for our little corner of the world as we work to further reduce our municipal greenhouse gas emissions and develop additional mitigation policies to address current and future impacts.
Our town's Climate Smart Saugerties task force is a perfect example of how volunteer efforts are bringing us closer to an energy sustainable future. The work of the task force couldn't be more important.”
