Energy and Sustainability

The City of Kingston is a leader in efforts to create a more energy-efficient and sustainable community. Kingston has taken a comprehensive approach to building a city that is equipped to meet modern challenges and embrace 21^st century opportunities.

2030 Climate Action Plan

See https://engagekingston.com/climate-action-plan  for more information.

• Adaptation and Resilience – Kingston is taking important steps to keep citizens and infrastructure safe from flooding.
  
  

• Air Quality - Many of the City's sustainability initiatives also have a co-benefit of improved air quality, including the transition of the City Fleet, increased bike lanes and trails, increased open space and more. Two direct initiatives focus acutely on air quality: Woodburning and Anti-Idling. 
  

• Citizens Engagement – There are many ways for citizens to get involved with Energy and Sustainability initiatives in the City of Kingston. From serving on commissions to assisting with open space planning, to rolling up your sleeves to plant trees, there is something for everyone!
  
  
• Education and Outreach – Kingston provides a wide variety of environmental education opportunities. The city operates one of New York State’s only municipal nature centers, provides guided kayaks tours of the Rondout/Hudson waterfront, and provides year-round Environmental Education programming for schools.
  
  
• Energy - Kingston is helping to save taxpayer dollars and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency efforts, and becoming a Clean Energy Community. Interested in solarizing your home or business? You can access a Solar Guidebook and Kingston’s Solar Permit here.
  
  
• Land Use - Wise land use decisions can help to make our community more economically vibrant, resilient to flooding, attract tourists and improve quality of life for residents, while enhancing wildlife connections and protecting our valuable land and water resources.
  
  
• Sustainable Resource Management – Kingston is improving and streamlining our waste management system. Check out www.kingston-ny.gov/recycle for all the up to date info. 
  
  
• Transportation – Kingston is undertaking many project to green municipal vehicle fleets, make streets more friendly for walkers and bikers, and to upgrade roadways, including the innovative Broadway Streetscape Project.
  
  
• Upgrading Wastewater Infrastructure – Kingston is taking a proactive approach to planning for the future of the wastewater treatment plant and is in the process of separating storm and sanitary sewers to increase capacity and sewage release into waterways during flood events.
  

For more information about any of these initiatives, contact Julie Noble, Environmental Education and Sustainability Coordinator, at 845-481-7339 or [email protected]

2020 City of Kingston Sustainability Report 

2018 City of Kingston Sustainability Report

2017 City of Kingston Sustainability Report 

This webpage was developed with technical assistance from Elizabeth LoGiudice through a partnership between the City of Kingston, River Haggie Outdoors and Cornell University Water Resources Institute, with funding from the Environmental Protection Fund through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program.