Sunday, March 16, 2025
Sustainability and clean energy took center stage at the Village of Sea Cliff’s Monday board meeting, with a presentation from the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor and an update on the village’s progress in the Climate Smart Communities program.
The meeting began with representatives from the coalition outlining their mission to protect and sustain the 16-mile waterway that connects several North Shore communities. Co-presidents Stephanie Sobel and Nino Luciano, who were appointed to the role in September, explained that their goal was to work more closely with local governments of the communities surrounding Hempstead Harbor, especially Sea Cliff, to achieve shared environmental goals.
The coalition, the only nonprofit solely dedicated to the preservation of Hempstead Harbor, spotlighted initiatives such as oyster gardening, beach cleanups, and youth engagement programs. Sobel and Luciano also noted that the group has grown in size and reach, recently adding six board members from harbor communities, including Sea Cliff, to spread the word about their work and strengthen partnerships.
Youth involvement was a key focus, particularly through the coalition’s Youth Ambassadors program, which educates young people on sustainability and engages them in hands-on projects. Board members voiced strong support for the coalition’s efforts, and began preliminary discussions with the co-presidents regarding a partnership between the Youth Ambassadors and the village’s Youth Activities Board.
“We have a lot of activities to start to bring to the fore for young people who are interested in the harbor,” Sobel said. “When we think about sustainability, we need to bring the youth with us.”
The coalition highlighted their role in the International Coastal Cleanup, an annual event that goes beyond removing debris to cataloging collected items. This data helps identify trends like plastic pollution.
The coalition also announced upcoming events, including a 40th Anniversary Gala on April 24 at the Swan Club in Roslyn, a pub crawl in March, and a plastic-free lunch day in partnership with local schools around Earth Day.
Mayor Elena Villafane thanked Sobel and Luciano for their presentation, and emphasized the village’s commitment to doing its part to help preserve the harbor. The board promised to look into further ways to collaborate with the coalition, whether through collaboration between the two organizations with youth wings, helping to get the word out about beach cleanups or similar events.
“The coalition came out of Sea Cliff, so we will continue as a board to support you in whatever way we can,” Villafane said. “There really are so many groups along the harbor that the more we can intersect and create synergy among them, the greater presence the harbor and Long Island Sound will have.”
The meeting transitioned to a detailed presentation from Jacob Fain, the village clean energy intern hired through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Fain provided an update on Sea Cliff’s participation in the Climate Smart Communities program, a statewide initiative which provides grants to municipalities who meet certain environmental thresholds.
When Fain started his role last July, the village had around 65 points in the program; as of Monday, it stands at 108, just shy of the 120-point threshold needed to qualify for additional grants. His efforts have included conducting building audits, benchmarking energy use in municipal facilities, and helping to get electric vehicle chargers installed in Sea Cliff.
“It’s been great to see the progress,” Fain said. “We have a lot in the works, this will all contribute to our application.”
A significant portion of Fain’s presentation focused on Community Solar, an initiative allowing residents, small businesses, and certain municipal properties to subscribe to solar energy without installing panels. Energy is sourced from solar farms and distributed through the grid, providing financial benefits like a roughly 10 percent reduction in electricity bills.
“When most people think of solar, they think it’s this big installation and process,” Fain explained. “But with this, it’s really just a simple click of a subscription, and you don’t have to install any panels on your property.”
Fain highlighted Bright Future Solar, a Farmingdale-based project seeking more subscribers, as a potential partner for this project. He spoke with project coordinator Lori Anderson to enroll the Sea Cliff Village Library, which could save $150 to $200 annually. Though modest, Fain stressed the importance of participating in clean energy programs.
“This is a small amount of savings. The savings are essentially irrelevant in the long run,” he said. “But it’s about the fact that you can subscribe to a clean energy project without paying anything.”
Fain’s work extends beyond Climate Smart Communities. He noted that the progress made in this program also advances the village’s standing in NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program, unlocking additional grant opportunities.
The board also discussed a clean energy grant application aimed at funding renewable energy projects, such as installing solar panels on municipal buildings and transitioning the village’s fleet to electric vehicles.
The presentation highlighted potential long-term benefits, including cost savings and greenhouse gas reduction. Trustees discussed ways to engage residents, such as workshops and informational sessions, to build support for clean energy initiatives.
