Claire Gilbert is reporting for The Columbia Paper the town of Ghent has been deemed a Clean Energy Community by the NY State Energy Research and Development Authority. The designation came with the official opening of Ghent's first electric vehicle charging station. The charging station, located in the parking lot of Kinderhook Bank in Depot Square, was installed as a part of the Clean Energy Communities initiative. Since its activation on May 10, the charging station recorded approximately 50 uses by the end of June. “The charging station’s activation completed the last of four high-impact, clean energy actions that led to the town being designated a NYSERDA Clean Energy Community,” Town Supervisor Mike Benvenuto said. “I would also like to thank Chatham Mayor Tom Curran and the Village Board for their cooperation in locating this charging station where it will greatly benefit both the town and the village.” The charging station also made Ghent eligible to apply for NYSERDA funding. The authority is accepting applications on a rolling basis through the end of September 2019 to fund clean energy projects, with funds coming from the Clean Energy Fund and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.