Ben Mitchell is reporting for News10 [dot] com $11.6 million has been awarded to 25 municipalities across New York to fund Climate Smart Communities projects intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and flood risk, and to help communities adapt to the ongoing impacts of climate change. In total, the Department of Environmental Conservation has awarded to date more than $50 million in support of local climate mitigation and adaptation projects. Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “These grants help empower locally-driven, bold action to help meet New York’s ambitious climate goals while setting an example for other municipalities to follow.” Among the Climate Smart Communities Grant awards: $35,000 for Albany County for the development of its first-ever climate action plan; the city of Kingston will receive $50,000 to support the development of a municipal refrigerant management plan along with an implementation program; and $1.69 million has been awarded to Ulster County for its Golden Hill Renewable Energy Project. The county will partner with Family of Woodstock, Ulster County Housing Development Corporation, and a developer to build the Golden Hill affordable housing project in the city of Kingston. The grant will go toward the cost of the solar system. Read more at News10 [dot] com.