As Fourth Ward Councilmember and Chair of the City of Hudson’s Conservation Advisory Council (CAC), I am happy to announce that in one year, 2024, I have secured $107,500 of New York State Climate Smart and Clean Energy Community grants for the City of Hudson.
Earlier this year, the City of Hudson was awarded $5,000 towards a residential LED light bulb exchange program. The CAC is in the process of procuring the bulbs which will be distributed in the spring. The City was additionally awarded $15,000 towards electrical lawn and maintenance equipment for the City of Hudson’s Cemetery. The Department of Public Works recently purchased this equipment, which includes electric mowers and leaf-blowers.
Last month, the City of Hudson was awarded $87,500 towards Electric Vehicle charging stations. In 2018-2019, as former Alderman, I received $45,000 in grants for the three Level Two charging stations (six ports) currently used behind City Hall.
The current charging stations behind City Hall are almost always in use, and are sometimes full on the weekends. Motorists are charged for the service, which offsets the cost of electricity and station maintenance. Any additional funds are currently allocated to the City’s General Fund.
The new grant of $87,500 will pay for another set of three Level Two charging stations (six ports) for the parking lot across from the Amtrak station and a Level Three charging station behind City Hall. The Level Two charging stations offer about 25 miles of charge per hour, and many motorists use them to charge overnight. A Level Three charging station can offer up to 100 miles of charge in an hour, and many motorists will use them while taking a rest or lunch break. The Level Three charger will be similar to the charging stations New York State is installing at rest areas on the NYS Thruway. The City of Hudson may be the first place to offer a (non-Tesla) Level Three super-charging port in Columbia County. I anticipate that people will drive out of their way to stop at a Level Three charging port.
The City of Hudson’s municipal electricity is supplied by the East Light Solar company which is a program I set up in 2019. The charging stations offer a carbon neutral alternative.
Electric vehicles are the future, and I’m happy to help create an infrastructure for EV Charging within the City of Hudson.
-Rich Volo, 4th Ward Councilmember
