Environmental Initiatives

In 2019, the Town partnered in a community solar installation in Amsterdam which has resulted in substantial energy credits for the Town in its National Grid bills.

In 2018, the Town worked with the Environmental Protection Agency on the best uses for the Town's closed landfill (now the Town's Transfer Station). The EPA produced a Solar Study (PDF) which led to the Town exploring solar energy uses for the policy. In mid-2019, the Town retained Solomon Energy to issue a request for proposals from solar energy providers. Solomon later provided the Town Board with a Detailed Assessment (PDF) of the responses. In late 2019, the Town Board awarded an option agreement with GE Solar for leasing the Town's closed landfill for the installation of a solar facility. During the option period, GE Solar will investigate the landfill's conditions and determine the extent of its solar facility. The Town and GE Solar will later negotiate and enter to a lease agreement.

The Town has over 700 acres of open space with over 200 of these acres acquired in the past three years. This open space will allow the creation of a "green infrastructure" of multi-use trails connecting neighborhoods, schools, and businesses, protecting stream corridors, and helped rank the Town as the "most desirable" upstate community by young adults.

• View Rail Trail Grows in Guilderland
• View Guilderland Rated 'Most Desirable' for Young Adults Upstate

in January, 2020, UAlbany Planning Department's Graduate Studio started its project of inventorying the Town's open space, identifying connections to neighborhoods, parks, schools, libraries, and businesses, and possible non-motorized route options as part of the Town's development of the "green infrastructure" envisioned in neighborhood studies. This Spring semester project will include public meetings and the use of social media for soliciting public comments and presenting findings and final recommendations at the project's conclusion. The project's scope, schedule, and progress will be posted on the Planning Department's web page.

In 2018, the Town created a Transit-Oriented Development District ("TOD") which focuses on CDTA's regional transit center at Crossgates Mall and the underutilized ring road with direct access to the interstate highway system. The TOD District encourages sustainable development with more dense residential development within walking distance of the transit center and shopping. The creation of the TOD was a core recommendation in the Westmere Corridor Study (2017).

In 2019, the Town established a new water connection with Rotterdam with a pump station designed to allow water flow in both directions between the two communities. This municipal interconnection is the latest Town effort to diversify water sources to meet an ever-increasing demand for our growing Town. This new water resource will substantially reduce electricity and chemical treatment costs at the Town's water filtration plant.

In 2019, the Town used a NYSERDA grant awarded to the Town under the "Clean Energy Community" program to convert lights at Town Hall and parking lot to LED. The Town has converted lights at its two ambulance stations to LED.

In 2020, the Town anticipates purchasing 603 luminaries from National Grid and converting the lights to LED. The Town is working with the NYS Power Authority on this project. To reduce costs, the Town is partnering with New Scotland, Altamont, and Voorheesville on a combined effort to maintain the LED lights.

The Town Board has commenced a Conservation Easement ("CE") program which provides property tax benefits to owners interested in protecting farmlands and sensitive areas. The CE program complements the Town's other environmental tools including planned unit developments, country hamlets, and conservation subdivisions.

Assemblyperson Patricia Fahy is sponsoring the required State legislation in the NYS Assembly. You can follow the progress of Assembly Bill Number A9732 by clicking here. State Senator George Amedore will be sponsoring a similar bill in the NYS Senate. The Assembly's Memorandum in Support states that: "Guilderland has been studying open space issues for several years, including legal methods of reflecting the benefits of conserved lands in property taxes, and would like to offer this exemption, pursuant to local law and other actions of the town board."