Building Blocks Project

The Building Blocks Project works to strengthen the key industry clusters that must be healthy in the region to ensure sustainability. These include green techologies , agriculture and food, health care and wellness, and the entire "creative economy" including the arts, culture, historic preservation, communications, and knowledge-intensive industries generally.   Most thriving regions that are succeeding in protecting natural resources and community character, and in sharing economic benefits widely, use some kind of industry cluster approach that brings together businesspeople to create common strategies for moving their industries toward more sustainable performance economically, socially and environmentally.  The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, Sustainable Business Alliance of Philadelphia, Sustainable Connections in Bellingham, Washington, and the nonprofit Regional Technology Strategies, all inspire us and inform planning for this initiative. Our annual conference, Cool Communities/ Living Economies , brings together businesses in the cluster to plan, exchange strategies, do deals and celebrate. 

Energy Policy Project

To hasten the uptake of clean, efficient and renewable energy technologies and responsible energy use in the Hudson Valley, SHV is working with a network of environmental, labor, planning and business groups to educate policymakers. SHV Executive Director Melissa Everett gave a presentation on success models for sustainable energy development at an April 12, 2007 Round Table hosted by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers with many partner organizations.

Our current priority is greatly expanded net metering, allowing anyone who makes the investment in a renewable energy system for home, business or institutional use, to sell it to the grid — conveniently and at competitive prices. Where the solar panels and windmills are popping up — from New Jersey to Ontario to Germany – net metering is one of the key policy tools. 

SHV and the New York Solar Energy Industries Association have jointly petitioned the Public Service Commission of New York State to expand the net metering cap for Central Hudson Gas and Electric Company from 1.8 MW to 3.0 MW.  The PSC raised the cap to 10.0 MW!!!  Details of a revised rate structure are still being negotiated, but this is a substantial step forward for solar.  Early in 2008, we expect to see an expanded net metering bill in the New York State Legislature, allowing not only homeowners but businesses and public institutions to participate in the solar energy economy by taking advantage of net metering. Watch for updates on this site.

Green Building Materials and Products Guide

SHV has provided background research and support on the forthcoming Green Building Materials and Products Directory, a project of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development.  This print and online resource will help the massive construction industry in metropolitan New York to gain access, in this area, to the materials needed to satisfy green building guidelines. Coathored by Don Perry, Simon Gruber, Shanna Abeles and Melissa Everett, the directory was published by SCP in October, 2007. It s for sale on the Partnership's website at www.scpartnership.com.   Review copies are available at the Green Design Resource Center at Tech City. 

Social Science and Sustainable Communities Project

The Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, a significant agency in ecosystem protection and research on the ecology of the Hudson River Estuary, is expanding its scope to address the sources of environmental degradation in human behavior. HRNERR's social science exploration brings together researchers from the University of New Brunswick, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Sustainable Hudson Valley to explore practical tools for understanding communities and fostering voluntary behavior change for better environmental stewardship. An opening workshop, "Social Science in the Hudson River Watershed" was held September 26, 2007 at Norrie Point Environmental Center. The use of socioeconomic data to understand communities' relationships to environmental issues, and the use of community-based social marketing principles to foster voluntary behavior change, were key topics of discussion among 60 natural resource managers, environmental agency officials, watershed association volunteers, planners and others.  Followup efforts are expected to include in-depth training and small-scale, experimental research projects.