The City of Beacon is striving to become a more sustainable community. Below is an explanation of some of the projects we are undertaking to accomplish our goals. To learn more about any of these initiatives, or to find out how you can get involved, please contact Faye Leone, Beacon’s Climate Smart Coordinator at beaconclimate@gmail.com.
You can sign up to receive updates on Beacon’s sustainability efforts here.
In 2023, the City of Beacon produced an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from our government operations. View the results here.
In 2024, the City of Beacon finalized a Government Operations Climate Action Plan. View the final report here.
City of Beacon Composting Program
The City of Beacon began its Compost Program in 2022 and has been expanded since that time. The Program currently features both backyard bins and community drop sites for compostable waste. The program is being managed by the Conservation Advisory Committee with funding from the City of Beacon.
For more detail on the program and for information on how you can participate in the program, click here.
Sustainability and Climate Resilience Vision
Climate change continues to be a big threat to the Hudson Valley, and the City of Beacon, with an expected increase in temperature, more extreme precipitation, and rising sea level over the next few decades. In preparation for these climate hazards, the City of Beacon has taken the initiative to reach out to residents and stakeholders to create a Sustainability and Climate Resilience Vision. A Sustainability and Climate Resilience Vision gathers community input on what a sustainable and climate resilient city would look like in the future. Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County, the City of Beacon, and Green Beacon Coalition engaged 52 residents and stakeholders of the City of Beacon through various outreach methods over a period of three months to gather input on these topics (Appendix A). From this input, the following vision and guiding principles were created to ensure that sustainability and climate resilience progress is consistent with the community’s desired outcomes.
DRAFT Sustainability and Climate Resilience Vision
FINAL DRAFT Sustainability and Climate Resilience Vision (December 2020)
Silver-certified CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITY
Beacon is certified as a silver-level NY Certified Climate Smart Community
Greenhouse Gas Inventories
The City has developed greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories for both community and municipal operations. The inventories are part of ongoing sustainability efforts by the City, and an important step toward meeting our climate targets. The inventories will inform planning for energy savings and emissions reductions and set an updated baseline from which the city can measure progress.
2012 – 2018 Inventory of Community and Municipal Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions
2019 Inventory of Municipal Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions
2021 Inventory of Municipal Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Conservation Advisory Committee
Appointed by the Mayor, the committee advises Beacon on conservation issues. They recently completed a Natural Resources Inventory and are serving as the Climate Smart Taskforce. Their meetings are open to the public. For more information, please visit the Conservation Advisory Committee web page.
Newsletter
The City of Beacon Sustainability Department began publishing a Sustainability Newsletter in the summer of 2020.
Summer / Fall 2021 City of Beacon Sustainability Newsletter 🌍 Summer/Fall 2021
Winter 2021 – https://mailchi.mp/af02f23a1281/city-of-beacon-sustainability-newsletter-fall-9536742
Fall 2020 – https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=804cbf1af96c67e914eb525a3&id=8bec9c8fc9
Summer 2020 – https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?u=804cbf1af96c67e914eb525a3&id=9f90a3673b
Pollinating Beacon
The Pollinator Pathway Working Group launched in 2023 helps Beacon residents, schools, and others develop more pollinator-friendly environments. The Working Group’s activities include:
- Public meetings and workshops: Increase awareness on the critical role that native plants have in supporting a more diverse ecosystem
- Plant swaps: Encourage residents to exchange ideas, expand their network, and diversify their pollinator pathways
- Provide information: Share resources on creating pollinator pathways and selecting native plants
- Gardening: We gather volunteers to build more pathways in Beacon’s parks and open spaces
As of August 2024, the Pollinator Pathway Working Group members are: Monika Aymar-Blair, Marisa Lomonaco, Holly O’Grady, Nicole Porto, Karen Quiana, and Anna West.
If you would like to get involved, please contact: BeaconnyPollinators@gmail.com
To access our detailed pollinator plant list visit: Pollinator+Gardens_Native+Plant+List.pdf (squarespace.com)
Recycling
Save Money, Save Energy
TRANSPORTATION
The City has installed electric car charging stations at 13 South Ave (near the visitor center) and behind City Hall (near the entrance to the Building Department). The public is welcome to use these stations.
The City is pursuing funding through NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program by showing that at least 10 Beacon residents have purchased electric vehicles since May 2021. To make EVs more affordable we partnered with the Healey dealership in Beacon. For details, please contact Sara Hulse, at: sara.hulse@healeybrothers.com or (845) 220-9562. Press release about the campaign and partnership.
LED Lights
As of 2015, all street lights, traffic signals, and the interior lights in Beacon’s municipal building have been converted to LED, at a significant cost savings to the City. We will recoup our investment in these lighting upgrades within the next couple years.
Solar Farm
In 2018, Beacon partnered with BQ energy on a power purchase agreement to lease land to build a solar farm on the old Denning’s Point landfill. The City buys the electricity from these solar panels at a significant cost savings.
Sustainable Beacon
The City of Beacon has made great strides in sustainability. Our community is eager to further our impact and, in the face of a looming climate crisis and inaction at multiple levels of government, we recognize the need to establish an initiative moving Beacon towards leadership in our area as the “greenest” community in the Hudson Valley.
This initiative will establish working groups and partnerships among our boards, city employees and community. The program will consist of a series of specific goals/projects, to be determined by participants and prioritized for development.
This initiative is supported by City Council, the Conservation Advisory Committee, and Green Beacon Coalition. You can help by taking this short survey and telling us what is important to you.
Sustainable Beacon Survey (English)