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Hudson Valley chapter works with LMI communities
Mount Vernon, NY residents check out an EV
The Greater Hudson Valley Electric Vehicle Association, founded in 2016, has turned its electric vehicle (EV) outreach efforts toward underrepresented markets, specifically Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) communities in the Hudson Valley area.
“Mount Vernon is one of the biggest cities in New York and it’s also one of the most disadvantaged. We needed to hyperfocus there,“ said Seth Leitman, Hudson EVA president, explaining that chapter Vice President Paul Presendieu has also been very involved in these efforts. “It’s one thing to have EV Noire pushing us to act. It’s another to get on our big boy shoes and do something.”
Training the managers
Greater Hudson Valley EVA first engaged with Mount Vernon for a year of training.
“The city was in trouble financially, so we volunteered a whole lot of our time to help them,” explained Leitman. “We connected with the head of public works and then the head of sustainability, who introduced us to the mayor. We worked with the city administration on sustainability efforts for over seven months, helping them to be more self-sufficient.”
Leitman pointed out that Mount Vernon, while still needing assistance, now knows what is necessary to support its efforts when it comes to EVs, renewable microgrids, solar incentives, and energy storage.
“The city can now rely on itself. We educated the sustainability folks and they went out to the public,” Leitman said, adding that Greater Hudson Valley EVA is now planning outreach campaigns to work with other large LMI areas in Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties.
“When these communities plan their own Drive Electric events, then I’ll know I did something right,” Leitman mused. “Hopefullly, they’ll take the ball and run with it.”
Seth Leitman filming for Panasonic USA and Tesla in 2018
Help from DC, help from Albany, help from the EVA
To further the LMI agenda, Leitman has been reaching out to his connections in Washington DC, including Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “We have followed each other on Twitter since 2016, so I’ve expressed our needs, especially with developing Mount Vernon’s energy system into a microgrid,” he said.
“It’s about the community realizing this is essential,” Leitman emphasized. “And whatever I can do to make it better for these communities at any level of government is what I like doing.”
At the state level, the chapter is preparing packages for many members of the New York Legislature, each package personalized to the particular legislator’s environmental agenda. “We’re able to plug into New York state’s database to find all environmental initiatives that are appropriate,” Leitman explained.
“We’re also looking for grants now,” Leitman continued, adding that the chapter is working with national EVA President Elaine Borseth to apply for funds to be used for EV education, energy efficiency, microgrid development, and EV charging infrastructure in low to moderate income buildings.
“The EVA was required to file as a non-profit with the state of New York to be able to access the grants data base,” he explained.
Energy efficiency on the agenda
This month, Greater Hudson Valley EVA will join with Con Edison and the local sustainability committee to participate in a public forum in Briarcliff Manor, New York.
“As president of our chapter, I was grateful that they thought of us for this conference,” Leitman said, noting that he has been asked to moderate the panel on EVs and the grid that will also include representatives from the New York Power Authority, National Grid, and a microgrid company. “I’m looking forward to asking them very real questions.”
The chapter “definitely has the respect of the community here in the Hudson Valley, and the awareness of the EVA is widespread,” Leitman concluded. “Even though we’re small, people definitely know we exist.”