Cazenovia Area Community Development Association (CACDA)
CACDA works to enhance economic vitality and preserve the rural, historic character of our region. Grant funding is secured to pay for community projects, promote agritourism, and to ensure that agricultural land is protected. With CACDA’s administrative and grant writing assistance, the Town and Village of Cazenovia and the Town of Nelson are now 2-star Clean Energy Communities and have earned $60,000 each in grants. With these funds, the Town of Nelson is installing a solar array that will make them net zero for electricity and the Town of Cazenovia is purchasing an electric Ford F-150 to replace a gas pickup truck. The Village of Cazenovia is installing electric vehicle (EV) chargers at Lakeland and Burton Street Parks, heat pumps at the police and fire departments and Burton Street Park, and will purchase an electric utility cart to replace the gas one that is used to water plants.
Contact: Lauren Lines lines@cacda.net
Cazenovia High School
Jian Lin is working with Anne Saltman to help her compile long-term trends for indicators such as air temperature, precipitation, storm events and lake water temperature, using a weather station in Caz. The Environmental Club is moving forward with an initiative to try to re-introduce reusable metal utensils in the lunchroom to replace some or all plastic ones. We are also looking into step into environmental advocacy with regard to the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill. Contact Advisor: Wendy Everard weverard@caz.cnyric.org
A dedicated group of residents, homeowners, business owners, and elected officials, we strive to protect the environmental and recreational sustainability of Cazenovia Lake. The entire board meets monthly, and members of our various committees converse frequently to advance various projects and initiatives. We partner with local stakeholders, including businesses, the Town and Village boards, colleges (SUNY ESF & SUNY Morrisville), and Cazenovia High School. We rely on the generous financial support of everyone who enjoys Cazenovia Lake for all operational needs. Contact: Dave Miller, President CLA info@cazlake.org
Cazenovia Preservation Foundation
The Cazenovia Preservation Foundation, Inc. (CPF) is an accredited land trust serving the greater Cazenovia area that currently conserves over 3,800 acres of open space, habitat, and agricultural land. CPF considers climate resiliency, biodiversity, and habitat connectivity in its conservation project planning and land stewardship practices. In addition, CPF participates in municipal and comprehensive land use planning, provides support for site selection of proposed renewable energy projects, and provides free educational programming on a range of natural history topics. For more information, visit www.cazpreservation.org or contact CPF Executive Director, Jen Wong, at jwong@cazpreservation.org.
Village of Cazenovia
Currently the Village is both a Bronze Level Climate Smart Community and a Clean Energy Community.
In 2024, earned 1-Star and 2-Star Clean Energy Communities designations which qualified the village for $60,000 in grants. The village is planning to use these funds to install EV charging stations, install heat pumps in municipal buildings, and purchase an electric off-road utility cart. The solar array at our water plant is fully implemented and creates an equal amount of electricity that the village municipality consumes and our LED streetlights have been a win. https://villageofcazenovia.com/
Town of Cazenovia
Currently the Town is both a Bronze Level Climate Smart Community and a Clean Energy Community. Submitted for re-certification of Bronze Level in 2024. The town subscribed municipal electric accounts to community solar.
In 2024, earned 1-Star and 2-Star Clean .Energy Communities designations which qualified the town for $60,000 in grants. The town is planning to use these funds to purchase an electric vehicle. info@townofcazenovia.org
Town of Nelson
Currently the Town is both a Climate Smart Community and a Clean Energy Community. In 2024, earned 1-Star and 2-Star Clean Energy Communities designations which qualified the town for $60,000 in grants. The town is planning to use these funds to install a solar array at the town office building which will achieve net-zero status for electricity usage. https://www.townofnelson-ny.com/
Citizen Action of New York is a grassroots membership organization that takes on big issues at the center of transforming our society, including climate justice. We work with our statewide coalition, New York Renews, to organize communities across the state to fully implement the Climate Act, make corporate polluters pay, and hold utilities accountable. Contact: Regional Climate Justice Organizer Ethan Gormley ategormley@citizenactionny.org for more information on our work and how to get involved.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Madison County
CCE Madison supports farmers, producers, local businesses, landowners, community groups, and county residents to manage and care for our beautiful lands and understand how our local environments are potentially affected by climate change.
CCE Madison:
- ● Compiles and creates resources for county residents on climate change,natural resource management, forestry/agroforestry, and climate resilientfarming.
- ● Supports local and statewide volunteer programs that provide training andvolunteer opportunities around environmental and climate action, including the Climate Stewards program, Master Forest Owner volunteer program, and Master Naturalist program.
- ● Provides monthly programming for youth and families related to nature and environmental topics.
- ● Provides direct 1:1 technical assistance to help farm businesses create adaptation plans to become more resilient to climate change while remaining profitable.Contacts:
Main: Anna Hardiman, Environment and Nature Educator, aeh278@cornell.edu , (Farmer Contact: Maryellen Sheehan, Ag Educator, ms3573@cornell.edu)Fenner Renewable Energy Education (FREE) Center. The FREE Center educates and promotes the benefits of renewable Energy. Located in the hills of Fenner amidst 20 wind turbines, the center has given tours to thousands of students (preschool to college and adults) over the years. The center features a huge wind turbine blade, solar array, willow geo-mass, composting toilet and access to a close-up view of the turbines. People come and give self-tours as well as watch our virtual tours on our website thefreecenter.org. To book a tour, please go to our website.
The Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) is a conservation organization whose mission is to conserve, restore, and promote the sustainable use of natural resources,including: soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife. A large portion of our efforts, particularly those of our Central New York Chapter, involve protecting our waterways. We do this by conducting numerous water-related educational programs and by monitoring local waterways, planning (and implementing) restoration projects, reporting water quality problems, reducing the use of salts as a de-icer and promoting congressional legislation to protect our water resources along with human health. Contact: Mat Webber theoldswampfox@gmail.com
I am currently working with CNY Rotary cnyrotary.org on projects focused on Climate Restoration , Planting of Microforest and The Carbon Crew Project. Climate Restoration Fund’s (Grandparents Climate Fund) California Buoy Test Project bit.ly/CA-buoy-test that is the first step in restoring our atmosphere to pre-industrial levels by 2050.
Through my role as the Climate Restoration Alliances Ambassador ( The Climate Restoration Alliance Rotary ) to Rotary International rotary.org we have launched a global campaign with endorsers from every continent to have Rotary International take on climate restoration as it’s next global initiative once we’ve completed the eradication of polio from the planet. rotary.org/en/our-causes/ending-polio
In addition to Rotary, I am also active with its partner organization ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) esrag.org where I serve as the Steward Leader for CNY Rotary and the Chairperson Elect for the Eastern North America Chapter of ESRAG. Contact: Chuck Tomaselli chuck.tomaselli@gmail.com
Other Important Initiatives:
Catholic Climate Covenant and the Diocese of Syracuse Care for Our Common Home Task Force, Third Act thirdact.org Upstate Chapter
Two other organizations that I am active with whose goals are closely aligned with Climate and Environment work designed to produce a flourishing planet for future generations. are the peace on earth by 20-30 project peace2030.earth created by david Gershon empowermentinstitute.net/about-david-gershon and the I Am Humanity initiative. https://www.iamhumanity.net/
In addition to efforts to convert to all electric energy for its heating and cooling, Stone Quarry Art Park under the leadership of CEO Emily Zaengle is working with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the health of its woodlots and hedgerows. In addition to the work done by local farmers to restore the Park’s meadows, Emily and a volunteer Land Advisory Group which includes Sam Quinn (SUNY ESF), Anita Bueno (Landscape Architect), Matt Potteiger (SUNY ESF), and Erik Smith (Cornell Cooperative Extension) are discussing plans to increase meadow/pollinator habitat, improve soil health, and support plant diversity across the 104-acre site.
Contact: Emily Zengle emily@sqhap.org
UCAN is a community group organizing primarily in the greater Cazenovia area to educate, network, and take actions that address the increasing climate crisis. We actively advocate for environmentally sustainable policies and engage with businesses, schools, and other local community organizations to advance environmental literacy and sustainable practices.
UCAN’s most significant contribution is in bringing a cross-section of local individuals, groups, and governmental bodies together in conversation, education, planning, and actions to confront and solve our climate crisis.For more information visit: http://www.unitedclimateaction.org, Contact: Geoff Navias cazrenew@gmail.com
UCAN United Climate Action Network 