Seneca County’s Agricultural and Environmental Affairs Committee voted to support Senate Bill S8481 and Assembly Bill A8996, measures that would allow local governments to opt out of electrification mandates and benchmarks under New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Supervisor Partee read a resolution that said communities face “steep increases in utility costs and housing construction expenses due to electrification mandates” and that local governments should be able to make energy decisions that reflect local circumstances. The resolution directs the clerk to send certified copies to state leaders including Governor Kathy Hochul and regional legislators named in the resolution.

Committee discussion also highlighted local conservation work. Supervisors reported the Seneca County Soil and Water District secured multiple grants: a half-million-dollar grazing and water-quality initiative, approximately $268,000 for another resilience grant, and $1,392,000 for nutrient and sediment reduction efforts. Supervisors said the soil and water department is leveraging county contributions; one supervisor noted that for every dollar the county provided, soil and water programs brought back roughly $6 in external funding.

Why it matters: The resolution is a policy statement urging Albany to allow local control over electrification requirements; it does not change county law. Committee members framed the resolution as protecting rural communities that lack infrastructure or tax base to meet statewide electrification benchmarks.

Next steps: The committee approved the resolution and will forward it for board action. Supervisors also requested that the implementation materials from the soil and water department be cleaned up for public posting on the county website so residents can view watershed project details and grant outcomes.