“SCHENECTADY COUNTY — Dozens of organizations with a stake in sustainability issues in the county will come together Thursday for the first Schenectady County Environmental Sustainability Networking Forum.
The goal is to increase collaboration among the organizations and increase their effectiveness, said Alexander Lykins, executive chairman of the Schenectady County Environmental Advisory Council. Some 65 representatives from 39 different organizations are expected to attend.
The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the First Reformed Church in Schenectady’s Stockade neighborhood. It’s open to the public.
“The main purpose is to build cooperation among all the different organizations,” Lykins said. “There is a lot going on, and we want to have an opportunity to have organizations get together coordinate activities and network.”
The forum is being organized by the Schenectady County Advisory Council; ECOS: The Environmental Clearinghouse; and the creation care team at First Reformed Church. The office of County Manager Rory Fluman has also been involved in organizing the event.
Fluman is expected to give the keynote speech. The county, which has developed a number of solar energy sites around the county over the last four years, is on a pace to have all county government’s energy needs met from independent power sources by the end of 2020, and Fluman has been a proponent of those efforts.
Those taking part will attend panel discussions and then join in breakout sessions on local issues including clean energy, clean transportation, climate change, nature preserves and land use, water resources and waste reduction.
A panel on sustainability initiatives in municipalities will include Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, Niskayuna Town Supervisor Yasmine Syed; Scotia Public Works Superintendent Andrew Kohout; and Glenville Town Supervisor Chris Koetzle.
Another panel will include representatives of the New York State Power Authority, state Department of Environmental Conservation, Capital District Regional Planning Commission and Local Governments for Sustainability.”
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Williams, Stephen. Schenectady Gazette 7 October 2019.