Hudson Valley Environmental Initiatives

Zero to Go

This up-and-coming environmental organization is helping Hudson Valley residents take out their trash. The growing waste management company focuses on composting and recycling, offering a range of services to help everyday people reduce their environmental footprint. Zero to Go creates zero-waste solutions for large-scale, food-related events, such as beer and wine festivals.  They work with event organizers, vendors and the public to ensure a good time for everyone, including Mother Earth. The company also provides consulting and educational services for businesses and citizens to learn the basics of recycling and composting on their own. Though they’re a small staff helped by a team of volunteers, Zero to Go is looking at a bright future in Hudson Valley.

Rethink Local 

Rethink local is a nonprofit that convenes local businesses, artists, farmers, residents and nonprofits to address how to create a more sustainable, livable, vibrant Hudson Valley. The group advocates for a movement called “localism” which unites local producers and businesses, pushing people to invest in their communities and the people living and creating in them. As part of their educational events and advocacy, the group conducted an impact study, which found that “shifting just 10% of spending to local businesses would keep an additional $475 million in the regional economy each year.”

Riverkeeper 

There are numerous local organizations that sprang to life in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Hudson River was overrun with raw sewage and toxic chemicals. Nonprofits like Riverkeeper helped to restore the river and ensure clean drinking water, fishable streams and a more beautiful environment. Through advocacy and education, the organization helps to ensure increased access to the river and protects it against environmental waste and dumping. It is also a convener of numerous allies across the state, including Hudson Valley Clearwater, which hosts the popular Clearwater Music and Environmental Festival that draws top performers and thousands of fans each year.

The Hudson River Valley Institute

In 1996, congress designated the area between the Hudson Valley to Sarasota Springs as a National Heritage area for its historical significance in the American Revolution and its many tourist attractions. The Hudson River Valley Institute of Marist College serves as the academic arm for the area, helping connect the public with the many historic sites, architectural wonders, past and present artists and scenic beauty of the region. It serves as the greatest source of information on the region’s history, working to digitize and store photos, letters, information and educational resources for the public.

Inspire to become more sustainable in 2018 – there are easy ways to do it, including new options to go solar right here in Hudson Valley. The “think global, act local” environmental movement is alive and well in New York state, and 2018 is shaping up to be a banner year for more sustainable lifestyles.

Clearway Community Solar 

Clearway Community Solar NY offers Hudson Valley residents the ability to support solar energy without having to buy, install or maintain rooftop panels – a considerable barrier for many who want to go solar. Because panels require specific roof conditions, even those who can afford them may not be a good candidate for them. Clearway Community Solar builds and maintains solar farms equipped with industrial-grade solar panels that deliver clean solar energy to the local power grid. The farms are maintained year-round by trained professionals, which not only takes rooftops and homeowner maintenance out of the equation, but can also mean more jobs in the Hudson Valley. The farms are supported by Hudson Valley subscribers, who in turn receive solar credits applied to their utility bill. It’s locally produced solar power that benefits the entire community and the state of New York.