Implementing Sustainable Development at the Local Level

Legal experts and government officials discussed the possibilities and challenges of implementing statewide sustainable development initiatives at the municipal level during the annual Edwin L. Crawford Program on Municipal Law at Albany Law School on Friday, November 17, 2023. The program, hosted by the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, examined how state initiatives impact local governments, the role of local governments in implementing them, existing sustainability initiatives in municipalities across the state, and the future of local action around sustainable development. The program included a keynote address by Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Two panel discussions addressed the role of local government in building decarbonization and investing in renewable energy, respectively. Panelists included: • Elizabeth Bough Martin — Mayor of the Village of Chittenango, New York • Susanne DesRoches — Vice President, Clean and Resilient Buildings, NYSERDA • Malak Nassereddine — Senior Manager, New York Utility and Regulatory Policy, Building Decarbonization Coalition • Niki Armacost — Mayor of the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York • Anthony Fiore — Chief Program Officer, NYSERDA • Madison Hertzog — New York City Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Panel moderators included: • Prof. Keith Hirokawa — Distinguished Professor of Law, Albany Law School • Javid Afzali ’12 — Partner, Harris Beach, PLLC