The Chenango County Department of Planning delivers electric landscaping equipment purchased by NYSERDA grants to the Chenango County Correctional Facility. (Photo shared by the Chenango County Department of Planning)

NORWICH – Citing an opportunity to store additional green energy grants through the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Chenango County Department of Planning has purchased a cache of electric landscaping equipment to be used at county facilities.

The purchase utilizes $10,000 recently awarded through NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities Program which offers resources and funds for green energy projects to municipalities across the state.

The grant leverages another $15,000 awarded to the county earlier this year. Funds were used to purchase three zero turn mowers for county facilities, as well as landscaping equipment to be used at the county-owned airport in Norwich. Electric weed eaters, leaf blowers, a chain saw, push mower, and batteries and charging equipment were shared with the Chenango Sheriff’s Office and other county-run facilities.

“Existing equipment was outdated and we thought it would be a great investment for those departments,” said Allison Yacano, Chenango County planner and Climate Smart Communities program coordinator.