MAYVILLE — Municipalities throughout Chautauqua County are taking steps toward implementing clean energy solutions. Now, Chautauqua County officials are beginning to examine possible participation.

The idea to take part in the state’s Clean Energy Communities Program was recently brought forward by county legislator Mark Odell, R-Brocton. Under the program by NYSERDA, local governments designated as a clean energy community can obtain grant money to implement projects and save on energy costs.

The program provides the opportunity for counties with over 40,000 residents to apply and potentially receive up to $250,000 in grant money.

In order to be eligible for funding, a local government must complete four of 10 recommended actions, which include adopting a policy to report energy use of buildings, achieve a 10 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, installing electric vehicle charging stations and undertaking a local solarize campaign to increase the number of solar rooftops, among others.

Don McCord, deputy director for the county Planning and Economic Development Department, told legislators at a recent meeting the county could participate in the program and achieve some of the required action items. McCord said the county could benchmark buildings, install charging stations in parking garages and promote solarization.

“There are benefits to the program potentially, portraying Chautauqua County as a progressive county,” McCord said. “We actually have some businesses that have already inquired (to see) if we were participating.”

Properties that are commercially owned by a for-profit or nonprofit are also eligible to participate in the Energize NY PACE Program. However, the commercial property must be located within a New York state municipality that is a member of the Energy Improvement Corporation, a nonprofit that’s focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

McCord said new developers looking to renovate empty properties wondered if financing through the PACE Program was an option. Financing is available for up to 10 percent of the appraised value of the building. Those eligible for the financing must have three-plus years of timely property tax payments.

“The PACE program is really the preferred mechanism for NYSERDA to do the funding. That’s the way they want to do it,” Odell said. “There is special vetting for not only the credit worthiness of the applicant, but also the feasibility of the project, upfront engineering, implementing the project and post engineering.”

At the local level, the towns of Busti and Ellicott and villages of Lakewood and Falconer are designated as clean energy communities. Odell said Kiantone and Westfield have also received funding to implement energy efficiency upgrades.

“Right now, Chautauqua County has the most projects in the whole state at a municipal level,” Odell said.

Legislators on the Planning and Economic Development Committee expressed their support to participate in the program. A local law that’s required to proceed with the program could go before county legislators in the months to come.