Catalyst Award Winner: Community Engagement

Nicola Armacost

Mayor of Hastings-on-Hudson

The Catalyst Award winner for Community Engagement is Mayor Nicola Armacost.

Nominated for her impact in catalyzing the clean energy transition in New York’s communities, she is a true advocate for the environment and has worked to curb the effects of our changing climate long before becoming mayor of Hastings-on-Hudson in 2019.

Mayor Armacost is deeply connected to neighboring towns and villages and has even found some friendly competition to incentivize her municipal cohorts to follow her lead.

Collaboration Through Competition

Throughout her nine years as Village Trustee and now in her sixth year as mayor, Mayor Armacost has been a champion for sustainability, promoting energy efficiency and stewardship of our natural resources.

And, as clean energy initiatives found their way to Hastings-on-Hudson, she took the opportunity to get neighboring Westchester River Towns and communities involved. From a solarized campaign with Dobbs Ferry to a strategy with Mamaroneck to advance the Climate Smart Communities process, collaboration through competition has been the driving force.

A Commitment to Clean Energy Communities

Under Mayor Armacost, Hastings-on Hudson has excelled as not just an active participant in the Clean Energy Communities program, but as a high achiever. With over 33 actions completed, including 10 community campaigns and adoption of NY Stretch Energy Code, the village ranked second in the State with 14,000 points earned.

Hastings-on-Hudson is also the highest ranked Climate Smart Community (CSC) in New York State, has adopted a new Green Building Code, and was one of three participants in NYSERDA's Stretch to Zero Pilot Program.

Moving the Dial Together

While it’s clear that Mayor Armacost’s approach to tackling clean energy  solutions can be credited for her success, she is strong in her conviction that “the most important thing is not that Hastings wins, but that everyone is doing really well because that's what's going to move the dial on climate for our individual municipalities, our county, New York State, the country, the world.”

Looking Toward the Future

Going forward and looking to the next generation, Mayor Armacost  said, “For young people, climate change is a huge issue and so I actually think it's got to be strategic to connect with future constituencies to be to be focused on this issue.”

She added that we all need to continue to find clearer ways to articulate what people can do. Not overwhelm them with the crisis but give them a path where they can contribute to making a difference.