Cornell graduate students are helping New Lebanon, New York, try to expand its economy with green tech jobs and are designing a blueprint for similar communities across the state.
Led by Rebecca M. Brenner, associate professor at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, Masters of Public Administration students searched the regional economy and identified 11 job classifications that would be a good fit for the workforce in the city of 2,300 people residents about 30 miles from Albany.
Job types include solar panel and heat pump installation, electric vehicle repair, hydrogen cell engineer, and wind turbine service technician. The student team, consisting of Kaitlynn Boardman, Guanqi Su, Hubo Wang and James Bond, has developed a training strategy that they can share with local high schools, community colleges and vocational training institutions.
These new jobs would replace jobs in auto repair shops, gas stations and heating oil dealers that are likely to be lost over time due to climate change.
“Cornell has helped New Lebanon become a regional leader in climate change mitigation and adaptation,” said Town Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling. “Our projects with Cornell have even helped create a roadmap for other cities and counties.”
The students will present their findings and outline the steps they recommend at the Columbia County Climate Carnival on July 16.
“This is a great example of connecting politics to the frontlines of climate change,” said Brenner. “We are so proud of Cornell’s partnership with New Lebanon and look forward to continuing this project in the future.”
The project is part of a long-standing association between New Lebanon and the graduate students working with Brenner through the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA) at Cornell Brooks School. Student teams previously helped estimate the city’s energy use and assess its vulnerability to climate change.
The connection between Cornell and New Lebanon began two years ago when the city joined New York State’s Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program. Marc Anthonisen, MPA ’21, began an internship in New Lebanon, and Brenner helped establish a full-fledged connection with Cornell. This included the creation of a climate roadmap for the city and the introduction of other student projects.
The first team of two students, Jessie Hughes, MPA ’22, and Waqar Akhtar, MPA ’22, helped assess how climate change will affect the city. One of the biggest risks was the seasonal drought, which affected the fire department’s water supply in late summer. Another intern, Nadia Zaidi, MPA ’22, helped research water storage options and provide funding for the fire department.
“This experience showed me that it is possible to connect politics with local communities if you get creative and help people see the benefits of sustainability,” said Anthonisen.
The relationship flourished, but not without its challenges.
To accommodate a wide range of views on climate change, Brenner provided guidelines for environmental sustainability initiatives that would help residents see the benefits of the CSC program. One example was working with city leaders to set up a bike recycling program that has repaired more than 100 bikes for residents. A Repair Cafe followed, a workshop with volunteers who repaired small appliances and toys so they could be reused.
“Coming back to our Shaker heritage, New Lebanon has a reputation for innovation,” Houghtling said. “Our people can fix anything. The green economy jobs are the next step on our journey and will help New Lebanon thrive.”
Anthonisen’s internship helped create a template to help other politically divided cities start implementing a climate protection program, Brenner said. Alejandra Plaza Limon, MPA ’22, is working with Columbia County to create its own climate roadmap. Due to their work, among other things, the district is applying for CSC bronze certification in July.
“What started with an internship has now yielded multiple projects, numerous events, many opportunities for students, significant energy savings and – if the green jobs bear fruit – long-term economic benefits,” said Brenner.
Jim Hanchett is Associate Dean of Communications at the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy.
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