POUGHKEEPSIE, NY, April 17, 2025 – As the world commemorates Earth Day, Central Hudson Gas & Electric is reaffirming its commitment to helping residents and businesses reduce their carbon footprint and New York meet its ambitious climate goals. The utility is empowering residents and businesses across the Mid-Hudson Valley with innovative solutions that drive energy efficiency, accelerate electrification, and promote environmental equity.
Through a broad portfolio of programs and partnerships, Central Hudson is creating meaningful change – reducing emissions, lowering customer costs, and building a more resilient, sustainable energy future for all.
“Delivering safe, reliable energy today means investing in sustainable solutions for tomorrow,” said Central Hudson President and CEO Steph Raymond. “Earth Day is a call to action that serves as a reminder of our environmental responsibility. We are proud to lead the transition to clean energy solutions in the communities we serve.”
Driving Energy Efficiency and Equity
Energy efficiency remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools in the fight against climate change and helping customers manage their bills. Since 2020, Central Hudson has distributed more than $97 million in energy efficiency, beneficial electrification and electric vehicle incentives – with roughly 51 percent of those benefits reaching disadvantaged communities.
The company’s retail partnerships with Lowe’s and Home Depot provide instant rebates on a range of energy-saving products like smart thermostats, weatherization materials, and ENERGY STAR appliances – making sustainable choices accessible to more New Yorkers.
Earlier this year, Central Hudson hosted its inaugural Energy Efficiency and Electrification Summit, bringing together key community partners to collaborate on scalable solutions that benefit the communities we serve and expand clean energy access.
Accelerating Clean Heat Adoption
Heating buildings accounts for one-third of carbon emissions in the State, and Central Hudson is committed to helping customers transition away from their legacy heating systems to newer, energy efficient heat pumps.
Working in tandem with the New York State Clean Heat Program, Central Hudson has already supported the installation of more than 22,000 heat pumps and more than 2,000 electric heat pump water heaters. Since 2020, these installations have saved more than 690,000 MMBTUs of energy, nearly triple the target set by the state’s target for the utility’s territory.
Central Hudson offers up to $1,000 off per 10,000 BTUs for air-source heat pumps and a $1,000 rebate for heat pump water heaters, making these upgrades more affordable and impactful for homeowners and businesses alike.
Leading on Solar and Grid Modernization
Central Hudson leads utilities in the state with interconnected solar generation on a per customer basis and boasts one of the highest enrollment rates among New York Utilities in Community Distributed Generation. Nearly 17,400 solar systems are interconnected within the service territory for total generating capacity of 334 MW, helping to provide power to more than 27,000 homes with clean, renewable energy.
To support this growth, Central Hudson continues to modernize its electric and natural gas infrastructure—deploying advanced technologies to boost efficiency, support battery storage, and integrate distributed energy resources seamlessly into the grid
Sustainability in Action
Central Hudson’s commitment extends beyond its programs to its everyday operations. The company reuses and recycles tons of materials through a partnership with Ulster-Greene ARC started more than 30 years ago; retreading tires for its fleet; and operating three hydroelectric plants that generate local renewable power to supplement the energy needs of its customers.
For a full overview of Central Hudson’s residential and commercial energy efficiency programs and incentives, visit www.CentralHudson.com and click on Savings & Assistance.
ABOUT CENTRAL HUDSON
Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., is an energy delivery company headquartered in Poughkeepsie, New York. The utility serves approximately 315,000 electric and 90,000 natural gas customers in eight counties of New York State’s Mid-Hudson River Valley, delivering natural gas and electricity in a 2,600-square-mile service territory that extends north from the suburbs of metropolitan New York City to the Capital District around Albany. Central Hudson supports local community service and business organizations, and offers value-added products and services, including energy efficiency and economic development programs. For more information, visit www.CentralHudson.com. Join the conversation on Facebook, keep up with our adventures on Instagram, learn about our achievements on LinkedIn, and follow us on X.