Kyra, Author at Mid-Hudson Energy Transition

Mayor Noble Announces Community Solar Program

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that the City of Kingston is partnering with local non-profit Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET) to bring affordable, renewable energy to residents with Kingston Community Solar, a new initiative that allows residents to subscribe to a local solar farm and receive utility bill credits.

With Kingston Community Solar, project, a collaboration of MHET and PowerMarket, income-eligible participants can save up to 20% monthly on electricity, with no upfront cost, long-term contracts, or maintenance required and without the need to install solar panels.

“This is exactly the kind of innovative, community-driven solution we’ve been working toward,” said Mayor Noble. “Kingston has long been a leader in sustainability, and this partnership ensures that the benefits of clean energy are reaching the families who need them most. It’s a win for our residents and for our planet.”

Kingston Community Solar prioritizes income-eligible households to join a shared renewable solar project, which pumps clean energy into the local power grid. Participants continue to receive electricity from Central Hudson and, as the solar project produces clean energy, receive credit on monthly electric bills.

“Families are getting crushed by skyrocketing electricity bills and a fossil fuel system that puts profit over people,” said Jasmine Graham, Executive Director of MHET. “Kingston Community Solar gives our community a real solution—lower bills, cleaner energy, and long-term relief. It’s one of the few ways people can consistently save money for decades while helping to move us off dirty energy. We’re so grateful to the City of Kingston for stepping up and making this possible.”

Enrollment is now open to Central Hudson customers. More information and registration can be found here.

The City of Kingston is a leader in efforts to create a more energy-efficient and sustainable community. Kingston has taken a comprehensive approach to building a city that is equipped to meet modern challenges and embrace 21st century opportunities. The Sustainability Office manages the City’s environmental projects, initiatives, and programming, including energy, land use, climate adaptation and resiliency, transportation, recycling and environmental education. Current projects include Community Choice Aggregation, Organics Diversion, Community Preservation Planning, Waterfront Flooding Resiliency, Building Decarbonization and more. More information about the City of Kingston’s sustainability efforts at https://kingston-ny.gov/sustainability.

What the Energy Transition Really Looks Like

By Jasmine Graham

When people hear “energy transition,” they usually think solar panels, heat pumps, electric cars. But if you ask the folks doing the work on the ground — installing those panels, upgrading those homes, sitting at kitchen tables explaining it all — the story sounds a little different. It looks like this:

An 80-year-old homeowner heating their house with the oven because the boiler broke and there’s no money to fix it.
A single mom whose deadbolt froze over during a cold snap in the winter because she was using space heaters that couldn’t keep up with the freezing temperatures.
A renter who’s scared to tell their landlord the stove is broken because they’re worried the “fix” will come with a rent increase.
A working mom who can’t believe, after everything, that someone is actually offering her a new heat pump water heater for free.

We’ve been out here doing the work. And if there’s one thing I can tell you, it’s this: The transition isn’t technical. It’s personal.

Here’s some of what we’re learning, and re-learning, every day:

1. Repair is the real work.

You can’t electrify a home if the roof leaks, if the wiring’s shot, or if the foundation’s cracked. We can’t skip the basics. If we don’t fund repairs, we’re locking people out. Period. Here in New York, advocates have been pushing for the GAP Fund for exactly this reason: to make sure basic health and safety issues don’t become invisible barriers to clean energy upgrades.

2. Trust is everything.

People are tired. They’ve been promised help before. They’ve seen programs start and stop. The most important thing we do isn’t installing anything. It’s showing up, over and over, until people believe it’s real. No amount of technology can replace the work of rebuilding trust.

3. Free isn’t enough.

It doesn’t matter if it’s free if it’s too complicated to sign up, if the paperwork feels like a trap, or if people are afraid it will get them evicted. Affordability matters. But accessibility decides whether people can actually participate.

None of this is new.

Frontline communities have been saying it for a long time. But if we are serious about an energy transition that works for everybody, we have to meet people where they are, not where we wish they were.

That means funding basic repairs alongside clean energy upgrades. It means designing programs that are simple, clear, and protective of tenants and vulnerable homeowners. It means centering trust and relationships, not just transactions.

These aren’t side issues. They are the core of whether the transition reaches the people it’s supposed to serve.

At Mid-Hudson Energy Transition, we are learning these lessons every day by working directly with families, tenants, and homeowners. And we’re seeing clearly how much of the clean energy future depends not just on what we build, but how we build it — and who we build it with.

The work is slower, harder, and more complicated than a lot of headlines make it seem. But staying focused on people, not just on projects, is the only way this transition will be real.

That’s the work in front of us. And that’s the work we’re committed to doing.

Learn more about me at www.jasminecgraham.com.

No Perfect Homes, No Perfect Programs – Just Real People Trying to Stay Warm

Elisabeth Balachova | 4/21/2025

Try explaining to a neighbor why their drafty attic doesn’t qualify for help.

Or why they received just enough funding to insulate their attic– but now have to wait an entire year to finish the entire house.

Or why, despite struggling to pay their utility bills, they don’t qualify as “low-income” under the state’s rules.

We have those conversations every day at Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET). And while we’re grateful for programs like NYSERDA’s EmPower+, which has unlocked life-changing funding for families across the region, we also know that good intentions don’t always translate to accessible systems. The reality on the ground is complicated. And so is getting an old house ready for a climate-resilient future.

Let’s rewind a little bit.

Through our Home Upgrade Grants (HUG) program, we help low- and moderate-income homeowners access energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, air sealing, and water heater replacements. Our goal is to make Kingston homes healthier, safer, and more affordable to heat and cool. One of the most powerful tools we use is NYSERDA’s EmPower+ program. When it works, it really works: We’ve seen households unlock up to $20,000 in improvements over multiple phases of work.

But many homes in Kingston and the Hudson Valley are older than the programs designed to upgrade them. They need multiple rounds of support – and many homeowners fall into a gray area where they earn too much to qualify for “low-income” tiers, but not enough to cover the out-of-pocket costs of energy improvements. These “moderate-income” families currently receive just $5,000 in EmPower+ incentives. That might cover a portion of the attic insulation but not the basement, the air sealing, or the critical repairs needed before weatherization work can even begin.

To bridge that gap, MHET has been stepping in with flexible funding from other sources. But we’re a small nonprofit. And for every household we help, there are more waiting for answers in their drafty homes.

A recent change to EmPower+ added a new barrier: a one-year waiting period before a household can reapply for additional funding. That means someone who completes phase one of their upgrades now has to wait a full year to continue the work. Even if their home is still losing heat, wasting energy, or failing to meet the standards required for heat pump installation.

And here’s the catch: New York State has set an ambitious goal of 2 million heat pump installations by 2030. What they don’t tell you, is that you can’t install a heat pump in a leaky house. The building envelope needs to be sealed first, but all the red tape surrounding these programs prevents homeowners from moving forward and electrifying their homes.

We can’t ignore the mismatch between how programs are structured and how real people live. At MHET, our job is to make the system work better for those who need it most. Not by reinventing it, but by connecting the dots.

That’s what we do best:
→ We help homeowners navigate a maze of paperwork and policy.
→ We coordinate with contractors and state agencies.
→ We advocate quietly (and sometimes loudly) for practical fixes to flawed systems.
→ And when necessary, we fund the gap ourselves.

Behind every application is a person. Behind every leaky attic is a story. And behind every program is an opportunity to do better.

So if you’re a homeowner wondering how to start, or have already hit a roadblock, we’re here to help. Schedule an appointment with our team and let’s figure it out together.

And if you believe that no one should have to choose between heat and groceries, or between eligibility and equity, donate to MHET. Your support helps us do what bureaucracy can’t: meet people where they are.

Let’s keep pushing for programs that reflect real life. And in the meantime, let’s keep showing up for each other.

M&T Bank Announces $50,000 Donation to The HELP Fund

M&T Bank has announced a $50,000 donation to Kingston, NY-based nonprofit Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET) for its Fondo HELP, which is designed to help low-income households in Kingston make energy-efficient and health and safety improvements to their homes.

Founded in 2021, MHET created its HELP Fund to fuel the Programa de préstamos para energía doméstica. This program provides ultra-low-interest loans to help residents finance home improvements that lower their energy bills, improve indoor air quality, and boost climate resilience.

M&T Bank continues to take an active role across the communities it serves, including the Hudson Valley. In 2024, M&T employees in the Hudson Valley spent more than 2,760 hours of their time volunteering across the region. Additionally, the M&T Charitable Foundation provided $395,000 in grants and $130,600 in community sponsorships within the Hudson Valley region.

QUOTES:

“M&T Bank’s success is intertwined with the success of our communities as we are deeply connected to the neighborhoods we serve. We take pride in living, working, volunteering, and investing in the vibrant cities and towns that make the Hudson Valley special,” said LaKendra McNair, Head of Climate Resilient Communities, M&T Bank. “Programs like the Mid-Hudson Energy Transition’s HELP Fund are instrumental in helping local homeowners make energy efficiency upgrades, reducing their energy bills, and paving the way for stronger, more resilient communities.”

“We are deeply grateful to M&T Bank for their generous support of our HELP Fund. This donation helps us do what matters most—get essential home repairs to the people who need them, so families can live healthier lives and save money in the process,” said Jasmine Graham, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Energy Transition. “At MHET, we say ‘Support Your Neighbors’ Future’ because that’s what it takes. Real transformation happens when we show up for each other and invest in our communities.”

Emiliano appears on Radio INTER Activa Oficial

Curious about how community solar can lower your electric bill without installing panels on your roof? Our Outreach Manager, Emiliano Malizia, breaks it all down in this new video from Radio INTER Activa. They break down what it is, who’s eligible, and how it helps bring clean energy to more people in our community (in Spanish and Q’eqchi’!)

When you sign up for community solar, you subscribe to a share of a local solar farm and get credits on your utility bill—saving you money and supporting renewable energy! Nothing is ever put on your roof.

Mid-Hudson Energy Transition recently announced our participation in a new solar project being developed in the Catskills. This project will save participating Central Hudson customers up to 20% on their utility bills every month! To learn more and sign up, visit the link below!

Two Years In: What It Means to Build Something That Didn’t Exist Before

By Jasmine Graham

Two years ago today, I stepped into the role of Executive Director of Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET) — not because the path was clear, but because the work was urgent, and the vision was worth fighting for.

We weren’t quite a start-up, but we weren’t fully real yet either. One staff member, a few months in. No active programs. No track record. Just a bold vision — and a belief that climate work should center the people most impacted. That equity isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s the whole point. We need solutions you can feel — in your bills, your building, your body. We need justice that shows up where people actually live.

I was 27. Black, queer, and femme. Stepping into leadership in a space that rarely hands the reins to people like me. A couple years earlier, around 25, I’d joined MHET’s board because I believed in what might be possible. But even then, I couldn’t have imagined how much we would build, and how fast.

I didn’t come in with a playbook. I didn’t inherit a system. I had some policy chops, yes — but my leadership was shaped by community. By movement spaces. By watching people I love figure out how to get things done when the systems didn’t show up for them. I come from folks who improvise, who adapt, who make a way out of no way. That’s the spirit I brought to MHET — not just strategic thinking, but trust, accountability, and the insistence that our work serve something bigger than any one institution.

What we’ve built — together

In just two years, we’ve:

Built a team of 12 full-time staff, with livable wages, unlimited paid time off, and a work culture grounded in compassion, collaboration, joy, equity, and excellence.
Completed dozens of home upgrades and electrification projects — bringing real, material relief to people often excluded from the energy transition.
Distributed tens of thousands in grants to make energy upgrades possible for low-income households — because everyone deserves a home that’s safe, efficient, and climate-resilient.
Established a Community Council made up of residents from marginalized communities, who keep us honest, help guide our work, and ensure we stay rooted in on-the-ground realities.
Secured multi-year operating funding from aligned foundations and mission-driven investors — creating the breathing room to stay focused, independent, and bold.
Pushed into energy innovation — from agrivoltaics to thermal energy networks — and are learning, still, how to ensure those technologies are shaped by the people they’re meant to serve.
Launched a green community investment fund — one of the only in the country — where everyday people (non-accredited investors) can invest alongside philanthropy to fund retrofits in low-income homes.
And in June, we’ll launch our Programa de préstamos para energía doméstica, offering 2% interest loans to low- and moderate-income households — made possible by a $100,000 interest rate buy-down from philanthropy and a $500,000 loan loss reserve from NYSERDA.

None of this happened by accident. It happened because we showed up. Because we listened. Because we made mistakes and learned fast. Because we prioritized community, not ego. And because we knew that the systems we inherited weren’t going to deliver the future we deserve.

What I’ve learned

It’s easy to say “community-led.” It’s way harder to live it. It means slowing down when funders want speed. It means being transparent when it would be easier not to be. It means letting go of control — and building real relationships in its place.

It means understanding that the solutions we need already exist. Our job is to invest in them — and to return power to communities who should have had it all along.

I’ve learned that when Black women and working-class communities have real resources and real power, things move. Maybe not at the pace some expect, but in the direction that matters — in the direction of dignity. Of healing. Of sustainability.

We’re not just reducing emissions. We’re repairing trust. We’re redirecting capital. We’re building wealth. We’re making homes safer. And we’re giving people back some control in a world that too often denies them any agency.

And we’re just getting started.

The next two years at MHET will be about scaling what’s working, being even more intentional about what’s not, and continuing to model a just transition that’s not theoretical — it’s real, it’s local, and it’s already underway.

What we’re building in Kingston, NY is a proof of concept. But it’s also a call to action.

Because this kind of work — the deep, relational, infrastructure-building, trust-rooted kind — isn’t flashy. It doesn’t make headlines. But it changes everything.

So to anyone out there who’s trying to build something that hasn’t existed before — especially those of us who’ve never been handed power or resources easily — I see you.

Keep going.

Keep building.

Because it’s working.

Turning up the Heat!

Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET), in partnership with the City of Kingston, is proud to announce the first installation of an induction stove as part of their 2025 Energy Efficiency Campaign. This campaign is designed to help income-eligible Kingston residents improve their home’s energy efficiency and live healthier lives—all at no cost to them.

MHET met with Kingston Mayor, Steve Noble, as local Kingston contractor, Hot Water Solutions (HWS), installed an induction stove in Kingston homeowner Kofi Boundy’s house on March 3, 2025. Boundy was awarded a state of the art Energy Star induction stove and a set of compatible cookware, becoming the first of several residents MHET plans to equip with these appliances.

This initiative is funded by the City of Kingston’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation. With a total budget of $250,000, MHET is aiming to help as many households as possible. Throughout 2025, MHET will be distributing induction stoves, heat pump water heaters, and portable heat pumps to income-eligible homeowners.

“The overwhelming amount of interest we have received in this program proves just how much Kingston residents want practical, affordable solutions for healthier, more energy-efficient homes,” said Jasmine Graham, Executive Director at Mid-Hudson Energy Transition. “With this first installation, we’re not just swapping out an old stove—we’re setting a new standard for what’s possible. Families shouldn’t have to choose between safe, modern appliances and their monthly bills. We’re making real, practical improvements in their homes—at no cost to them—and we’re just getting started.”

Mayor Steve Noble expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are so pleased to support this important initiative with American Rescue Plan Act funding, and help residents in Kingston transition to more energy-efficient appliances and away from natural gas. It is gratifying to see the first installation into a home, and to help this family save money on utility bills, create a safer home environment, and move toward a more sustainable future.”

Boundy was elated with the efficiency of the installation and the ease of the application process. “I am super appreciative, thank you, Mid-Hudson Energy Transition, for making this happen! I’m excited to get a meal in here tonight!”

This program is open to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households in Kingston and households with seniors or young children, residents facing high energy bills or utility debt, and renters who pay their own utility bills (need landlord approval) are especially encouraged to apply.

To see if you are eligible, please complete MHET’s interest form. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all appliances have been matched with eligible residents. Although those interested in induction stoves will be added to a waitlist, residents are encouraged to express their interest in Heat Pump Water Heaters and Portable Heat Pumps in advance of their availability. Interest forms can be found here.

Candita Shares Her Story

Candita, a recipient of one of our Subvenciones para la mejora de viviendas (HUG), shares her experience with our program—one of many reminders of how critical home repairs are for our neighbors.

Too often, families in our community are left struggling with the high costs of maintaining a safe and livable home. No one should have to endure freezing winters, poor air quality, or hazardous living conditions simply because home repairs are out of reach.

Candita joined the HUG program hoping to winterize her home. After contractors helped with insulation, she not only experienced a warmer home but also noticed improved air circulation and a significant reduction in the mold smell that had been lingering in her basement.

Her story is one of many that highlight the urgent need for programs like HUG. MHET is working hard to ensure families can live in safe, healthy homes and that Kingston remains a place where residents don’t have to choose between everyday expenses and essential home repairs.

If you or someone you know is looking to make home upgrades like weatherization, insulation, asbestos removal, or mold remediation, visit our Home Upgrade Grant Page to learn more about the program and submit your interest.

From Space Heaters to Heat Pumps

Anne had been relying on small space heaters for two winters after her fossil heating system broke and state programs were unwilling to assist.

While she received some funding for insulation through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Anne could not get assistance for a new heating source because of strict building envelope requirements.

Thanks to our Subvenciones para la rehabilitación de viviendas, we were able to heat Anne’s home this winter with brand new, top of the line, all-electric cold climate heat pumps! Partnering with amazing local Kingston contractor, HWS, we installed two air source heat pumps, one on each floor, so she no longer relies on space heaters, fossil fuels, OR window units for their HVAC needs. Watch her testimonial video below.

Kicking Natural Gas to the Curb

Get a behind the scenes look at our first install of 2025!

Thanks to our Subvenciones para la rehabilitación de viviendas, we were able to heat this home this winter with brand new, top of the line, all-electric cold climate heat pumps! Partnering with amazing local Kingston contractor, HWS, we installed two air source heat pumps, one on each floor, so this homeowner no longer relies on space heaters, fossil fuels, OR window units for their HVAC needs.