Along with reaffirming the commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions as part of a nationwide coalition, Albany County also aims to install solar panels at county-owned locations.

County Executive Daniel McCoy on Thursday signed an executive order to join the County Climate Coalition, an organization that opposed the U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations Paris Climate Agreement. It is an arm of the Climate Reality Project founded and chaired by former Vice President Al Gore.

“While the President denies basic climate science and takes our country backwards by unilaterally withdrawing us from the Paris Agreement, states and localities across the U.S. are continuing to invest in sustainability, clean air and healthy communities,” McCoy said.

McCoy also has submitted contract requests to the county Legislature to partner with the New York Power Authority to build up to six separate solar arrays and replace county streetlights with energy-efficient LED lights.

The proposed locations for the new solar arrays include county-owned land near the nursing home, the health and mental health complex in the South End, Albany County Cornell Cooperative Extension, the jail, the sheriff’s Clarksville station and the county public works headquarters. Once installed, solar panels will provide more than 3,600 kilowatts of power.

Replacing the 97 streetlights throughout the county is expected to save more than $42,000 annually in energy, maintenance and repair costs for taxpayers. It also will improve visibility and road safety.

McCoy said the county has already reduced its carbon footprint by making buildings more energy efficient and converting over a third of its vehicle fleet to hybrid and electric.

“With these new proposals announced today, we are showing our commitment to this coalition is real and I hope our pledge can inspire even more localities to join,” he said.

These efforts are a continuation of the June 2017 executive order supporting the Paris Agreement and working with all organizations, businesses and residents to continue to fulfill its terms.