In August 2026, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Smart Energy Choices program, completed the first four years as Regional Clean Energy Hub for the Southern Tier. To inform our work for the next four year cycle, we conducted a survey and held a stakeholder engagement forum on August 21, 2026. We invited energy contractors, community partners, and residents of the counties we serve to fill out the survey and/or attend the forum. 24 individuals responded to the survey and 17 partners, contractors and community members participated in the online forum. The feedback collected helps gauge how we have been effectively serving our communities, identify potential opportunities for improvement, and assess some common barriers to energy improvements that are seen across our eight-county region. This report compiles input from both the survey and the forum, and describes strengths of our work, areas for improvement, potential spaces for collaboration, and a few insights into barriers for clean energy work in our region.
Overall, stakeholder feedback reflected strong appreciation for our Hub as a trusted, knowledgeable, community-based resource. Community stakeholders see us as a source of “accurate, unbiased, up-to-date information” that they can confidently refer community members to. Stakeholders value our Hub’s willingness to “think outside the box and really engage the community,” attend events in varied locations across the Southern Tier, and provide accessible energy education in creative and engaging ways. Some specifically appreciated our educational tiny home “Powerhouse” and its presence in community events, and many view it as the face of our program. Stakeholders also shared sentiments of appreciation when it came to program navigation and direct support. They described Hub services as “a positive force for guiding individuals through the endless mess of program navigation.”
