Nicola Armacost has served as the mayor of Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, since 2019, and before that as trustee since 2009. As mayor, she has championed sustainability initiatives and building local resiliency to climate change. Under her leadership, Hastings-on-Hudson is currently the highest-ranking Clean Energy Community (CEC) and Climate Smart Community (CSC) in New York State. The municipality adopted the New York Stretch Energy Code; expanded financing for energy efficiency through Open C-PACE financing; passed a Low-Embodied Carbon Concrete Resolution; invested in EVs, alternative fuel infrastructure and resiliency planning; promoted “buy local” initiatives; dedicated over 85 percent of municipal-owned open space as parkland; and supported local pollinator pathway initiatives.

Mayor Armacost is also the managing director of Arc Finance, whose mission is to link the fields of finance, energy, water, and sanitation. Arc’s financial institution partners have provided access to clean energy for over 4.5 million people in a range of countries including Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nicaragua, and Haiti. Arc’s partners offer financing for distributed solar, roof-top solar, e-vehicles, as well as micro- and mini-grids. Previously, she worked at Women’s World Banking, a global microfinance network, and is an advisor to a number of companies focused on the off-grid energy space.