The State of New York just missed a huge opportunity to bring our state's environmental policies back afloat. Our elected representatives, know very well that this amended bill, a step in the right direction, none the less fails humanity, especially the state of NY. Under no circumstances can these politicians claim they have succeeded and passed a "Green New Deal" and I hope the people of New York rise up and demand Green Leadership! - Joseph Naham Chairperson of Green Party of Nassau County "A new version of the state climate bill is out today (6/18/2019) and it has been further weakened. The definition of what climate funds go to "disadvantaged communities" has been changed and also now only applies to funds not already committed (curious as to what groups will feel about that and what 'not committed' actually means). The interim targets for getting to 70% of electricity by renewables has been dropped (to me the best part of yesterday's bill) and replaced by reports after 2024. The plan will now take 3 years rather than 2 to write. It appears that the labor standards have been dropped. I assume there are more changes that I have not caught. https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=A03876&term=0&Summary=Y&Text=Y
Eric Weltman of FWW and Mark Dunlea of GELF will be on with Susan Arbetter today on Capitol Pressroom to talk about the climate deal What we already know; The legislative amendments to the CCPA were filed shortly before midnight of 6/16/2019 and are very disappointing. And the Governor has not signed off on them as of yet. (https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/a3876/amendment/a) Overall, these amendments weakened an already weak bill but did strengthen renewable electricity goals. As expected, no halt to fossil fuel projects. Forget about going to 100% renewable energy by 2030 – or 2040 or even 2050. The long standing state goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 (as Cuomo proposed keeping) is changed to 85% by 2050. And a whole new process of applying for carbon offsets is created. (Does exclude incineration and most biomass.) The only good news is that it adds on Cuomo's renewable energy goals for electricity and sets short term targets. This includes his goal for offshore wind and solar. Short term targets for renewable electricity:
(A) THIRTY-EIGHT PERCENT BY TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO; (B) FORTY-SIX PERCENT BY TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR; (C) FIFTY-FOUR PERCENT BY TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX; (D) SIXTY-TWO PERCENT BY TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT; AND (E) SEVENTY PERCENT BY TWO THOUSAND THIRTY.Double - speak on EJ funding. Somewhat keep goal of 40% of NYSERDA climate funds and any future carbon tax, but actually only requires 35%. And then describes a variety of ways to meet such goals (INCREASED ACCESS TO RENEWABLE ENERGY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, WEATHERIZATION, ZERO- AND LOW-EMISSION TRANSPORTATION, AND ADAPTATION OPPORTUNITIES.)Labor standards (prevailing wage) is further limited to 250 kw renewable energy projects. The amendments slow the state planning process even further. A real climate plan could be 3 or 4 years away (unless Cuomo ignores the law and goes faster) It proposes 2 years to do the "scoping document" of the CCPA and then this will be put into the next state energy master plan which is done every 5 years (Cuomo had wanted to do it as part of the pending update) Still only updates climate plan every 5 years. OFF Act seeks updates every two years, with annual report to and hearings by legislature. Nothing on buildings and transportation (though does support beneficial electrification). It did not strengthen compliance by state agencies (might have even weakened a bit). No right of citizens to sue to enforce. No requirement for local governments to do climate plans." Thank you Green Education & Legal Fund - Mark Dunlea
Food & Water Watch - Eric Weltman
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