January 21, 2008

Welcome to Environmental Advocates of New York’s online newsletter from the State Capital, your source for environmental news. We’ll update you every other week with tidbits and observations carefully gleaned from the halls of the Capitol.

The State of the State
Green Here & There  

Environmental Advocates of New York didn’t anticipate a lot of ‘green’ talk in Governor Eliot Spitzer’s 2008 State of the State Address—in Albany, or in Buffalo. Like most everyone else, we figured the Governor’s remarks would focus on the other kind of green, the projected budget deficit, which is now upwards of $4.5 billion.

However, we were encouraged that the Gov reiterated his commitment to increasing New York’s investment in energy efficiency and to fixing state laws that hamper the growth of our clean energy industry.

And last week in Buffalo we were heartened to hear the Governor call on state lawmakers to pass the Great Lakes Compact this year, after it stalled at last session’s end.

15 by 15
In his remarks, Governor Spitzer reiterated his commitment to “15 by 15,” his 2007 initiative to reduce energy use 15 percent by 2015 as part of a plan to address the threats of climate change.

While we think ‘15 by 15’ is an important step, we look forward to working with the Governor and state lawmakers this year to take further actions to reduce climate-altering pollution from all sources.

Spinning the Meter Backward
Environmental Advocates of New York was also happy to hear the Gov’s support of fixing state law to encourage the development of solar energy by easing restrictions on net metering, the practice of crediting consumers for the power they generate.

The initiative to fix the state’s net metering policy, advanced by the State Assembly and Senate and poised for passage this year, would go a long way toward unleashing the economic development potential of the growing clean energy industry in New York.

Smart Metering
We also liked his attention to reducing New Yorkers’ energy bills by means of smart metering, the practice that gives consumers the know how to run appliances during off-peak hours—when it’s cheaper.

Great Lakes, Great Compact
So far as we’re concerned, some of the best news in the Governor’s State of the Upstate address was his call on state legislators to pass the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact this year.

The Compact was a hair’s breadth from passing last year and is designed to limit water withdrawals from the Great Lakes Basin and give New York a voice at the table when decisions about Great Lakes water use are being made. We’ll keep you posted as the Compact moves through the State Legislature. 

Brownfield Cleanup Program Reform
We are encouraged by Governor Spitzer’s attention to the state’s troubled Brownfield Cleanup Program. His call to reform the Program could mean more and cleaner sites to benefit more New Yorkers.

Power for Jobs
Also in the State of the Upstate was the Gov’s call to reform New York’s Power for Jobs program to build in stronger job creation, investment criteria and extend the program for 10 years. If we’re going to continue to subsidize power for businesses and nonprofits across the state, let’s at least make sure the recipients become more energy efficient. Providing low cost power takes away incentives to conserve energy.

Staff on the Chopping Block?
Despite the Governor’s comments on the hard budget choices ahead, Environmental Advocates of New York is calling on him to maintain staff levels at the state’s environmental agencies as these folks have little or no room for belt-tightening. The previous administration’s staff cuts continue to jeopardize our natural resources and public health.

We’ve long supported staff increases at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and have documented how staff cuts endanger New Yorkers, especially when such cuts have resulted in infrequent review of water pollution permits and dams across the state.

Any staff cuts at the DEC to produce short-term budget relief do not reconcile with the long-term needs of New Yorkers and the health of New York’s environment.

Better Budget Choices Could Save State's Money Woes

On January 17, more than 100 community, religious, education, environmental, labor and human services organizations from across the state issued a joint statement calling on elected officials to make “better” choices in the upcoming budget debates.

The coalition supports:

Closing loopholes that allow large, profitable corporations to avoid paying their fair share of state taxes.

Stopping sweetheart deals with high-priced consultants who are being overpaid to do jobs that state workers can do better and cheaper.

Lowering drug prices for state and local governments by using New York’s purchasing power to get a fair deal from the drug companies.

Reforming economic development programs by improving the effectiveness and accountability of Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs), the Brownfield Clean Up Program (BCP) and the Empire Zones program.

Enacting the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill and making the beverage bottling industry return unclaimed bottle deposits.

Making New York's tax system fairer and more equitable by increasing the top marginal tax rates on the highest income households.

The coalition includes the Fiscal Policy Institute, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, NYPIRG, Housing Works, New York State United Teachers, Public Employees Federation, Hunger Action Network of New York State, as well as Environmental Advocates of New York, and others. 

Where the Rubber Hits the Road 

Governor’s budget proposal will be available on Tuesday, January 22, so we’ll let you know what the next fiscal year may hold for the Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State's other environmental agencies. Stay tuned.

Bills on the Move 

Only three weeks into the 2008 New York State Legislative Session and already there are two measures moving through the Statehouse.

The Great Lakes Compact would ratify New York's participation in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (Compact), a multi-state agreement that creates a system for managing water withdrawals and water use within the Basin. The Compact will protect water levels in the Great Lakes and their tributaries, require New York to establish water conservation measures, prohibit the transfer of Great Lakes water outside of the Basin, and protect New York's right to set stronger standards. Click here to see the Compact move through the halls of the Capitol.

Diesel Generator Prohibition. This bill would prohibit the use of diesel-powered engines to produce electricity in areas of the state that do not meet health-based air quality standards for ozone set by the U.S. EPA. The prohibition would not apply to units with a capacity of less than 100 kilowatts, units that already meet strict emissions standards, and units run during power failures. Click here to track this bill.

Click here to track these bills.

True Cost of Food

The True Cost of Food is a campaign to promote sustainable food choices. For more information, or to get a copy of a 15-minute educational DVD about sustainable food, visit www.truecostoffood.org.