January 26, 2009

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

GREEN THE STIMULUS

Wow. That was quite a week. We witnessed a peaceful and historic transfer of power and Representative Kirsten Gillibrand was tapped to become New York’s junior Senator (click here to read more about the Gillibrand pick in the New York Post ), and there’s so much more on the horizon.

In the coming days, Congress, and later the Senate, will vote on the $850 Billion stimulus package championed by the Obama Administration to jump-start our nation’s economy. We think it can jump-start some green initiatives we’ve been pushing for, too.

Environmental Advocates of New York is happy that the stimulus package includes funding for much-needed green infrastructure investments. These investments will give our economy a boost and serve as a powerful catalyst for making New York State, and the country, more efficient, more economically competitive, and more environmentally sustainable. But we want to make sure these dollars are used as intended and are not directed to pork barrel projects.

So we’re asking legislators in D.C. to make sure the final stimulus package not only jump-starts the economy, but also jump-starts green initiatives that combat global warming, invest in mass transit, and protect our air and water quality.

Click here to send your representatives a message to Green the Stimulus.

Here's how to green the stimulus: 

1. Respond to the climate crisis by supporting clean energy, energy efficiency and mass transit. New York is already making substantial investments in these areas, but imagine how much faster we could reach our goals to cut global warming pollution if stimulus dollars doubled, or even tripled, state investment.

2. Use federal dollars to fix existing infrastructure needs, not to build new infrastructure in undeveloped areas. Let's fix documented problems with New York's drinking water and sewer systems before running miles of new pipes.    

3. Use stimulus money to supplement, not replace, existing state funding. New York State is already doing a lot to encourage energy efficiency and clean energy; let's make sure federal dollars add to our efforts.

While much public and media attention has been focused on the environmental aspects of the stimulus package, the reality is that these investments are a relatively small portion of the total package.

We need to get the greenest bang for our stimulus buck. And we urge you to ask our leaders in D.C. to heed the call. Click here to reach out to your representatives.

Click here to listen to an interview about the stimulus package with Executive Director Rob Moore.

Click here - and here - to learn more about the stimulus package.

WE MIGHT NOT LOOK IT, BUT WE'RE 40

In the late 1960s, a group of activists got together and Environmental Advocates of New York was born.

Back when we got started, people who cared about the environment didn’t have anyone working in the State Capital. Some of our rivers, lakes and streams were so polluted that people swam and fished at their own risk. New Yorkers in some parts of the state couldn’t trust their drinking water. The Adirondacks were threatened by logging. And air pollution in New York City was off the charts.  

Our founding members saw a need to change what was happening and brought people together from every corner of the state to speak with one clear voice and demand change, if not for ourselves then for our children. And that’s what we’re still doing today.

For the rest of the year, we’ll introduce you to a little bit of our history in every issue of The [Green] Capitol Insider.

Click here to give $40 for our 40th.

ANOTHER SIGN OF GREEN THINGS TO COME

All signs point to President Barack Obama directing federal regulators to move swiftly on an application by California, New York and other states to set strict tailpipe emission and fuel efficiency standards today. Altogether, 17 states, representing more than 45 percent of the nation’s auto market, have adopted or announced their intention to adopt the standards. California enacted a law requiring the state to adopt standards to cut global warming pollution from cars and trucks way back in 2002.

Click here to read more in the New York Times.

WATCHDOGGING WATER POLLUTION  

Environmental Advocates of New York and local activists recently objected to a proposal to increase pollution discharges from the Millbrook Sewage Treatment Plant into Wappinger’s Creek.

The sewage plant asked for the increases to accommodate new development in the area, even though the plant has a history of violating its permit and releasing more pollution than is healthy for nearby waterways.

Detailed testimony from Millbrook Matters, the Cary Institute and Environmental Advocates convinced the Department of Environmental Conservation to strengthen the permit, limiting new hookups to Millbrook's already overtaxed sewer system and putting limits on the amount of pollution that could be released to the East Branch of Wappinger's Creek.