February 5, 2007

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.

Rumor Mill: It's a Fact, NY's Got Good People in High Places

Governor Spitzer appointed two topnotch folks to environmental positions last week. Assemblyman Pete Grannis was nominated to head the state’s environmental agency and Judith Enck will move to the 2nd floor of the Capitol (where the Governor’s top people reside). She'll direct the state's environmental policy apparatus.   

Grannis received kudos on his nomination from green groups statewide. He’s been ahead of the pack on global warming issues, having brought attention to the projected financial impacts of climate change years ago. Grannis is also a three-time "Legislator of the Year" award winner from our sister organization and advocacy arm, EPL/ Environmental Advocates. 

Judith Enck is just about the best pick the Governor could have made for his second-floor digs, and not only because she used to be the boss at EPL/ Environmental Advocates. Enck most recently served in the AG's office as a Senior Environmental Associate and prior to that worked with New York Public Interest Research Group. She is one of the most recognized and respected voices for the environment in New York. 

Show Me the Money: What's in the Gov's Budget Proposal?

While the state budget’s far from final, Governor Spitzer’s first executive budget proposal included plenty of good news for New York’s environment.  

 Big news: new staff at the Department of Environmental Conservation. No less than 109 new staff positions were part of the Governor’s budget proposal. Add to that 52 folks at the Office of Parks & Recreation and five at the Adirondack Park Agency.

A $100 million increase in the Environmental Protection Fund over the next two years is tied to revenues generated by the Bigger Better Bottle Bill. This year’s increase is projected at $25 million because it will only add nickels collected in the last quarter of the fiscal year.

We feel good about the bottle bill's chances because "New Yorkers for Real Recycling Reform"--a coalition that includes the Food Industry Alliance of New York State, bottlers, businesses, retailers and labor unions--and other lobbying groups, have already launched their anti-bottle bill campaign with gusto.

More good news: a brand new Climate Change Office. This office will oversee the state’s role in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. We also anticipate a commitment to expanding New York’s role in the regional cap-and-trade climate pact by including emissions from other sources. 

Bills in Play

Power lines in the Park.
The session’s first bill with environmental impact would let National Grid build a power transmission line along Country Route 56 in St. Lawrence County. Because National Grid’s alternative plan would cut a wide swath through six miles of Adirondack forest, Environmental Advocates rates this bill “one tree”—which translates as “beneficial” for those keeping score.  

Top of the Fold, Page 1: Global Warming

You may have noticed a lot of not-so-green corporations jumping on the “cap-and-trade to stop global warming” bandwagon lately. There’s a reason why. It’s in their best interest to help set policy now before a Congress that acknowledges humans are contributing to climate change forces companies to do so.

By acting now, U.S. companies and others can set a corporate-comfy level of carbon cuts instead of waiting to be told what to do in 2008.