American Lung Association of New York State
Environmental Advocates of New York
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
New York League of Conservation Voters
New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG)
Pace Energy Projec
Sierra Club - Atlantic Chapter

(Albany, NY) - A coalition of groups today called on Governor Pataki to make New York a national leader in the fight against global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Launching a new campaign to Cap Carbon in New York, the groups noted that carbon dioxide (C0₂) is the state's most prevalent greenhouse gas, and that power plants are the largest individual emitters of C0₂ in New York as well as across the nation. The Cap Carbon in New York Campaign seeks to educate the public about the importance of limiting power plant C0₂ emissions in New York to 30 percent below 1990 levels by 2017. The campaign is designed to support Governor Pataki's call to make New York a "national leader" on reducing greenhouse gases.

Last June, Governor Pataki declared, "I am committed to positioning New York State as a national leader on the critically important issue of reducing greenhouse gases." At that time, the Governor formed the Greenhouse Gas Task Force, charged with recommending policies for reducing New York's greenhouse gas emissions. The Task Force, with representatives from state agencies, businesses, and environmental organizations, is expected to release its recommendations this summer.

"To be a leader on global warming policy, Governor Pataki needs to cap carbon emission from power plants," said Jason Babbie of the New York Public Interest Research Group.

"Capping power plant emissions is the most efficient and effective way we know to reduce the pollution that causes global warming. A cap on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants is an obvious policy choice because it brings many other benefits, including helping to reduce acid rain and haze," said Anne Reynolds, Energy Project director at Environmental Advocates of New York. "The Empire State can easily meet the cap through energy efficiency and by tapping new technologies, including renewable energy sources like wind and solar," Reynolds said.

"Here in New York power plant fine particle pollution causes 1,800 premature deaths, 1,200 respiratory related hospitalizations and over 37,000 asthma attacks each year," said Peter M. Iwanowicz, director of Environmental Health for the American Lung Association of New York State. "Capping carbon dioxide from power plants will help achieve significant reductions in power plant gases that cause such death and disease."

"Global warming raises the specter of serious negative impacts for New York. It could mean that the sugar maples, which produce our brilliant fall foliage and maple syrup, would no longer thrive in our forests. It could mean flooding and heat waves for New York City and its suburbs. Leaders in Massachussets and New Hampshire have already taken steps to cut green house gas emissions in their states. If Governor Pataki is serious about being a leader, he will have to implement measures to require significant reductions of carbon from out state's fleet of power plants and other sources of green house gases," said John Stouffer, legislative director, Sierra Club - Atlantic Chapter.

The Governor's Greenhouse Gas Task Force is scheduled to issue its report in June. Over the next few months, participants in the Cap Carbon in New York Campaign will be meeting with campus, church and community groups and the media to explain the importance of reducing C0₂ pollution.