New Yorkers can’t turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper this summer
without learning some new wrinkle in the partisan "debate" over global
warming. And all the while, there is clear consensus in the scientific
community that climate change is happening. In June, the National
Academy of Sciences released yet another report showing how our climate
is changing.
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Global Warming
By the numbers:
33,879 megawatts
Record demand for power in NYS (August 1, 2006)
10 days
Queens residents endure power outage
12 days
Number of days over 90 degrees in July 2006 (LaGuardia)
14 days
Average number of days per year over 90 degrees in NYC*
20-40 days
Average number of days per year over 90 degrees in NYC projected due to
global warming* *Columbia University Climate
Change Information Center
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Study after study after study has demonstrated how our releases of
carbon dioxide and other
climate-altering pollutants have led to a steady increase in
temperatures.
Climate change means big changes in weather patterns. Recent heat
waves across the country, including the high temperatures that
contributed to the 10-day blackout in Queens and the conditions that
spurred last year's record hurricane season, may be signs of what the
future holds. While no particular weather event can be wholly attributed
to climate change, the weather we're experiencing now is consistent with
what scientists have predicted.
While the Bush administration has ignored this problem, states are
tackling global warming on their own. New York and seven other
northeastern states will soon release their plan for reducing carbon
dioxide emissions from power plants. Environmental Advocates of New York
will then begin to push for its implementation in New York State.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
In December 2005, the governors of seven Northeast states unveiled
the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, designed to cut
emissions from the region’s power plants and to create new investment in
cleaner and more efficient energy sources. Along with pollution limits,
the Initiative will use a market-based strategy that rewards companies
that outperform the set pollution caps and lower overall
compliance costs.
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
and Vermont are signed on to the RGGI. Pennsylvania, Maryland, the
District of Columbia, and five Canadian provinces are close observers in
the process, while California, Oregon and New Mexico have announced
plans to pursue a similar approach.
The regional pact will regulate carbon dioxide from power plants with
the goal of capping emissions at current levels through 2015 and
reducing emissions 10 percent by 2020. The policy is expected to lower
utility bills for consumers and give industry stakeholders in the
Northeast a competitive edge as national global warming pollution limits
take shape.
Since the governors’ announcement in 2005, the states have been busy
creating a Model Rule to detail emissions limits.
Model Rule: the Devil is in the Details
Consumer and environmental groups are now bird-dogging regulators to
make sure the RGGI achieves its original objectives.
This past April, the RGGI Working Group submitted its Model Rule for
public comment. Environmental Advocates’ review, as well as that of
other environmental groups, found that the Model Rule as drafted doesn’t
do enough to reduce climate-altering
pollution. We reached out to decision-makers with suggestions as to how
to fix it and encouraged our members to do so, too. Here’s how we asked
the State Working Group to revise the Model Rule:
1. Protect the integrity of the proposed emissions cap.
2. Make Carbon Dioxide offsets real, permanent and enforceable.
3. Require that 100 percent of Carbon Dioxide allowances be allocated
to consumers in order to benefit the public and reduce
emissions.
What’s Next
The large volume of comments from the seven states has delayed
release of the final Model Rule until this month.
Environmental Advocates will continue to keep our members in the loop
regarding our thoughts about the final Model Rule and will also reach
out with news regarding what we need to do to make the RGGI a reality.
For more information, visit www.eany.org,
or call (518) 462-5526.
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Director's Chair
I
n
July and early August, New York and much of the U.S. were baked
by record-setting heat waves. Earlier this summer,
off-the-charts rainfall and flooding afflicted New York,
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And last year for the first time
ever, our alphabet ran out of letters to name hurricanes.
While we can’t say without a doubt that any
specific weather event is caused by global warming, this is what
we can expect it to look like. These incidents exemplify what
climate scientists have been telling us to expect for years, and
the weather isn’t the only thing we should worry about.
In addition to the immeasurable human toll of
recent weather events, the economic consequences of climate
change are costing us dearly. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
devastated the Gulf Coast. Closer to home, flooding has caused
billions in damages. The recent heat wave that contributed to
power failures in Queens also has economic consequences.
These events call for real action to decrease
the amount of carbon dioxide we put into the atmosphere. They
also demonstrate why Environmental Advocates of New York
supports the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and New York’s
adoption of automobile emission standards. These initiatives are
steps in the right direction, but not the complete solution.
To fully address climate change, New York
needs to approach global warming from many fronts. We need to
expand the role of clean and safe energy in our energy mix. We
need to consume less and conserve more. And we must continue to
support those leaders who are ready to change the energy
equation and do something real to address global warming.
Robert Moore
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staff News
Environmental Advocates of New York is
pleased to welcome our newest staff member David Gahl.
David joins us as Air and Energy Program
Director. As a former Senior Legislative Budget Analyst of the
New York State Assembly, Ways and Means Committee, David brings
with him a wealth of knowledge about the state's legislative
process and has proven his desire to help enact meaningful
policies for New York.
At Environmental Advocates David will work on
the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to lessen New York’s
global warming footprint through alternative energy promotion
and energy saving strategies. His work will help New Yorkers
breathe cleaner air, curb global warming pollution and get
access to clean, safe and reliable energy.
David holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy
with a concentration in environmental policy from the State
University of New York at Albany. He also has experiences
working with nonprofit organizations and is dedicated to
protecting New York's natural resources and promoting a clean
energy future.
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Victory!
how we killed a dirty bill
In late July, Environmental Advocates of New
York reached out to Governor Pataki and asked him to veto a bill
that would make local public utility companies eligible for
massive state subsidies by opening up Empire Zone designations
for what’s touted as "clean energy research and development
enterprises". Thanks to our outreach, as well as that of other
environmental groups, the Governor saw through the bill and
vetoed its attempt to take advantage of the vague definitions of
"clean energy" written into the budget.
As written, the bill would not require energy
be "clean" or include any "research and development". It was
designed to help Jamestown, NY, build a coal-fired power plant.
Because of questionable language in the bill, it set a dangerous
precedent statewide.
At a time when Governor Pataki is finalizing
his legacy of making the state's energy mix cleaner, vetoing
this bill sends a clear message. New Yorkers do not accept
increasing the amount of energy we generate from coal or
increasing the amount of climate-altering pollution that goes
hand-in-hand with such outdated technology.
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what you can do
reduce your contribution to global warming and save
money, too.
Spend
a little more to purchase energy-efficient items that curb
global warming pollution and save money in the long run. Compact
fluorescent light bulbs last 10 times as long as incandescent
bulbs and can save you up to $15 a year. Each fluorescent bulb
will keep half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air over its
lifetime. When shopping for new appliances, look for the Energy
Star label that identifies energy-efficient models. Upgrade to a
more fuel-efficient car. A car that gets 40 miles per gallon
will save you about $1,000 in fuel costs each year and will emit
25 tons less carbon dioxide than a car that gets 20 miles per
gallon.
Switch to renewable energy
Electric power plants are the number one
source of pollution in the United States. Evaluate your
electricity options by visiting
www.powerscorecard.org,
and purchase your power from clean energy providers.
Test your home
Get a Comprehensive Home Assessment to
evaluate your heating and cooling equipment, insulation levels,
and air infiltration. An Accredited Home Performance contractor
can test your home and explain how to fix problems, as well as
the cost of making the improvements. For more information on
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, visit
www.getenergysmart.org.
Speak up
Contact your state representatives and let
them know you want New York to fight global warming pollution.
Join our online advocacy network at
www.eany.org to get up-to-date emails from Environmental
Advocates of New York and make your voice heard in the Capitol.
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third dredging
delay
For the third time in the last few
years, dredging of the Hudson River to remove PCBs has been
delayed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the
request of General Electric (GE). The cleanup is now pushed
back to 2008.
GE, who is planning and contracting the
dredging which will be overseen by the EPA, states that it is
unable to build the facility needed to start the dredging by the
2007 deadline. One of the problems cited by GE is that the
Town of Fort Edward, where the dredging facility will be
located, has suggested that it may seize property earmarked for
the facility through eminent domain. Town officials have called
on GE to compensate for economic losses associated with the
project.
The Hudson contains about 1.3 million pounds
of PCBs, a probable cause of cancer, dumped by GE before
1977. GE has spent more than $50 million on an anti-cleanup
advertising campaign.
Environmental Advocates opposes the delay and
wants GE to make good and clean up the river for the well-being
of New Yorkers and the environment.
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GREEN SHEET NEW YORK
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Environmental Advocates of New York
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Phone: 518.462.5526
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