GREEN SHEET NEW YORK

Vol. 11 - No. 1
January 2006


Inside this Issue:
And We're Off!: New York leads region in landmark global warming plan
Director's Chair
Preserve NY
Field Notes
For Your Information
On the Alert
About GSNY

And We're Off!: New York leads region in landmark global warming plan

At the end of 2005, Governor Pataki delivered on his promise to make New York a leader in tackling global warming by finalizing a new regional plan to cut carbon dioxide from power plants. Joined by six other Northeast states, New York announced the bipartisan accord on December 20th. Environmental Advocates and the Cap Carbon in New York Campaign Coalition have long been advocating this reduction in power plant emissions.

This is a major milestone in Environmental Advocates’ work on global warming and our work on power plant pollution over the past six years. There’s a lot more to do, particularly as this moves to a rulemaking at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), but for now, all of us have earned the right to celebrate.   

In the Greenhouse By the numbers: Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from power plants in New York State in 20001: 69,809,350 tons Rate of emissions of CO2 from a wind turbine 0 Share of regional* CO2 emissions from the top 10 polluting plants in the region2 1/3rd Number of the top ten polluting plants in the region located in New York State2: 6 1www.rggi.org 2More Heat than Light, Frontier Group, et al., released July 2005 *The northeastern states including DE, NJ, NY, all the New England States.

This victory comes on the heels of New York adopting the greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and trucks, a standard set by California and finalized by the DEC in November. The states are firmly in the lead on global warming with this groundswell of action, and New York State, Environmental Advocates and our coalition partners are out in front.  

The most recent reports from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that U.S. emissions of global warming gases will rise to 25 percent above 1990 levels by 2012 if the current rate of emissions growth continues. This underlines the importance of actions being taken by the northeastern states. At the federal level, the Bush Administration continues to refuse to take meaningful action to rein in emissions growth.

Starting in 2009, emissions of carbon dioxide pollution from fossil fuel-burning power plants in the region will be stabilized, and then reduced 10 percent by 2019. Committing to freeze and cut emissions is one part of a long-term strategy to control the region’s share of global warming pollution. The agreement increases investment in energy efficiency within the region to help keep New York and the other states competitive and bring benefits to consumers. This approach has won support from businesses including Bank of America, Staples, Keyspan and National Grid. A group of 50 mayors and town supervisors from across the region also encouraged the governors to clean up global warming pollution from electricity generation.

Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont signed the agreement. Massachusetts and Rhode Island had been heavily involved in the negotiations, but dropped out at the last minute. Several states in the western U.S. are expected to pursue a similar approach.

The plan will benefit the regional economy by providing incentives for clean energy and more efficient energy use. A recent analysis commissioned by the governors predicted the plan would save typical households about $50 per year when energy efficiency investment is taken into account.

Many details remain to be worked out, and Environmental Advocates and our coalition partners will stay involved throughout the coming months as New York begins turning the agreement into new state regulations. We will work to make sure regulators hold firm against special interest pressures in order to maintain and strengthen the commitments made in this new agreement.

There’s no better time to thank you, Environmental Advocates’ members, for your steadfast advocacy on this issue. And to the foundations who are funding our global warming work, we express our deep appreciation. Well done, one and all.

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Director's Chair

This year is an election year, and New Yorkers will go to the polls in November to select a new governor and to vote for their state Senators and Assembly members. The environment should be a major issue of concern for you and for your elected officials.

And lawmakers become most concerned when organizations like Environmental Advocates, and individuals like you, are forceful proponents for change. That is why I'm asking you to consider how you can be a more active advocate in the effort to preserve New York's natural heritage, and to clean up our waters, our air, and our lands.

One of the easiest and most effective ways you can do this is through our eAdvocacy network (go to www.actionnetwork.org/eany/join.html). Each month, thousands of online activists get information about pressing issues – and they take action!

Free of charge and at the click of a button, personal messages can be sent instantly to lawmakers urging them to take action on the issues that are important to you and millions of other New Yorkers.

Through our eAdvocacy network, last year 11,000 letters and emails were sent to members of the state Assembly and Senate, the Governor, and other officials calling on them to move on issues like global warming, sprawl, and the need to protect the state's wetlands – issues that are of critical importance to you and to New York's environment.

And the impact on state lawmakers was tremendous. At the urging of their constituents legislators added their names to pro-environment legislation in record numbers. Millions of dollars in assistance began flowing to communities planning for the redevelopment of brownfields because lawmakers heard your calls to do so. And Governor Pataki is capping power plant emissions of climate-altering pollution because thousands urged him to do so.

So I hope you'll add your voice to our eAdvocacy network, and let your representatives in Albany know exactly how you feel about the issues that are important to you. With elections looming in November, you'll find that they are very willing to listen, and more willing to act on behalf of the public good. But first they have to hear from you.

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Preserve NY

Communities in New York State want to maintain the qualities that make them unique public spaces – natural areas, working farms and places of historic significance. But poorly planned growth can cause the loss of these qualities while bringing increased traffic and pollution. Many towns are struggling with these problems right now; many have even issued building moratoria while making plans to deal with growing populations and disappearing farms and forests.

The Community Preservation Act allows towns to voluntarily plan for their future while providing them with the resources they need to purchase land for walking or biking trails, parks and wilderness. It can help working family farms stay in business, preserve wetlands that keep drinking water clean, and preserve a town’s special places.

To compliment our work at the state Capitol, Environmental Advocates is launching a special web-based campaign devoted to keeping our members up-to-date on the progress of the Community Preservation Act. The campaign will also give members the opportunity to take action in their local communities. Sign up to receive regular campaign updates by contacting Laura DiBetta at 518-462-5526 ext. 221 or ldibetta@eany.org.

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Field Notes

At the urging of Environmental Advocates and others, the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH) agreed to hold seven public information meetings statewide to introduce the new rules for the state’s landmark Brownfield Cleanup Program and revisions to the state Superfund program and Environmental Restoration Program for municipalities. Tim Sweeney, Environmental Advocates’ Regulatory Watch Program Director, took part in five of the seven meetings traveling to Utica, Syracuse and Buffalo one week, New York City the next, and ending up at the Albany session on December 13th. Meetings were also held in Farmingdale and Yonkers.

These meetings gave the public an opportunity to hear what is included in the rules and how the agencies went about determining the soil cleanup standards. The public was also invited to ask questions, and many concerns were raised at each of the meetings. Environmental Advocates, with the aid of our expert consultants, will be reviewing the rules to ensure that they are protective of the environment and public health, and we will be submitting formal comments to the DEC. See On the Alert for information on how you can get involved.

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For Your Information

♦Great Update: This fall has been a potentially productive one for the Great Lakes basin watershed. After an intensive four-year effort, all eight basin governors signed two landmark documents – an interstate compact and international agreement – that would prohibit large-scale commercial exploitation of the waters of the Great Lakes. The next step for this important process will be approval by the state legislatures, and Environmental Advocates will be working to see that New York remains a leader in this important water management policy. The second event – the culmination of a massive collaborative effort involving over 1500 people – was the release of a blueprint for a comprehensive restoration of the basin. Here too, Environmental Advocates has played an important role, and will continue to make sure that the funding for implementing this conservation roadmap is secured, and that the resulting regional economic development is ecologically responsible. Among the most immediate and serious threats to the health of the water bodies in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system is the explosion of aquatic invasive species. For the upcoming legislative session, we will be helping to introduce and advance a bill that will prohibit the discharge of contaminated ballast water from ships in New York's waters, a move that would cut off one of the most significant invasive species pathways.

♦New Year's Resolutions: Environmental Advocates' has released its legislative priorities for 2006. The Community Preservation Act and the Smart Growth Infrastructure Act would help communities combat sprawl. The SEQRA Standing bill will guarantee people’s right to question the conclusions of environmental impact assessments conducted under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, restoring a right that the courts have limited over time. A bill to expand wetlands protection across the state is another priority because of the important role they play in filtering pollutants and soaking up flood waters. And, of course, we are advocating for increased funding in the state budget for environmental protection, which has not kept pace with growing need. We urge the Governor and Legislature to permanently raise the Environmental Protection Fund, the primary source of support for land conservation and many recycling and pollution control programs, to $300 million. The full list of priorities is available at www.eany.org/capitolwatch/priorities.html.

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On the Alert

♦Speak for the fish: Billions of fish, fish eggs, and small river organisms are killed each year in the cooling systems of power plants located along the Hudson River. Atlantic fisheries and the river’s ecology are damaged by this enormous fish kill. Plant owners could prevent this by upgrading to new closed-cycle cooling technology. Yet the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is proposing to renew a permit for Mirant’s Bowline electric generating plant, located on the western bank of the Hudson River in Haverstraw, without requiring this switch. The plant draws in river water for cooling, and as water is taken in, small aquatic organisms are pulled into the cooling system (entrainment) and larger fish and organisms are pulled against screens (impingement). Urge DEC to require Mirant to use closed cycle cooling at the Bowline plant. All of the generating facilities on the Hudson River should use the best technology available. DEC is considering requiring the plant to reduce impingement 95% on the third and subsequent years of the permit and cut entrainment by 80% by the fifth year of the permit. DEC is holding hearings to obtain public comment at 2:00PM and at 7:00PM on January 31 at the Haverstraw Town Hall, 1 Rosman Road, Haverstraw (call Ms. Sherry Stila, 845-429-2200). If you cannot make the hearings, send written comments postmarked by Jan. 24 to Administrative Law Judge Molly McBride, NYSDEC Office of Hearings and Mediation Services, 625 Broadway, First Floor, Albany, NY 12233-1550.

♦ Call for Comments: The official comment period is underway for new rules for the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program, and revisions to the state Superfund program and Environmental Restoration Program for municipalities. DEC will be accepting written comment from the public until March 27, 2006 and will take oral testimony at three public hearings to be held in March. For information go to www.dec.state.ny.us/website/der/superfund/fact375.html or contact Tim Sweeney at tsweeney@eany.org.

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