The [Green] Capitol Insider - 2.22.2010

SORRY FOLKS, PARK'S CLOSED

For some time now, Environmental Advocates of New York has said that the health of our shared environment isn’t too high on Governor Paterson’s priority list. After hemming and hawing on plans to reduce global warming pollution from power plants last year, cutting staff at the State’s Department of Environmental Conservation & Office of Parks & Recreation down to the bone, attempting to roll back a host of environmental regulations, swiping monies from clean energy programs, and hacking at the Environmental Protection Fund, we thought there wasn’t much more he could do.

We were wrong.

Last Friday, the Governor released a list of 41+ parks that will be closed this year, as well as those with reduced hours and services. In case you’re wondering, there will be no Fourth of July fireworks at Jones Beach this year.

Here’s the hit list and the Governor’s statement.

With Friday’s announcement, the Governor shut down or cut back on more than one-third of New York’s parks and almost half of our historic sites. These parks and sites are visited by 55 million people and generate $2 billion in economic activity every year. The parks support 20,000 jobs. That’s inarguably a lot of money and a lot of jobs for the State of New York.

So how much does the Governor estimate New York will save? About $6 million for cutting parks funding. We’d like to see the cost-benefit analysis on this lousy plan.

Even during the Great Depression, the State kept our parks open. Anyone who cares about New York’s environment is now looking to the State Legislature to right the Governor’s wrongs during budget negotiations.

But don’t take our word for it. Nobody seems to think closing parks is the way out of New York State’s fiscal crisis.

Listen here.

Read more here, here, and here.

THE TIME HAS COME FOR A FEW GOOD BILLS TO PASS

Word has it that a few environmentally beneficial bills are on the move in the New York State Senate today. Environmental Advocates is eager to see what happens when lawmakers return to Albany this afternoon.

What’s on the State Senate’s to-do list? Legislation that would clean up New York’s air by requiring the use of cleaner burning home heating oil. Since the 1960’s, state and federal regulations have been updated to cut the burning of dirty fuels from stationary and mobile sources. In 2006, the EPA required on-road diesel to meet an ultra-low sulfur diesel standard. However, many parts of the state—particularly the New York City metro area—still fail to attain air quality standards required by the Clean Air Act.

Millions of New Yorkers reside in these areas, where the rates of asthma and other respiratory ailments are high. According to the EPA, 89 percent of the state’s population resides in an area where air quality doesn’t meet federal health standards.

One of the largest sources of the sulfur dioxide emissions that cause this pollution is the combustion of heating oil, second only to power plants. Reducing the sulfur content of traditional No. 2 oil to ultra-low sulfur diesel can result in up to 95 percent reduction in the particulate matter pollution, and up to 30 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides that contributes to smog. And because more than one million New York City homes use oil for heating, switching to cleaner fuel will result in significant air quality improvements.

And this: a bill that would make it easier for businesses to generate their own clean energy. Net metering encourages investment in renewable energy such as solar and wind power. On-site clean power systems reduce stress on the electric grid, allow consumers to hedge against volatile and rising energy costs, and provide environmental, public health, and economic development benefits. By reducing the demand for power generated by burning fossil fuels, net metering will help protect New Yorkers from the harmful effects of air pollution. These harmful effects include asthma attacks and premature deaths in seniors, increased mercury contamination, destruction of forests by acid rain, as well as wide-ranging negative effects associated with global climate change.

The commercial and industrial sectors are responsible for two-thirds of the state’s power use, and this bill will give these customers the ability to install systems with a rated capacity of up to 2,000 kilowatts.

Both of these bills have already passed in the Assembly. And if they make it through the Senate today, there's no reason Governor Paterson should sign both into law.

There are a couple of other good bills on the list, including legislation that would allow on-bill financing for natural gas efficiency projects and a measure that updates policy related to the enforcement of environmental laws, but we’re waiting to see what happens this afternoon and will let you know when it’s time to give your State Senator an ‘Atta boy or girl.’ Or not.

BILLS ON THE MOVE

It’s that time again! Every week during the Legislative Session, Environmental Advocates of New York looks at the measures that will impact the environment for good or ill. Here are this week's Bills on the Move:

One tree for Private Well Testing. This bill would amend New York's Public Health Law by adding a new section to govern private well testing and directing the State's Department of Health to promulgate related regulations.

Three trees for Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Requirement. This bill would lower the sulfur content in heating oil that is sold in areas of the state that do not meet minimum air quality standards according to the U.S. EPA. Ultra-low sulfur diesel is consistent with industry and public health standards.

Click here to learn more about these measures and what each will do to help or hurt New York’s natural resources.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES OF NEW YORK IS A MEMBER OF EARTH SHARE OF NEW YORK

Environmental Advocates is a member of EarthShare, a federation of the nation’s most respected environmental charities. To find out more about how and your workplace can support Environmental Advocates through an EarthShare campaign, please call us at 518.462.5526, or visit www.earthshare.org. To donate through EarthShare, designate your donation to Environmental Advocates of New York, CFC #97425.

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The [Green] Capitol Insider - 2.8.2010

TIME FOR NEW YORK STATE LAWMAKERS TO SHOW NEW YORK SOME LOVE

Governor David Paterson’s spending plan for 2010-11, released earlier this year, would cut critical environmental programs to the bone, shut down state parks, and leave state agencies like the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) without enough staff to meet their responsibilities.

The Governor proposes to cut the State’s Environmental Protection Fund by $69 million and DEC staff by 54 positions. Cutting the Fund by a third is out of whack with cuts to other state programs. And reducing staff at the already overburdened DEC is just plain dangerous. At current staff levels, the agency is lagging behind federal mandates to monitor air and water pollution. With fewer staff, things will only get worse.

Click here to learn about our members-only webinar on February 11^th to learn more about the environmental impacts of the Governor’s budget proposal.

Now that the Governor’s budget is out, it’s up to the New York State Legislature to restore the critical environmental funding that keeps our drinking water safe and natural heritage protected for future generations of New Yorkers.

It’s time for state lawmakers to show how much they love New York by restoring environmental funding: Click here to act now.

The Governor’s budget proposal may strengthen his new-found reputation as a fiscal conservative, but it’s not in New York State’s best interest. So the question is, does Governor Paterson really love New York? We’re starting to wonder.

And with increasing deficit projections since the Governor’s budget proposal was released, there’s talk of even deeper cuts. But we’ll have to wait and see if New York’s environment takes another punch to the gut.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE LAKES

Great Lakes boosters, including Environmental Advocates of New York, urged Congress to bolster funding for Great Lakes restoration programs, following the release of President Obama’s budget last week. The President’s budget includes $300 million for his Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, down from the $475 million requested in his inaugural budget.

It’s not the full amount, but the President’s budget request will continue to fund programs that restore the Lakes. And while New York Governor Paterson’s budget proposal fails to recognize the need to support critical environmental programs like this one, we think it’s likely that Congress and New York’s Delegation will fully fund solutions to the Great Lakes’ biggest challenges.

President Obama proposed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative last year. The initiative invests in solutions to stop aquatic invasive species costing the region at least $200 million annually in damage and control costs; clean up contaminated sediments that threaten people and wildlife; and restore wetlands that protect water quality and prevent flooding.

The Brookings Institution found that the eight-state Great Lakes region stands to gain at least $2 in economic benefit for every $1 invested in Great Lakes restoration.

RALLY REPORT
Back on January 25^th, more than 500 New Yorkers, dozens of environmental groups, and more than a few state and county lawmakers rallied at the State Capitol and called on the Governor to slow down the rush to drill in Central New York, the Southern Tier and Catskills.

Click here for pictures from the rally.

Natural gas drilling using a dangerous technique called hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” has poisoned wells and spilled toxic chemicals across landscapes in other parts of the country, including Pennsylvania. Because of growing industry pressure to drill in New York, along with budget cuts, fracking has arguably become the most pressing threat to the health of the state’s environment.

To make things really exciting, an industry-sponsored counter-demonstration was held right around the corner.

New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation is currently combing through the more than 13,000 comments submitted on the agency’s draft natural gas drilling guidelines. The draft has been called inadequate by the U.S. EPA, New York City Council, New York Department of Environmental Protection, and members of Congress, including Representatives Arcuri, Massa and Nadler, among others.

Click here to learn more about natural gas drilling in New York. Click here to read about the dueling rallies.

And here

Click here to listen to a debate on the pros and cons of drilling hosted by WAMC Northeast Public Radio and the Times Union.

IN HONOR OF BARNABAS MCHENRY

The Open Space Institute, in honor of Barnabas McHenry, gives a $5000 annual award to three young leaders working in collaboration with non-profit organizations to pursue projects in environmental conservation, historic preservation or the arts in the Hudson Valley. Click here for more information about the award.

Any not-for-profit organization working in the Hudson Valley region is eligible to nominate a student for this award. We strongly encourage organizations to seek out talented and motivated students to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

Please note that the deadline for completed applications is February 12th, 2010.

BILL ON THE MOVE

It’s that time again! Every week during the Legislative Session, Environmental Advocates of New York looks at the measures that will impact the environment for good or ill. Here are this week's Bills on the Move:

One Smokestack for Islip Incinerator Expansion. This bill would permit the Islip Resource Recovery Agency to increase its debt ceiling in order to expand its facility’s solid waste incinerator.

One Smokestack for Saltwater Fishing License Repealer. This bill would repeal the State law that enacted the recreation marine fishing license. If revoked, an important revenue stream would be lost and existing environmental programs and even more staff positions could be eliminated.

One Tree for Green Roof Tax Credits. This bill would provide a financial incentive to encourage more New Yorkers to consider installing this beneficial infra­structure.

One Tree for Environmental Compliance Records. This bill would require the disclosure of violations of environmental law during the permit approval process and would explicitly affirm the Department of Environmental Conservation’s right to deny permits to bad actors.

Two Trees for Net Metering Fix. This bill would simplify the state’s net metering law and give businesses the ability to install their own clean on-site electric power generating systems with a rated capacity of up to 2,000 kilowatts. Promoting clean power through a reformed net metering policy is a sound way to help protect New York’s environment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES OF NEW YORK IS A MEMBER OF EARTH SHARE OF NEW YORK

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