February 22, 2010

Welcome to Environmental Advocates of New York’s online newsletter from the State Capital, your source for environmental news. We update you every other week with insider news and observations carefully gleaned from the halls of the Capitol.

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 shouldn't 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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