Urgent action, not obstruction, on climate
To the editor:
For many of us, the political events of the past couple weeks have led to a feeling we haven’t experienced since 2016. That feeling is joyful hope for a brighter future.
Many of us working on climate issues across New York state had the same feeling of joy and hope when the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act passed in 2019, setting nation-leading goals for reducing GHG emissions and the transition to renewable energy. We knew that with the 10th largest economy in the world, what New York does matters. As the impacts of climate change were unfolding around us, we had hope that turning the tide toward a livable future was possible. The Climate Action Council, comprised of stakeholders from business, New York policy experts, scientists and community advocates met for over two years to determine the path to implement these goals. Upon release of the draft plan, state Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority held 11 hearings across the state and received 35,000 written comments. At The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, dozens of people came forward to encourage accelerated action on climate change.
In December 2022, New York’s Climate Action Plan to meet CLCPA goals was approved. Laws and policy changes are now necessary to implement this plan.
Since the heating of homes and buildings is the greatest contributor of greenhouse gases in New York, the All Electric Building Act was passed in 2023 requiring new construction to be emissions free beginning in 2026. Passage of the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act would revise outdated law that allows the cost of new gas hook ups to be passed on to utility ratepayers. Passage will lower costs and spur the transition to energy efficient heat pumps.
Pushback from industry abounds. First denial of climate change and now claiming we can’t afford the transition to renewable energy. Due to all the obstruction, we appear to be falling a couple years behind on meeting New York’s climate goals. With wildfires raging, storms and floods becoming ever more dangerous and frequent, homes, roads, bridges and lives washed away, wouldn’t the strategy be to double down on efforts to meet those goals? Not according to state Sen. Dan Stec. Instead of urgent action, he is calling for dismantling New York’s climate law.
In a recent op ed, Stec claims the transition simply won’t work despite examples all over the world showing the lower cost and reliability of renewable energy. He ridiculously claims that gas stoves are going to save people during power outages. Does he know about carbon monoxide poisoning?
We can improve the capacity and resilience of New York’s electric energy grid, while doubling down on efforts to carry out New York’s Climate Action Plan. What is the cost of inaction? How many times can we afford to rebuild the same roads, bridges, homes, farms, lives and livelihoods washed away in floods? Let’s say to Dan Stec and others working to dismantle New York’s national leading climate law, we won’t go back. What we can’t afford is more obstruction.
Diana Strablow
Saranac Lake
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SOURCES
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file:///Users/ad1/Downloads/ClimateAct_Factsheets_Building_R6.pdf
https://nysfocus.com/2024/04/01/national-fuel-lobbying-heat-act
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/11-countries-leading-the-charge-on-renewable-energy/
https://community.fema.gov/ProtectiveActions/s/article/Power-Outage-Avoid-Carbon-Monoxide-Poisoning
Reliability: https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-reliability