Campaign Update for 100% Clean Energy by 2030
www.gelfny.org, www.facebook.com/nygreenelf
1. Climate Change Lobby Day, Tuesday May 19
There will be a small lobby day on climate change issues in Albany on Tuesday May 19. We are exploring sites for the early morning briefing and orientation. Will probably do a media event, and have lobby visits from11 to 3 PM. 100% clean energy, carbox tax, fossil fuel divestment. RSVP or dunleamark@aol.com (We expect to help with a larger climate change action day in June at the Capitol)
We are looking for other groups that wish to co-sponsor. Let dunleamark@aol.com know.
2. Sign Petition for 100% Clean Energy
Please help promote the petition for 100% clean energy. We got around 100 signatures in the first two days.
Sign the petition for 100% Clean Energy in NYS by 2030. We urge New York State to take immediate action to transition to 100% green energy by 2030 (carbon neutral, renewable, energy efficiency and conservation, no nukes). We also urge the state to end investments in fossil fuels and related infrastructure; enact a carbon tax; and divest the state pension funds from fossil fuels. bit.ly/1GVOUBN
3, Events in Ithaca and Syracuse April 19 and 20.
Mark Dunlea is getting out around the state to educate people our the push for 100% clean energy – and to connect with all the great work that local activists are doing to promote renewables and oppose fossil fuels and nukes.
The Ithaca College Progressives are hosting us on Sunday April 19 at 7 PM. Klingenstein Lounge in the Campus Center of Ithaca College, 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY (map). We hope to speak at the Earth Day festival in Ithaca in the afternoon. RSVP here.
On Monday April 20 at 7 PM we will be at the ArtGage Galley, 505 Hawley Ave. Syracuse with: Howie Hawkins, recent Green Party candidate for Governor. on the Green New Deal and stopping investments in fossil fuel infrastructure; Jessica Azulay of AGREE, discussing the Reforming Energy Vision (REV) at the PSC and the need for energy democracy; Stacey Smith of Fossil Free and Go Green NY on the campaign to divest the state pension funds from fossil fuels. RSVP here.
On Thursday April 30 at 7 PM we will speaking at the monthly meeting of Bronx Climate Justice North. at St. Andrews Church.
The Campaign will also be presenting at the Left Forum in NYC the last weekend of May. There will be a second workshop on energy democracy.
4. Earth Day Call in: Divest From Fossil Fuels & Transition to Renewable Energy Now!
A number of groups are sponsoring the call-in. We will be sending out the call early next week. If your group would like to sign on to the call, contact Stacey Smith at fishswimfreely@yahoo.com.
5. Draft RPI review of Jacobson study due May 12
Prof. Steve Breyman’s students’ feasibility study of the 100% WWS by 2030 claims on Jacobson, et al. (2013) proceeds. Draft conclusions due May 12.
6. PAUSE 100% Renewable Lawn Signs for Earth Day
People in Albany United for Safe Energy (PAUSE) have been leading the fight against the oil bomb trains at the Port of Albany. For Earth Day, they will be having 100% clean energy lawn signs by 2030 sprouting across the Capital District. Some info about the local campaign here.
7. Campaign on Susan Arbetter’s radio Show Thurs April 16; Ithaca
Mark will be on Capitol Connection with Susan Arbetter live from the Capitol at 11:30 AM on April 16. For a full schedule for when and where the show airs, see here.
Mark will also be on earlier that day at 8:10 AM with Lee Rayburn in Ithaca. 870 AM 95.9FM News Talk WHCU
8. A Rising Tide and Earth Day
(Video) Together with Sane Energy Project, Rising Tide NYC called for creative direct action against the Port Ambrose liquefied gas project, in solidarity with New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities who are fighting the Constitution Pipeline, the AIM Pipeline, oil trains, pipelines and barges along the Hudson River, and too many other destructive projects. https://vimeo.com/124712287
Lots of climate change activists will be rallying on April 15th in solidarity with the movement for a $15 hour minimum wage.
Here are the events that the People’s Climate Movement in NYC are promoting.
Monday, April 20th will join Rising Tide NYC’s early morning procession in Manhattan to mark the 5th anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon spill that killed 11 workers, dumped millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico destroying communities and ruining lives. Gather at 8 am at Sara Roosevelt Park, at the corner of Houston Street and Chrystie Street.
Tuesday, April 21st In solidarity with New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania communities opposing pipelines, oil trains and barges along the Hudson River which endanger our communities, PCM NY supports Sane Energy Project’s call for creative direct action protests in front of Governor Cuomo’s office demanding NY stop building new fossil fuel infrastructure. Assemble at 633 3rd Avenue (at 41st Street) at 5:00 PM.
Wednesday, April 22nd – Earth Day. On the release of PlaNYC (New York City’s official climate action plan), PCM NY will join Climate Works for All to demand stronger commitments to climate resilient jobs, a new way forward for our energy system, our economy and our world. We will gather at 5:30 pm at City Hall.
Sunday, April 26th On the eve of the UN’s review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, PCM NY will join as thousands gathering for an international rally and march to the United Nations demanding a nuclear-free, peaceful, just and sustainable world. Rally at 1 pm on the north end of Union Square.
Some News
PSC and NYSERDA to Hold Hearings on Low-Income Consumers
The PSC and NYSERDA announced today that the Low-Income Forum on Energy (LIFE) will hold a series of meetings across the State to help address the challenges and opportunities facing low-income consumers as they seek safe, reliable and affordable energy. Under the proposed Clean Energy Fund (CEF), a component of REV, New York State is planning to implement approaches to help increase the adoption of energy efficiency and clean energy in low-income communities by addressing barriers that have limited access to capital and market solutions. There is a $45 fee to attend, so apparently not designed for low-income consumers. http://on.ny.gov/1NDj8PM
The schedule for this year’s regional meeting series is as follows:
- April 29 – Con Ed Auditorium, Manhattan
- April 30 – Holiday Inn Plainview, Plainview
- May 5 – Ramada Watertown, Watertown
- May 6 – Embassy Suites Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Springs
- May 12 – Holiday Inn Buffalo-Downtown, Buffalo
- May 13 – Radisson Hotel Corning, Corning
- May 19 – Best Western Plus Kingston Hotel and Conference Center, Kingston
Overview Story in Climate Central re NYS Efforts on Energy
One of the primary goals of the proposed grid innovation lab is to help New York utilities to move from centralized power systems, in which large power plants supply power to everyone on the grid and that can cause widespread issues when knocked out, to one that can accommodate smaller local systems. Those systems could be fed by small wind, solar and other renewable power generators. Jackson Morris director of eastern energy for the Natural Resources Defense Council said smart grid research and development has to come along with policies focusing on clean energy or a positive impact on a changing climate may not occur. Microgrids or smartgrids alone are no guarantee of greenhouse gas emissions reductions, Morris said http://www.climatecentral.org/news/new-york-smart-grid-research-18874
Anti-Frackers Going After Port Ambrose (From Capitol NY)
Now, in what is likely an unwelcome feeling of déjà vu for Governor Andrew Cuomo, the familiar cast of environmental protesters who dogged him over fracking for much of the last four years, has once again hit the streets, urging the governor to use his veto power to kill Port Ambrose. “It’s good to be back in the barricades. It’s been too long,” Eric Weltman, a senior organizer for Food & Water Watch, said Monday outside the Harvard Club in Manhattan where Cuomo was expected to appear.